The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1883-09-26
THE COLORED TROOPS.
The COlOred Independent Move
ment.
Queer Doings Of the Republican Lead
ers TO Capture the COlored
Voters.
From the Cincinnati Enquirer j


following TO say concerning the indie
pendent cOlOred movement and the dele
cation from this county:
Herbert A. Clark was at their head,
and his lieutenant was a yOuPg fellow
named Saul j. Lewis, who entered this
Democratic scheme in revenge for being
disch irged by Clark Montgomery"
His proposition was, if the Republi-
cans would guarantee him an office, that
he would work with the so-calied inde-
pendents, get on the Committee on Re-
solutions and force through straight
out Endorsement of the Republican
party. He could not get assurance of
an office, and so he has remained an in
dependent. This, in a nutshell, is the
story of the whole Independent move
ment."
The following sworn statement from
Mr.. Lewis puts an entirely different con-
structiOn on his dealings with some of
the Republicans high in power in re-
gard to the conferences had by him with
them in Columbus, and is as follows:
Mr.. Chas. W. Bell, a teacher of pen
manship of the cOlOred schools, first ap-
preached NE, and proposed to me that
'if | would only get out of this inde-
pendent movement that Governor Foster
and Captain Donaldson, of Columbus,
would guarantee me twelve-hundred
dollar position, and that, while the ap-
pOintment would not be made just now,
my salary would commence at ce. In
proof of this Mr.. Charles W. Bell showed
me a telegram, which he said was from
Auditor of State OgleVee, though he re-
fused to show me the signature. The
telegram was as follows:
"MR. BELL: In regard to Lewis, If that
can be arranged, those goods will be de-
liVeTed to him."
This occurred Monday evening, Sep
tember 10th, and during the week fol-
lowing Mr.. Charles w. Bell came several
times to see me, and asked me not to
have the list of names of independent
cOlOred citizens published in the Afro
American, and each time he repeated
that, if | would withdraw from the in
dependent movement, l would obtain a
twelye-hundred-dO position at once
and all the money could use during
the campaign.
On Friday night, September 14th, Wal
ter s. Thomas, EngTOsslng Clerk OF the
Ohio Senate, and a man WhO.iS known
all over the State as Fosters black lieu.
tenant, came down from Columbus, ami
he, with Mr.. Bell, came after me with a
hack and asked me to go with them, as
they wished to communicate to me
something important.
to Schumaun's, where they endeavOred
to induce me to accept their PROPOSE
tiOns by filling me up with chicken,
deyiled crabs, cocktails and wines. Mr..
Thomas told me that he had been furn-
ished with money to buy me anything
"my heart could wish" During our
talk at Schumann's, Messrs. Thomas and
Bell proposed to me that if | would de-
sert the independent movement, or
bring the delegation to Columbus and
then use it in behalf of their Republican
plans, should be given written guar
antee signed by Governor Foster and
Captain Donaldson that would receive
u 81 200 position in the mail service and
all the money L needed"
told Mr.. Thomas and Mr.. Bell, just
as l had told Messrs. l.. ID. EastOn and
Geo. H. Jackson, that 81 did not want
any position"
From Schumann's they took me to all
the Over -the-Rhiue resorts, they fuTn-
ishing the drinks at their own expense.
Leaving me for awhile, Mr.. Thomas re-
turned and remained with me all that
night and the next day until = o'clock,
when he left the city. During this time
Mr.. Thomas spent fully $75 or 800.
Mr.. Thomas, when he left, wanted to
know whether l would come TO COlum-
bus and see Gov. Foster. He said che
would not be in Columbus, but other
parties would be at the train to meet
me-" | told him would come to Co
lumbus, but with the Independent dele
CATION. Mr.. Thomas especially urged
me to be in Columbus Wednesday morn
ing OF noon, 80 that if it could be done,
Capt. Donaldson and Gov. Foster could
arrange the position" matter satisfac.
tOrilY.
In support of this | received the fol
lowing telegram from Mr.. Walter s
Thomas on Tuesday afternoon, Sept. IS
COLUMBUS, o., Sept. 18, 1888.
To Samuel j. Lewis, 564 W. Sixth St.
Do not fail to get here by tomorrow
noon. 1t is all arranged here, and =
party will meet you at the train. DE-
not fail. Answer at once.
| WALTER 8. THOMAS.
| Paying no attention to this telegram
| left Wednesday evening at three min
utes OF eight with the Independent del
egatiOn. l was met by Charles W. Bell
who told me he had just received tele
gram from Capt. Donaldson, stating tina
"he wished to see Mr.. Lewis, and h.
would arrange everything satisfactorily
SO anxious was Mr.. Bell for me to SCI
Capt. Donaldson that he left on the frs
Eastern train.
Arriving at Columbus was met b,
JhultS D. ylol, duObiioL VI OudiAoy II OS
ter's black lieutenauts, who had a car
riage in waiting to convey me to tn
Neil House to see Gov. Foster, who wa
waiting to see me. | refused to go, a
my friend, Ii. A. Clark, can testify, TO
we walked together from the depot t
the hotel.
Some of the delegation being unaC
quainted with Columbus failed to reae
the right hotel, and with others, wen
out to search for them. While passing
up High street with II. B. GOings an
VIM. Williams, two of our delegation
C. w. Bell came out of the Neil Hous
and requested me to come in and Sc
Capt. Donaldson. l went in and wa
introduced to the Captain. This was bt
tween 1 and o'clock Thursday morn
ing. Capt. Donaldson told me "what
ever Mr.. Thomas had proposed to me.
: accepted by me, would be carried out
He asked me to meet him again tha
5 morning at the American House at 9:3
, when, am satisfied, the final arrang,
! ments would have been made.
did not 60 to see him, as Il. A. Clar
can testify that we were in each other