that the first leading case involving the right of street car companies to separate their passengers by race arose. Instances of actual discrimination against Negroes by common carriers were found in Illinois, Iowa, and California. How common race distinctions are in the States mentioned the above resumé does not clearly show, because the great majority of grievances caused by race distinctions do not reach the court. But when one finds that the legislature has deemed it advisable to enact a law against race distinctions, it is reasonable to assume that they did in fact exist. For instance, five States, all outside the South, prohibit discriminations by insurance companies on account of race. Had these companies not evinced signs of discrimination against Negroes, such statutes would not have been enacted. It is well known that race distinctions are common in the South. Were this general prevalence of race distinctions fully realized, the result would be a kindlier feeling one to another among the white people of the various sections. They would then see that the presence or absence of race distinctions is due, not to any inherent difference in the character of the people, but to diverse conditions and environment. When, therefore, the Negro children of Upper Alton, Illinois, are seen to constitute an appreciable percentage of the school population, the people of that town, as the people of a Southern town would do under similar circumstances, demand for them a separate school. RACE DISTINCTIONS NOT CONFINED TO ONE RACE Race distinctions are not confined to any one race. It is true that most of the statutes and judicial decisions above referred to relate to the Negro because he belongs to a race which is the largest non-Caucasian element in the United States. Where, however, other race elements exist in considerable numbers, similar distinctions are sanctioned. One finds, for instance, in California and other States of the Far West, where Japanese are numerous, laws prohibiting intermarriage between Mongolians and Caucasians, and requiring separate schools for the two races. Similar laws have been enacted wherever there is an appreciable number of Indians. Wherever, in other words, any two races have lived together in this country in anything like equal numbers, race distinctions have been recognized in the law sooner or later; and, before becoming legally recognized, have existed in practice. RACE DISTINCTIONS NOT DECREASING