Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-09-19
COULDN'T WORK THEM.
One of Boss Wells Little Schemes
That Failed.
A Purpose 10 Use the COfored Voters
Knocked Out-Last Nights Meeting.
and What Came oft


and What Came or IL.
Boss Wells considers himself diplo
mat in political affairs. He regards him
self general when it comes to massine
the armies of republicanism, but the boss
undertook task last evening which he
was entirely unable to handle. L. is 9
we'll known fact that since Postmaster
Hollis appointment the colored citizens OF
Moline have been endeavoring to secure
recognition in the postoffice there to
have one of their race made a carrier-bu,
in these aims they have repeatedly failed.
The disappointment they were thus sub
jected to fiually led to Indignation, and
becoming alarmed at the probable revol,
the little bosses up in Moline placed the
matter in Boss Wells hands, and petit
toned him to devise a way of letting
them out of their predicament. The boss
put his wits to work and after flying
around for few days he gave
his lieutenant, Carrier Burris. vs.
cation and told him to work up a
mass meeting of the colored citizens of
Rock Island and Moline, to select the
right kind of man to run it and to Sc
cure the endorsement OF measures to
which the republican party has lent its
| support.
The meeting was held last evening in the
little colored Baptist church up near the
Moline line. Jesse Hall. another protege
of the republican bosses, had been selected
as chairman of the meeting, which by the
way was quite well attended. He called
the assemblage to order, outlined the or,
der of proceedings. made himself chair.
man and proceeded to run things with a
high hand wien the meeting asserted it.
self and elected Harry Moore secretary.
In accepting the honor Mr.. Moore stated
that he desired to act understandingly
und that he wanted his position clearly
defined and understood. The republi-
can party, he said. had always claimed to
be the friends of the colored race, "but, =
said MIR. Moore, "you ask them for any,
thing and see how they evade the Ques-
ton; go to them before election and you
are just little too early; go to them
after election Anu y2s are just little too
late. That's the way they gett around it.
The truth of it is the negro has no snow
with the republicans. He is mere tool.
A Chinamsn. if he had a right to vote,
would be ahead of the negro in getting
favors from tie republicans"
The organization having been com.
pleted, Chairman Hall proposed the ap.
pointment of committee on resolutions
endorsing the Lodge bill and without
formalities put the motion, carried it him
self and appointed the committee com,
posed OF Richard Terrell, Henry Burris,
Sandy Terry, Harry Moore and Ed. Green
At this juncture Mr. Moore asked who
had called this meeting. and if anyone but
the chairman had any rights in the house.
Half dozen other men were on their feet
at once, but the chair refused to recog-
nize them. This meeting he said had
been called for colored republicans and if
anyone was going with the democrats he
had better get out. This intensified the
feeling against the presiding officer, who
was termed by Jim Lane, John Cooper and
Others a dictator of Tom the Reed stripe
of boss, etc. IF the republicans want the
Lodge bill passed and are not ashamed of
it" said Mr.. Moore. why don't they do
it. Thev'e got the house. the senate and
the president. What more do they wantt
Why do they need our endorsement
They merely want to use US as TOOLS"
This is a scheme of Boss Wells to use
us colored people" put in Jim Lane
land for one don't propose to be use d
that way"
Mr.. Chas. Wilson. of Port Byron, spoke
at some length. he had been, he said
slave twenty years in the south. and
had been slave twenty-five years in the
north. He had Away been republican,
but had arrived at the conclusion that it
was time for change of front if he de-
sired to be out of bondage. The saliva
ton of the colored man did not lie in the
republican party. The only solution of
the colored problem was an independen t
political organization without utilization
with either of the old parties. The coll
ored race was strong enough in numbers
and influence to assert itself 1t was
powerful enough in this state. 1t had
helped the republicans in this state.
What reward had it received at SPRING
fieldt He believed in getting out of
bondage, and voting as it saw fit for its
own Interests and the welfare of the col
ored race.
The meeting. after further remarks, ad.
journed to a future date, having failed
entirely of its purpose, though a few of
our coloTed citizens had had an oppor-
tunity Of expressing their views Of things
political.
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Safe ampstheatre seats giving full view
OF carnival of boats. can be procured at