The historic times. [volume] (Lawrence, Kansas) 1891-1891, 1891-09-05

/ met Rev. j. M. Gilmere, presiding
elder of the Ohio conference, A. NJ. E.
church, the other day, and knowing
that the elder is an extensive traveller,
engaged him in conversation upon the
condition of the Afro-Americans in
places he had recently visited. Rev.
Gilmere is a young man, being not over
thirty-fve years of age. He is bright
minister, hard student and close OBJ
server of things in general, and about
his only failing, if failing it can be
called, is his too aggressiveness. That
is he is one of those fire eaters" as is
the term usually applied to men who
are never for compromise, but always
in favor of force. Like many Metho-
dist ministers, he has soft side for
politics, although he has never taken
any active participation in politics to
the extent of holding or seeking Office.
"Well, elder, what do you know?" was
the question we piled him with. Re-
moving his hat and wiping the perspira-
ton from his brow (all Methodist min
listers perspire) he said, II know
thing or two guess, and one of those
is l have just finished a trip through
large portion of Ohio, and | noticed
that the colored voters were generally
considerably exercisedr' ''Well, elder"
said I, you know as general
thing, colored voters are consider
ably exercised before an election,
but invariably become reconciled
by the time election day rolls around"
"Agree with you, agree with you, was
his quick response, ''but my friend,
the Australian ballot system adopted
in Ohio is going to afford a protection
to them now" Anticipating his mean
ing, we said, 81 suppose you mean they
can vote as they please now and need
not fear of being detected and marked
for party isolation?" "Just so, just
so, said he, land you will find that the
colored voters of Ohio will be as uncer-
tain and mysterious a quantity as the
farmer vote" Our greatest desire was
to learn something regarding the
Negroes financial condition, and know
ing that when the elder fell to discussing
the political situation he continues at
an indefinite length of time, we inter-
rupted him by asking him how he found
the Negro progressing financially. Rev.
Gilmere has a peculiar style of repeat
ing his opening sentences, and in keeping
with this style or manner, he answered:
''Oh blooming, Oh blooming, why it's
wonderful what strides he is making in
that direction, and don't lose sight of
the fact that | never miss an oppor-
tunity to impress upon, and instill into
them ideas of frugality. Our race has
a natural tendency to improvidence,
caused of course by slavery; every evil
that we are heir to is traced to that
accused institution, and when you see
them practicing frugality, it's an evil
dence of progress sure. In my travels
/ have watched particularly to see if
my race was prospecting from a finan-
cial standpoint, and l have been agree
ably surprised to notice the general
tendency to lay up for rainy day.
mark my word for it, young man,
Afro Americans will within the next
fifty years produce Gould and Rock
efeller."
Elder Gilmore is quite frugal himself,
and is laying aside for himself for fu-
ture days. He is possessed of some fine
property in and out of Columbus, and if
he fails to become a Gould, his heir in
authorization, may emulate this great
money king.