Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-02-05
THE COLORED CONVENTION.
The Delegates Vote to Form a National
Organization.

The evening session Of the colored conven-
ton last night was again distinguished by
scenes of noise and disorder. The church was
crowded when, little after 8 o'clock, the chair
man made desperate attempt to bring order
out OF the existing chaos. He succeeded to
certain extent and Rev. r. d. Wynn of New
York had chance to open the session with
prayer. Soon after he was through Morton
post, No. 4, GAR, entered the church and
received a hearty welcome from the delegates.
Commander George Graham was invited to a
seat on the platform and also made a short
speech OF welcome. Mr.. J. NJ. Townsend Of
the general land office replied in an address
eulogistic of the Grand Army.
ANATIoNAL ORGANIZATION.
motion to 60 into a national organization
prevailed. and a committee was appointed with
one representative from each of the states.
They were instructed to report this evening.
From this point on for a time there was moth
ing but the widest disorder, and no attempt
was made for fully five minutes to transact
any sort of business. BY this time W. F.
Foster of Pennsylvania was on his feet and
trying to be heard in speech denouncing the
whole convention and complaining of tn.
treatment his delegation had had at the hands
of the chairman.
Ii. c. g. Astwood of New York read paper
on The negro problem; or, is it a problem?"
He was constantly interrupted by cries and cat
calls from every part Of the room. but seemed
to pay no attention to this. and his voice kept
steadily on, rising clear above all the uproar.
SPEECH BY MR.. BRUCE.
Rev. Andrew ]. Chambers OF North Carolina
spoke and ex-senator b. X. Bruce made short
speech in answer to the calls made upon him.
Mr.. Bruce discussed the needs of education in
the south and spoke in favor of the Blair bill.
urging the convention to petition Congress for
its passage and to keep at it until they had
gained their point. 1t was IL o'clock when the
meeting adjourned to meet again today at
noon.
CONVENTION NOTES.
Mr.. John NJ. Langston when he entered the
church yesterday was received with loud APP
plause and escorted to seat OH the platform,
Mrs. Roberts, ine-looking young colored
woman, occupied seat of honor at the conven-
ton yesterday. She is the widow of O for
mer president of Liberia.
Mr.. C. II. J. Taylor of Atlanta, Ca, one of
the prominent delegates to the convention,
was consul general to Liberia under President
Clsveland's administration.
Mr.. Martinez of New Orleans another dele
gate. is the editor of the Crusader. He is a
creole and man OF means. He was a repre-
sentative in the state legislature for number
of terms.
E. A. Randolph Of Virginia is a lawyer and
an ardent democrat. He owns large farm
near Richmond.
DIR. j. C. Price, the president of Livingstone
college, North Carolina, is u member Of the
convention.
Broad Axe" Smith is representative from
Pennsylvania. He is an editor and RUNS q
newspaper called '.Smith's Broad Axe" He
claims to be the only colored humorist in the
world and runs funny column in his paper
lie has published q comic book called Chips
from the Broad Axe"