Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-07
NO COLOR LINE DRAWN,
The @. A. =. Decides Not 10 Form separs
Departments In the South.

For senior vice commander-in-chief of the
q. A. r. at Detroit yesterday there was but
one candidate. Henry N. Duffield Of Michigan
being chosen by reclamation. T. 8. Clarkson
OF Nebraska, Petar B. Ayrcs Of Delaware and
Albert E. Sholes Of Georgia were nominated for
junior vice commander-in-chisf. Clarksou won
on tho first ballot. For chaplain there were
three candidates.. B. Payne Of Florida, D. c.
Miner of Kansas and A. D. Kendrich Of Iowa.
Mr.. Payne was elected. Surg. Gen. Benk I.
Stevenson Of Connecticut was reelected by &C.
clamation.
Past Commander Vim. ". Warner, chairman
OF the committee on the address Of the COM
mander-in-chief, reported resolutions. which
were adopted, petitioning Congress for legisla-
ton providing for the custody and care of
Mount McGregor cottage and for amendments
10 the Revised Statutes providing more ex-
piicitly that preference be given tho old soldier
IN government appointments and employment.
THE RACE PROBLEM.
Tho vexed trace problem" came up in the
encampment in the afternoon and was effect
ually settled for all time The special cham
pion Of the negro race was ex-Congressman
Warner of Missouri, past commander-in-chief.
The matter came before the convention when
Nr. Warner. as chairman Of the committee on
the commander-in-chiefs recommendations,
presented the following reports
Your committee has carefully considered
the clear and frank statements of the COM
mander-in-chief regarding difficulties existing
between posts in the department of Louisiana
and Mississippi. The committee has also con-
sidered all the documents submitted to and
arguments made before it rs to the causes lead
ing to the existing trouble in those depart
ments. The old posts, from one to eight in
elusive, in the departments of Louisiana and
Mississippi arc comp osed Of white comrades.
The new posts. from nine to seventeen in
elusive. are composed Of cOlored comrades.
The contention il that the latter posts are
tainted with fraud in their organization"
After rehearsing both sides of the dispute the
report concludes rs follows:
The remedy suggested of q separate depart
ment OF concurrent jurisdiction for colored
veterans involves an amendment to our rules
and regulations. The committee Il informed
that the requisite notice Of the presentation OF
this notice las been given, and therefore it is
properly before the encampment for its action.
This organization, the Grand Army Of the Re-
public from its birth at Decatur, ILL.,, in 1866,
TO this. its silver encampment, has never turned
from its post doorsany deserving comrade, how
ever humble. on account of his nationality.
creed or color. he only qualification for
membership is sp honorable discharge from the
United States army, navy Of marine corps of
1861 to 1865 as the evdenOH that he aided in
maintaining the honor, integrity aud supremacy
OF the national government during the late
rebellion, providing always that the applicant
has done nothing in civil life to cast stain on
bis honorable record in libertys cause.
During that fierce struggle for the life of
the nation we stood shoulder to shoulder as
comrades tried. 1t is too late to divide nov on
the colo- line. A mar who is good enough to
stand between the flag and those who would
destroy it when the fate of the nation was
trembling in the balance is good enough to be
comrade in any department OF the Grand
Army Of the Republic. No different rule has
been or ever shall be recognized by the sur
vivors OF the Union army and navy. No de-
partment should be established for any color
or nationality. Last year, in national encamp-
ment assembled under the shades of Bunker
Hill monument the accredited delegates OF the
q. A. H. unanimously Endorsed the following
words OF a distinguished comrade: 1t has
been my determination TO recognize as a COM
rade the equal rights of every man. no matter
what his color or nationality, provided he has
two quallhcatlons-seryice and an honorable
discharge: In this struggle OF life the strong
should aid the weak; II ennobles the former
and helps to elevate the latter.
''The platform of principles Of the G. A. r.
Is 30 broad that all honorably discharged SOL
dlers and sailors can stand upon it, In the
opinion OF your committee the fact that the de-
partment Of Louisiana and Mississippi consists
OF posts part of which are composed of white
comrades. the others of colored comrades, is
no sufficient reason for making this radical
change III our rules and regulations. Our
fraternity, charity and loyalty should be wit
messed by our deeds as well as our words. The
recommendation of the commando inc hieF is
based upon the fact that seven of the cOlored
posts OF the department Of Louisiana and Mis-
sissippi peutioned for a separate department.
Comrades representing part Of their post ap-
peared before the committee and claimed IN
argument that there was no understanding. and
that they were only petitiOning for q depart
ment to be created in the state Of Louisiana,
the same as i'll other states, in which depart
ment all comrades. white and black, should be
equally entitled to membership. and, further,
that they and those represented by them are
opposed tc the creation OF separate depart
mcnt.
In view Of the facts submitted to your COM
mitfee 1t is OF the opinion that it would be ex-
pedient to place the authority with the COM
mnnder-in-cnief to organize new or provisional
departments IN states in which there are organ
lied departments
William Warner. John P. Rea, Lucius Fair
child, Henry Painter
The following minority report was presented
on the subject:
81 concur in the recommendation contained
in the address Of the commander-in-chie in
reference to difficulties existing III the depart
ment OF Louisiana and Mississippi, and, there
fore, recommend the adoption OF the following
resolution:
Resolved. That the rules and regulations be
oo CuanSeu :b 10 uutnOrlZe the commandment
chief to organize departments of the Grand
Army OF the Republic III departments now ex-
listing whenever satisfied upon proper repre-
sensations that they may be organized without
detrlment to the Grand Army OF the Republic,
or any department organization existing in
states embraced therein. W. =. DECKER"
HEATED DISCUSSION.
Mr.. Decker of Colorado, author of the minor
ity report, argued that it was not question of
drawing the color line. The colOred men had
separate schools and churches. Why not posts?
This brought out such storm of misses from
floor and gallery that the president threatened
to clear the upstairs portion. and Decker con-
tinued by theoretically insisting that they were
not trying to draw the detestable color line.
Comrades" said Maj. Warner, when these
black men, or white men, or whatever color or
nationality they may have been, shouldered the
muskets in defense Of the Union it was not
question Of etiquette or sociabiIity, but u cues
ton Of patriotism and loyalty. Applause. I
The black man fought for flag that never, up
to that time, had protected him in anything bnt
bondage. lApplause.l This organization had
better bury the old flag, comrades had better
tear the buttoT from the breast than. now M
our heads are silvering DER with the frosts of
years, to 60 back on the principles for which
we bied." tApplause.l He pictured the situa-
ton when in the midst of the enemy even n
black face may be tho face of friend Don't
desert your principles at this hour!' he
shouted and the convention yelled for a full
minute.
Comrade johnson Of Washington, a colored