The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1888-05-03
THE COLOR LINE.

Much capital has been thought to be
made by democrats and democratic
auxiliaries in the shape of so called in
dependent movements out of the fact
that colored nominee on the repub-
lican ticket at Topeka was defeated
while the rest of the ticket was victo-
rious. 1t was claimed that the repub-
licans had use for the colored votes
only when votes were wanted, and that
no official or other reward were given
them.
The following letter by Prof. S. G..
Watkins, one of TOpeka's smartest and
best educated eolored men, throws a
little light on the subject and shows
that the cOlored people have little to
complain of in that city at least, where
there are two colored judges, eleven
out of thirty policemen, eight colored
firemen on the paid department, and
any number of others working on pub
lie works.
The letter we clip from the Ameri-
can Citizen, the new paper started at
Topeka in the interests of democracy
under the disguise of an independent
movement in the interests of the color
ed people.
The editors of this paper are the
parties who called convention to
meet in EmpOria last week, and, after
having notified the entire colored pOpu-
lation of the state of the meeting, at
the last moment-a day or two before
the date-withdrew the call and said
there would be no convention. Several
promenent colored men, however, came
to attend, and went away disguised
with the promoters of the movement,
but still uncertain whom to blame, the
call having been signed by two would
be colored politicians in this city, and
the recall signed by the same. Both of
them claim now to have been acting
under instructions of the editor of the
American citizen, in conjunction with
the colored editor Of aSpaper published
in Wichita.
Following is Prof. Watkins answer
to some of the American Citizens ar.
guments in favor of the independent
movement:
EDITOR OF THE AMERICAN CITIZEN:
"A so-called independent movement
has been started among the colored
people of Topeka. The object is to de-
feat the republican party at the ballot
box this fall, especially in the election
of county officers. In short, the lead
cratic ticket this fall and the demo
cratic city ticket next spring.
The great question is, is this a wise
and judicious move? Does it not en-
danger our material and political pros
perity in this city and county? May
not the result be that, instead of the
very large number of colored men and
boys, many of them with their teams,
now employed at the city's and
county's works, we shall have only a
few employed? The movement is full of
danger to us for the following reasons:
~ We have two justices of the peace,
one in the city, the other in the
county, elected by republican votes.
These justices are doing a thriving
business and are great credit to us.
Judge Jamison will be candidate for
reelection next spring. May not this
independent move divide the vote
and thus defeat him? May not the
same prove true of Judge Overton also?
~ We now have eleven policemen out
of thirty. Suppose the independent
move succeeds. What will follow?
Why, instead Of eleven efficient police
officers we would have only two or
three. (3) There is our colored fire de-
partment-the pride of our city-the
child of the republican party. In it
are eight regular firemen. MAY not
this move destroy it? May il not also
cause our most excellent deputy sheriff,
Mr.. Kugkendall. to lose his position?
Besides these there are two or three
others regularly employed by the coun-
ty-making about twenty-five in all,
who draw regular pay from the city or
county. There are also eight or ten
of our leading men filling positions
at the state house, with credit TO
themselves and honor to US. Then
look at the very large number of col
ored men, many of them with their
boys and teams, employed at the city's
work. Go where you may in the city
and you see colored men doing public
work. If this independent move sue
ceeds the great mass of these will be
compelled to step down and seek en-
ployment elsewhere. l advise the men
who are engaged in the move and all
others to consider well the things above
before they 60 farther. May
we not, indeed, is it not highly proba-
BILE that we will, by an independent
political move, kill the hen which now
lays for us, each day, golden egg?
5. G.. WATKINS.
Topeka. April 18th. 1888.