St. Paul daily globe., 1891-05-28
The AFRO AMERICANS
Doings Of Minnesota Colored
Men in Convention at
Minneapolis.
a Resolution IndoPsing Har
rison's Candidacy Causes
Mneh Discussion.
1t Is Finally Concluded the
Part Of Wisdom to
Shelve 1t.
A Parting Shot at the Men
Who Opposed the Force
Bill.

met at the city hall yesterday, num-
bered about fifty representative colored
men, the majority of whom reside in st.
Paul and Minneapolis. They were de-
| cidedly talkative, and the meeting
might have been mistaken for an effort
to establish a branch of the third party
| given birth at Cincinnati, SO vigorous
and loquacious were the speakers. w.
| r. Morris, the Minneapolis attorney.
who is vice president for Minnesota of
| the 'Afro-American league, called the
| convention 10 order, and was elected
temporary chairman; T. e. Parker, of
| st. Paul, was elected permanent chair
man. The following committees were
| appointed:
| Credentials-A G. Plummer, j T. Barrett,
! ID. A. Sanders, George Williams, j. q. Ster-
| rett.
Resolutions-A. G. Plummer. j E. Hardy
| j. w. Dunjee, j. 6. Sterrett, j. e. Anderson,
| E. Woods, j. ID. Parker.
Permanent OrganiZation-A. L. Neal, j.
| Y. Barrett, U. o. Morfeti, II. H. W. Davis, E.
| Woods.
Address,. W. Dunjee, William Smith, B.
| G. Yancy, E. p. Wade, John Cunningham.
| Constitution and By-Laws-W II. Morris,
| F. l.. MeGhee. S. E. Hardy, Benjamin Day,
| ID. A. Saunders.
Rules-F. L. McGhee, s. c. Blake, D. A.
| Graham.
This was the sur: total of the busi-
ness transacted in the morning, al
| though there were some remarks from
| Rev. ID. Ii. Graham and lengthy paper
| by ID. A. Sanders, of st. Paul.
| In the afternoon the convention got
| down to real work and She fun began.
| The committee OH permanent OrganlZa-
| ton reported +. p. Wade, of st. Paul,
| for chairman, and +. ID. Plummer for
| secretary.
The report OF the committee on ad-
| dress was read, the substance OF which
| is as follows, was next read and adopted:
To the Citizens of the State of Minnesota:
| We believe it to be our clear duty to state
| in brief the reasons which force us to meet
| in a state convention for the purpose of
organizing a state Afro-American league.
| We are citizens of the great state of Mime
| sofa; we are not aliens. In war and peace,
| in the avenues of industry, upon the fields
| OF carnage, where the soldiers of the nation
| battied for the perpetuation of the republic,
| we have done our duty. We haye been true
to the constitution, true to the best traditions
| of the republic, and we feel that the nation
| will adjudge our contention just and the
course we have deemed it wise to pursue in
| telligent. manly, upright and patriotic AL
though slavery has been abolished, all indus
| trial system has been established in certain
| sections unjust, grinding, degrading and in
human. While such unjust and insulting
| measures as the separate coach laws of Texas
| and Tennessee disgrace the statutes, it can
| not be denied that our brethren in many
| places are deprived of the benefits of citizen
ship, though we are co equal citizens OF the
| republic. In many states the public opinion
| of our white fellow-citizens has wholly failed
| to keep pace with the progress of the Afro
| American as man and citizen. We are
forced to believe that the nation has ceased
| to honestly. consistently and energetically
| concern itself with the Importance of the
| denial to Afro Americans of the rights and
| privileges guaranteed, them by the highest
| law of the land We are thoroughly con-
| vinced that 1t is absolutely necessary for the
| preservation and maIntainence of our sacred
! right as citizens, of our cherished rights to
| life and protection TO property, to place our
| selves i'll such position as to most effectually
| and thoroughly arouse the conscience of the
| entire people.
! The address invited the cooperation of all
| lovers of justice in organizing the league
| stated that they enjoyed more rights in this
| state than are enjoyed in many others, and
| our statute books have not been dIsgraced by
! odious black laws, and all political rights
| are enjoyed, yet they are practically debarred
| from many avenues of obtaining livelihood.
| While the progress of the race is source of
| pride during the past twenty eight years, the
time is ripe for permanent progress.
| 1t is hoped the avenues of trade, the doors
| of the machine shop, the various marts of
| exchange will not be closed i'll the face of
| colored boys and girls. The Afro-Americans
| of the state were asked to awake and have
and determination to act as one man for
the good of the people,
1t was finally decided to take up the
provisions of the majority report seria-
tim, and in this form they were adopted.
F. ID. Parker then moved its adoption
as whole, but his motion was ignored
by the chair, and the minority report
was read by sections.
The only portion OF it which was
adopted was the section indorSing and
| expressing thanks to Archbishop Ire
| land for his efforts on behalf Of the col
| ored people. The committee on consti-
tuition and bylaws submitted a report
following very closely the lines of the
national constitution and bylaws, which
was adopted. On nmotion of S. E. Hardy
a ten-minute. recess was then taken.
When the convention had been called
to order the election Of officers was
taken up, and it was decided to elect
| by roll call.
Chairman E. P. Wade then called Rev.
Graham to the chair. and taking the
floor nominated F. l.. McGhee, of Ram
sey, Tor the Office of president. When
he had concluded, Mr.. McGhee arose
and briefly stated that he had made up
his mind when asked to become
a candidate for the Office and
had told his friends at that time that in
case the Hennepin delegation should
present the name of his friend William
Il. Morris he would refuse to enter into
competition with him, and as he had
been informed that such was the pur-
pose Of the Hennepin delegation and
that if Mr.. Morris desired the Office he
should withdraw in his favor Rev. J.
w. Dungee theu presented the name of
William Il. Morris. On motion of d. FL.
Sanders, of Ramsey, Mr.. Morris was
unanimously declared the choice OF the
convention for president of the league
E. Z. Wade, of Ramsey, was then nom
mated for the Office of vice president
by A. j. Plummer, of Hennepin, and on
motion of Rev. j. w. Dungee, of
of the convention by acclamation.
Then occurred the first hitch in the
election. William Smith. of Henuepin,
was nominated for the Office of secre-
tary by Rev. Dungee. d. Fl. Sanders
nominated f. ID. Parker, of Ramsey,
and Samuel Hardy nominated A. j.
Plummer, of Hennepin. Mr.. Smith
withdrew his name, and later Mr.
Plummer followed his example, leaving
the field in undisputed possession of the
delegate from Ramsey, who was elected
urer there were five nominations-D. G.
| Young, of Medina Mills; E. Woods. of
Hennepin; j. A. Van Spence, of Litcll-
field; John Cunningham. of Ramsey,
and Rev. D. A. Graham, of Hennepin.
| All withdrew excepting Messrs.
Woods and Van Spence, and the latter
was elected by vote of p to Is.
For the office of attorney +. l.. McGhee
placed in nomination u. B. Mitchell, a
young law student in the Office of Will
lam Il. Morris, and Rev. j. W. Dungee
nominated Mr.. McGhee. Mr.. Mitchell
withdrew his name in brief speech,
stating that he felt that Mr.. McGhee,
being man of greater experience,
could fill that high office much more ac-
ceptably than he could. Mr., McGhee
was then elected by acclamation. An
executive committee of five, consisting
of John 7. Sterritt. ID. a. Sanders. r.