The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-08-27
COLORED MEN NOT WANTED
Patriotic Order of Sons of America Re-
fuses to Remove the Word white"
Four-Fifths Vote Required to Eliminate the
Word from the Constitution. and That Num-
Der the Negroes Friends Cannot Muster.

PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 2.-The session of
the national convention of the Patriotic
Order of Sons of America this morning
was a secret one. The question of admit
ting colored members into the order con
sumed the entire morning. 4 number of
ballots were taken, but each one resulted
the same, fifty-nlne in favor of the admit
lance of colored members and thirty-one
against it. Most of the opposition to the
eliminating of the word white" from the
constitution comes from the delegates from
Illinois and Ohio, who voted as a unit
against it. A four-fifths vote of the entire
convention Is necessary TO make any altera-
tions in the constitution of the order.
The importance of the question before
the convention. the breaking down of the
color line. to which the order has steadily
adhered, was plainly evidenced by the full
attendance of the delegates. The question
came up on a motion to strike out the word
white" in the constitution relating to the
qualifications of members. Common COun-
cIIor stephen Il. Gipson. of the Seventh
ward, and q member of Washington Camp.
No. $40, of this city. composed of colOred
men, was accorded the privilege of the
floor, and for one hour made a powerful and
eloquent appeal for the recognition of his
race.
The sentiment of the convention was
strongly in favor of admission, the Penn
sylvania delegation being unanimous in
the cOlOred mans favor, but an arbitrary
clause in the constitution requiring a four
tifths vote to annul or change the constitu-
ton enabled the opponents to defeat the
measure. A vote on the motion found six
ty in favor and thirty-fOur against, but be-
fore the result was announced two MEM
huro WIN y-nfaA ~, thu N fir NJ, va nhonnnH
their vote from yea &c nay In order to en-
able them to move for u reconsideration.
Prominent among those who spoke elo-
quently in favor of the cOlored mans ad-
mission were j. II. Williams, of Colorado:
Colonel Robertson. of Illinois; ex~-COngress-
man Brum. of Schylkill county. and
against this admission DR.. L. Z. Murdoch,
of Chicago. and j. A. Kilton, of Colorado.
During the progress of the debate a tele-
gram from New Orleans was received,
which conveyed the sentiment of the Lou
isianians on the!subject. The dispatch, which
was signrd by the officers of the State En-
campment. read: I'VE wire that the Ma
tional Encampment ~atleast postpone action
on the color question another year. Fur
Their discussion will bring more light and
better understanding of the real conditions
South to our brethren of the North, who
can then act more advisedly,"
AT the evening session q motion to recon-
slider the question of admitting cOlOred
men was made but lost. The tabling of the
motion without a vote was the work of the
members in favor of admitting colOred
members. who by this device left
the question still open. The question
will probably be called up again
tomorrow. There were discussions On
changes to the constitution and the ritual.
The following nominations OF officers were
made: National president. GeorgeP. Smith,
of Colorado, andG. +. Hutton. of Pennsyl-
vania; national vice. president, j. II. Will
Jams, of Colorado; master of forms. G. NJ.
Reed. of New Jersey. NJ. S. Evans, of Kansas,
and H.. o. Kutz, of Ohio; secretary, +. f..
Steise, of Pennsylvania. and L. w. Hende-
ley, of Ohio; assistant secretary, C.. M.
Taylor. of Pennsylvania; treasurer. j. II.
HOfer. of Pennsylvania; chairman, Rev. j.
b. May, of Pennsylvania: conductor, j: H.
KiltOn, of Colorado, p. g. Hess. of Ohio;
inspector, j.. Ii. Hughes. of Pennsylvania;
guard. DR.. w. A. Foss, of Missouri.