The Gary American

Democracy ends at Montanio's Department store, located at 1624 Broadway.

The dry goods and miscellaneous notions store, one of the largest in the Central District, hires two Negro salesmen out of three employees, according to the recent Urban league survey which cited the store for democratic hiring practices.

But when the owners close shop at 6 p. m., and repair to their apartment on the second floor of the Montanio building the atmosphere is pure lily-white.

And they intend to keep it that way.

With the housing shortage being what it is, Montanio's nevertheless found it necessary to advertise in the classified section of the daily paper here. "Apartment for rent. White only."

Finding it hard to believe that a store which thrives on Negro trade would deliberately set up a white only housing policy in a predominantly Negro neighborhood, the Gary-American asked the store owner if the ad had been misinterpreted.

"Do you occupy one of the apartments above the store?" the newspaper reporter asked.

"Yes. I do." Montanio replied.

"The adjoining apartment is for rent."

Pause.

"For white only," the gentleman said.