Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-05-16


WHAT rHE sIaNERs OF The CALL sAY-rHEY DE-
eide NOT 10 REcRD8 FROM THEIR PosITIoN-A
SUPPLEMENTAL srATEHKNr 10 BE AADE-vnws
OF SON. OF THE oox,nrrRR.
I'VE are stirred up nsaid Q prominent member
OF the committee that signed ne call for national
colored convention to be held here in September.
The remark referred to the action OF the Ttmms'
Hall meeting OF Monday night, which "repudiated
said call" In formal resoiuttons The committee
that signed the call rsAe consention got together
yesterday, snd appointed asDub-committee, con-
sisting Of Messra Fred Douglass, John r. Cook.
Perry Carson, Prof. Gregory, John A. Gray, and
others, 70 take Into consideration the present
aspect OF affairs This subcommittee had pri-
vate meeting last night After the adjournment
STAR reporter applied to some Of the members,
but most OF them were reticent
to recede from the call"
"Our committee" said Mr. Cook. ''was appointed
yet concluded its iabors. In due time it win be
given to the press"
Some members Of the committee consider that
the action OF those who attended the Monday night
meeting arose out Of feeling of Jealousy. They
say that there IS incor sstency In the Monday
night resolutions In declaring In the preamble that
then appointing committee to consider the advi-
Stability OF having a convention.
HR. COOK EXPLAINS THE SITUATION.
Mr.. John F. Cook, member of the committee
who signed the original call. said to a STAR re-
porter that Immediately after the adjournment of
congress number OF prominent colored men from
the south, including ex-Gov. Pinchback and John
T. Rapier. expressed the wants of the colored
people OF the south, their suffering from low
wages and from educational facilities, and sug
gested to gentlemen here that such q convention
be called: Steps to call such a convention were
taken by the emancipation day convention. The
only question that had divided the committee was
the place OF holding the convention, but the COM
mittee had no option, as they were created for the
purpose OF calling convention to be held here.
AS to its being a self-constituted committee, he
remarked That this committee was chosen by a
convention OF 1853 Delegates He knew but very
few OF the men who took part in the meeting Of
many cases they had no right to represent the
states which they claimed to represent.
Is suggested the e, that
"Well," said MI. Cook, II haven't made very
close analysis of the twenty-five names on our
committee, but my opinion is that not more than
twenCy-nve per cent Is composed OF the omce-
"And those who met Monday night7" said the
Il don't know many of them; but am inclined
to think that an Office wouldn't go begging among
Mr.. Cook observed that the committee had no
right to invite convention to sit In any city but
Wasnlngton, and IN giving the call the coored
people here were ready to throw their homes open
ana entertain the delegates. He said that the
purpose of the convention was not political. Poll
tics might come within the scope OF the conven-
ton Incidentally
WHAT Mr.. CARSON SAYS.
Mr.. Perry 81. Carson, a member of the commit
tee and the man who offered the original resolu-
tion providing for the call OF the convention when
asked by STAR reporter what he had to say for
himself, observed: 1.-THE thing that prompted me
to oner the resolution calling the convention was
that we, as colored people, had not met together
thought that Offering the resolution at the time
OLD oHer 1t, calling our people together to consult
over matters in general, would be good thing for
our people. That is about as much as / have to
say about the matter 1t was not for the purpose
OF considering the do1ngs of the administration,
"The men Who oppose ' the conv p y sur-
gested The STAR reporter, "say you have no right
"These gentlemen from the southern states.v
said Mr.. Carson, "claim that they have more
right to call a convention than men in the Dis
trict, because we are not voters. They, however,
they vote down there and their votes amt
counted We have no vote here TO count. That
is an me dinerence and think we stand on par
with them. Some OF these gentlemen" continued
MIR. Carson, "who claim to represent southern
states. have not seen the southern states for ten
years. One of them know has been In iail here
Tor nine months"
WHAT MR.. DOUGLASS SAYS.
Mr. Frederick Douglass, when asked to-day by a
STAR reporter what his committee would do, said:
Sc 1t Is the purpose OF this committee that issued
the call to obtain from the convention that APP
pointed them the power to submit the question OF
the time and place Of holding the national conven
ever the majority OF those states decide in the
matter the call will confirm tor
MIR. Douglass, in speaking OF the convention, OBJ
served that he had been led in this matter rather
than taken the lead. He had either to accept the
duty imposed upon him or appear to oppose the
proposition OF holding the convention. and he did
not want to oppose it. He was prepared, he said
last evening, to make some concessions,
but the members OF the committee had their pluck
up and would not agree to it. Mr.. Douglass has
prepared series Of resolutions. setting forth the
opposition to the call which might inure the infiu
setting aside all considerations growing out of
local pride, &C., and advising that the call be so
amended as to meet the chief objections urged
against it. II do not believe" said Mr.. Douglass,
after reading these resolutions which concilia-
tory In tone, "that they will be adopted" Speak
Ing OF the men who had made aSpersiOns upon the
committee that signed the call, Mr.. Douglass said
ne did not care to enter upon a discussion OF the
personal merits OF these gentlemen. Some of them,
he said, "Were birds without local habitatiOnn