Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1951-11-03
MONTGOMERY'S NEW HOTEL
MONUMENT TO A SLAVE

going to be In or near Montgom-
cry, Alabama, and need a hotel
room, | can recommend you to a
hotel-thanks to a modest little
businessman farmer, who has con-
structed a modern hotel facility
in memory to his slave-born father.
Recently when | had to visit
Montgomery, | called friend from
Atlanta to be sure that | might
obtain one of the guest rooms at
Alabama State College. To my
amazement, my friend asked me
if / would like to stop at "the
new hotel"
The morning after that call to
Montgomery ! was seated In the
restaurant of that city's new Ho-
tel Ben Moore. | had already
parked my luggage in Clean
room, had the morning shower
and shave-now wholesome
Breakfast was before me.
If you have travelled south of
the "line," you will appreciate
how | felt that morning. | have
been in the many dumps which
carry the name "hotel." You
now the kind. First you are
afraid to get into the bed-if you
call that thing a bed.
Then you may have to walk a
mile to the facilities-there it is
/ standing up proposition, all
the way. Usually, the water is
cold. If there is hot water, it
might be a bit warm late and very
carly. But most of the time, it's
Just out of order.
At the Ben Moore, | found ev-
erytiling that | desire in hotel,
and for your inforation, Mont
gomery is in Alabama-deep, deep
in the heart of Dixie. There are
d hundred other southern commun-
tiles that could stand such hotel
facility.
This is not to say that there
are not some good hotels for you
and me in the Southside, USA.
| can name a number, and | will
likely miss some good ones in
which | have lived. In Charlotte,
n. c., there is the Alexander. It's
Acne
The Summers in Jackson, Miss,
isn't bad. Neither the Little Page
in Oklahoma City, nor the Nylon
in Columbia, S. G. could be con-
sidered sub-standard operations.
The Crystal White in Houston,
stands very high on my list.
Then there are ones in Nash
vile, New Orleans, Little Rock,
Memphis, Kansas City, and Miami,
in which you can rest yourself in
with pleasure. Miami, with the
new Lord Calvert and the we'll
known Mary Elizabeth, has the
best hotel facilities in the South.
If this were intended tc be a
tribute, it would go to the mild
maybe somewhat shy,
owner of the Hotel Ben Moore
M. F. Moore. If it were Il chal-
lenge, and | hope it is, it would
be directed to the guys and gals
who operate know-those
holes called hotels.
Mr.. Moore's story, his building
a decent hotel, would not be
story, if the many ether members
of his race were giving the trav-
cling public, of my race, the hotel
accommodations we are able to
buy and do buy through first
class fares for fourth-class facili-
ties.
But | am happy to take a deep
bend to Mr.. Moore, for that gent
could have sat on his 100000
plus-even at bank interest rates
and other investments that sum
would bring a living. You may
bet, however, that the returns
from the hotel will be better.
The most important thing is
that Mr.. Moore has served a high
priority public need. He calls it
a monument to his slave-born
father would prefer to consider
it a living monument. For that
it is. His venture is money
proposition and Negro
businessmen elsewhere might take
note.
Before / finished my breakfast
that morning in Montgomery, /
had a surprising experience. The
man | had noticed earlier with
the broom in hand passed my
table. l inquired of him how long
the hotel had been in operation.
About month"; he said.
! The hotel goes up three stories.
1t has roof garden, Deautful
lobby lounge, private dining room,
restaurant, clean comfortable
rooms with showers, ETC., and a
pleasing personnel - willing to
serve.
It's owner lives in S25. 900
home, drives 1942-model car,
has two suits, does not have time
to hop into one of these and a tie
to make picture-he was the
man with the broom: Serious about
his business, good for Montgom-
Gerry, good for America!