Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-02-29
WISE'S REALM OF POTS
NEGRO LEGISLATORS NDIG-
NANT AT HIS sLUR.

All Deny Having Entered the willy spi-
der's Kitchen Instead of His Parlor-
Prospects that He Has Cooked His
Own GOOse-A Feast of Fun for the
Democrats.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2s.-Special dis
patches from Richmond to New York and
Baltimore papers report that the evidence
of John 5. Wise, before the Sherman COM
mittee investigating the Danville riot. has
stirred up the colored people. Mr.. Wise
told the committee that the colored MEM
bers OF the Legislature came to see him on
business, but they always came to his
kitchen. A dispatch to the New York
Times says: "This has been accepted by
some of the colored people as reflection
upon the legislative representatives of
their race. Mr.. Wise owes his election TO
Congress principally to the support of
colored voters, who gave him more than
three-htths of all the votes cast for him.
In the Virginia House of Delegates We'd
nesday nVe colOred coalition members of
that body rose to personal privilege in
connection with the reference made TO
the colored members by Mr.. Wise.v
DIDN'T KNOW WHERE HE LIVED.
Delegate Harris, of Dinwi.slie. one of
the most intelligent cOlOFed men in the
state, SAID: "As member of the General
Assembly of Virginia, l will say that
When go to see gentleman on business
would like to see him at his office or
place OF business, where any other gentle
man would be received, and not be asked
to go in his kitchen. If Mr.. Wise meant
what he said it had no reference to me,
for don't know where he lives. / could
not hnd his house except by direction,
ana | am not one of that number that saw
him in his kitchen"
DIDN'T GO TO HIS KITCHEN,
Bland, Of Surry, speaking on the
same subject, was very pointed. and
seemed to wish the House to hear every
word he said. Said he: ~ have never
sought MIR. Wise in his kitchen. Two
years ago, If l wanted to see Mr.. Wise, |
could nave seen him upon this floor,
where he was frequently.'
The speaker evidently referred to the
last session of the Legislature, when Mr..
wise was often in the hall of the House in
consultation with members about matters
of party policy.
Scott, DOdsOn and Griffin. three more
colored members, also disclaimed any ac
quaintanceship with the culinary domains
OF BIZ. WIse's house. Each asserted that
when they go to see Mr.. Wise they will
not go to his kitchen. The remarks of the
colored members were received by the
Democratic members with evident signs
of pleasure. At times they were greeted
with loud laughter from that side. Four
negro members made no remarks.
NEITHER IN KITCHEN, PARLoR NOR
STABLE.
RICHMOND, Va, Feb. 28.-In the
House of Delegates to-day, Armisted
Green, cOlOred, arose to a question of per-
sOnal privilege as other cOlOred members
did yesterday in relation to Congressman
John ). Wise's statement before the Dan
vile Committee at Washington, that
when colored members OF the Legislature
came 10 consult him they always came
to his kitchen. He said:
MIR. Speaker, | did not indulge in any re-
marks yesterday when the colOTed members
arose to questions of privilege Because did
not say anything, of course / was considered
as acqulesclng in what the other colored mem
DeIs salQ' Wen, perhaps this is So as far as
Hon. John S. Wise is concerned He meant
members OF the legislature and colOred
members at that. am here to saw that as faras
IAN an concerned never had any transactions
WIN WIN the gentleman in my life. l say to Mr..
Nlse as do to the white population of this
country, that he never wants to use the col
ored people for nothing but their votes. l
never expect to visit him in his parlor or in
his kitchen or in his stable"
WIsE's EXPLANATION.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 80, , A. M.--John
l.. wise has furnished for publication
card explaining his te timony before Mr..
Sherman's committee. in which he spoke
OF tie colored Legislators being received
in bis kitchen. He says that Senator
sherman asked whether negroes demanded
social equality in Virginia Il replied
that they neither demanded nor expected
it; that the cOlored people We're. in
my opinion, the gentlest, most affec-
tionate and the least obtrusive race on
earth; that the social conditions were
well understood and that they were con
tent with them. For example, said l,
colored member of the LEGISLATURE had
come to my house to see me about poll
ties and gone to the kitchen, where |
went to see him and talked with him.
The person referred to was one whose
mother was in my employ. l merely
mentioned this to show that the cOlOred
people IN such positions were less exact
ing OF such recognition than white per-
bly, be-"