Nathan D. Shapiro, anattorney at 50 Court Street, Brooklyn, and a member from 1914 to 1916 of the State Legislature, made public yesterday a number of documents showing that the Hotel Traymore, Atlantic City N.J., refused him accommodation on account of his Jewish name. Mr. Shapiro charges that there was ample accommodation at the Hotel, and offers as evidence a letter showing that three days after refusing his request for rooms for December 29, the hotel reserved “with pleasure and hopes for a pleasant satisfactory visit” a double room and private bath on the same date for “John King” and his wife/ They are a negro couple, employed by Mr. Shapiro as chauffeur and cook/ Mr. Shapiro said yesterday that it was his present intention to send them to the hotel for a New Year visit and await results.
Mr. Shapiro’s statement to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency follows:
“On Wednesday, December 19th, I personally telephoned to the New York offices of the Traymore Hotel of Atlantic City, asking for New Year’s accommodations. I was promised a report for the following day.
“On the following morning I received a telephone call stating in the most polite fashion that they were overhauling three floors and consequently had no more accommodations. The man speaking was too sweet to be either wholesome or honest and my ‘curiosity’ was therefore aroused.
“I consequently telephoned several hours later for accommodations, giving a Christian name, and I was advised that an answer would be had for me on the following morning. On the following morning I telephoned and was advised that they were very happy to make the reservation.
“Believing that people of this description would deny what they say over the telephone. I immediately wrote a letter on my professional stationery asking for accommodations, and received a telegram in reply stating that they were sorry to inform me that they are completely booked for December 29th, the day used in all my communications.
“On December 21st I sent a letter to the Traymore Hotel in the name of my colored chauffeur and he received a most cordial reply stating that accommodations have been provided for him and that they are awaiting his arrival.
“I have also since been reliably informed that the Traymore Hotel in its non-busy days is happy to have the Jews fill up its vacant rooms and merely exclude the Jews on days when Jewish patronage is not essential”.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
