Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-10-19
Bob Harlan Beaten by tho Rap
nsfa,

The parties mentioned in the fol-
lowing, from the Cincinnati Enquirer,
Bob Harlan, the noted colored
sport and the Reverend" vii.
liams, are both pretty well known in
this city:
They tell me-" said an Eoquirer
rover yesterday, as he submitted his
fair features to the manipulation of a
barber man Of the African persuasion
who Yields a razor ia one of the fash
ionable barber shops Of Vine street,
that lots of the colored folks voted
against Bob Harlan; that his own
race, in fact, defeated him.
Il spee't that So" said one of the
men OF African descent who, though
not personally addressed, overheard
the remark and at once volunteered
his information.
What reason had the colored peo-
pie for scratching Colonel Harlan?"
Because" replied the tonsorial
artist, he is not a representative Of
the race"
Why" said our scribe, in astoni,h
ment, Il thought he was the foremost
man among you, and certainly be has
always identified himself with the
race IN every movement for the sd-
vancement Of their interest"
Yes; be knows Us said the Young
African, about election times, when.
ever he tan make use Of Us Tor his
own benefit, bat he doesn't know Us
aiterwsrd Aud so We didn't know
him on last Tuesday"
Why, hasn't he always made him
self one Of your
No. Before the adoption of the
Fifteenth Amendment and the con
sequent control Of political power By
the colored race, Bob Harlan never
identified himself with the colored
people, and ever since, as | have said,
he doesn't take much stock in the
rest Of Us except when he wants Office
or political spoils Of some kind"
And that is the reason Of his de-
feat?"
YES; l think so. Ifyou will look
back at the returns you will see that
in the precincts where the heaviest
cOlored vote reside, Harlan fell eff the
most. Out OF the twenty-five hundred
oOlOred votes in the county, | think be
lost not less than nine hundred"
Didn't Bob's reputation as a sport
ing man have something to do with
the result?' asked our interested
agent.
Yes; the religious colored folks
went back on him on that account.
and through the efforts of Williams
and other Hard-Shell Baptists he lost
a great many votes. You can sec that
in the T~wenty-fith Ward, where
there is a large colored Baptist ele.
ment. and where Williams has special
influence. You bet he didn't lose any
time working against Harlan among
those old Hsrd-Shells; and his work
counted, too.
We'll" said our sinner, "all | have
to say is that Harlan is, in ny opinion.
a d-n sight better man than this same
Williams, with all Of his piety, proved
to be-"
That may be So" said the colored
friend, but the fact remains that
Williams and the pious people did do
Harlan much damage; and besides
that, continued this communicative
person, there we're a number of lead
ing colored men who, while pretend.
ing to work for Harlan, we're quietly
doing their best to heat him."
WHO were they?"
We'll, | don't want to give them
away, but | think Charley Bell didn't
want Bob elected, and | don't think
Peter Clark and a number of Others
whom | might mention arc very sorry
over the result"
And 50 then, you think Bob was
killed by his own color?"
Yes, | haven't the least doubt of
it, and moreover, | amt sorry for it. If
the Republicans want to give the
colored people a show, let them put
up a colored man in fact, one who
represents the race, and is not
ashamed 10 be known as one of us at
any and all times, and he will get our
solid vote. W. will not vote for the
snides and place-huDfereU