Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-09-30
Representatives Of Thirty-Five OF
Them Come Together Here.
THEY ISSUE A LENGTHY ADDRESS
10 Their Brethren of the State, Calling
Upon Them to Come Out.
STRONG FOR POLITICAL INDEPENDENCE

which were represented at the meeting. The
following delegates answered the roll call:
j. H. W. Howard, Dauphin county; John
5. Price, Bucks: James Miner, Dauphin;
Theodore S. Fry, Dauphin; w. H. Still, Berks;
Charles Pofel, Dauphin; David Wilson, Ian
caster; Harry Clark, Dauphin; A. A. Stew
art, Washington; Abram M. Dobson, Jr,
Philadelphia: Nicholas Butler, Dauphin;
Walter S. Brown, Allegheny; John Slaugh-
ter, Lycoming; W. II. Boone, Dauphin;
George H. Still, Lehigh; j. Henry johnson,
Fayette; Joseph Greenlea, Washington;
Christopher Patterson, Washington; Henry
Baptist, Washington; W. R. Brown, Lancas-
ter; and the following from Allegheny
county: George C. Smith, Thomas Carter,
Thomas Allsop, W. H. Harley, John Price.
William II. Gordon, B. Gordon, ]. Allen and
W. H. Hanger.
WELCOMING THE DELEGATES.
After the roll call Walter s. Brown de-
livered the addresr of welcome. He was
proud to speak to the first convention OF
the colored Democrats of the State as dis
tinct body. He denied that the colored
man owed his freedom to the Republican
party. James Howard, of Harrisburg, re-
sponded in behalf of the League. He was
loudly applauded. A committee consist
ing of James H. w. Howard, A M. Dob
son, Jr., j. Slaughter, A. A. Stewart, w.
L. Brown and w. H. Wagner was named
to prepare an address to the colored voters
of Pennsylvania.
At the afternoon session the first business
was the election of officers for the ensuing
year. 1t resulted as follows: President,
William Still, Berks county; Vice Presi-
dents, c. S. Popel, Dauphin, and John
Price, Philadelphia; Secretary, A. Dobson,
Jr., Philadelphia; Assistant Secretary,
Theodore Fry, Harrisburg; Treasurer, Allan
w. Tuvnage, Philadelphia; Executive Com
mittee, Joseph H. w. Howard, Dauphin;
N. L. Buster, Dauphin; Thomas A1lsop,
Allegheny; John Slaughter, Lycoming;
William Hanger, Allegheny; David Truitt,
Philadelphia; Russell Thomas, Carlisle;
David Wilson, Lancaster; William Porter,
Dauphin, and g. W. Havley, Allegheny.
William Still, the newly elected Presi-
dress. Delegate Price, of Bristol said he
understood some efforts would be made to
interfere with the meetings by Repub-
icans.
OUTSIDERS NOT ADMITTED.
He asked the Chairman to keep out of
the hall all who were not delegates. This
was promised. The resignation of r. G..
Still, of Philadelphia, one of the organizers
of the League, was read, and after some dis
cussion, was laid on the table.
On motion of Mr.. Hanger it was decided
that the League attend the next National
Convention in body, and a committee of
five was appointed to make all the necessary
arrangements. The name of Grover Cleve-
land was brought out during the motion and
was created with 1Oud aDnlause
The following addressto the colored vot-
ers of the State was read and adopted and
ordered published.
We, the Democratic Colored State League
and Colored Independents in convention
realize that there are q large
class of citizens in this vast Commonwealth
scattered throughout its several counties in
many of which counties their votes carry to
success the dominant party with which they
are allied. This being an questionable fact
we appeal to the large class of voters which
we in part represent, to stop and ponder for
a moment over the existing condition of
affairs.
NOT RIGHTLY REPRESENTED.
There are 81 counties in tile State of Penn
sylvania. With but one exception this large
mass of voters is without any representa-
tion made by the voice of the people. The
so-called balance of poweralleged to be held
by the Afro American voters has been almost
II not absolutely ineffective so far as their
interests are concered. Is it not time to so
act that the future of the negro in this great
fined that all parties of whatever political
faith will be compelled to regard him as
free, intelligent and independent voter upon
all the issues that shall confront the
prejudice rather than by better judg-
ment. The eyes of the nation are now CEN
tered upon Pennsylvania, the heads of her
people are hung in shame, corruption and
o,,1 lor- hn1I IN hirr1 ;a1
places. County and State officers have used
public Office as private possession to such
extent that the Executive of the Common
wealth has been compelled in obedience
to his duty to the people, acting upon the
of the State to call an extra
session of the proper legislative body of the
Common wealth to act upon serious charges
made against two officials the Auditor Gen
eral and the Treasurer of the State, which
if proven true, will necessarily lead
to impeachment and final and shameful
disgrace.
GREAT RECORD OF THEIR RACE.
1t is truly said that no race of people after
more than two centuries Of brutal slavery,
the tendency of which was to crush out all
the higher attributes of men have ever made
the progress, made by the Afro-American
since his emancipation. 1t behooves us now
to jealously guard this compliment paid us
by the nations of the world. We must no
longer be governed by our prejudices and
passions. but tin:our ever growingj intelli-
gence and abilities show to the world that
we are keeping pace with the progressive
spirit of the American people of which we
are part
We sincerely appeal to the Afro. American
voters of Pennsylvania to organize them
selves in every county in the State for the
purpose of protecting and advancing their
interests in common with the whole people
upon such terms as shall bring to them
proper recognition in industrial and polit-
ical offices. We advise them to take a firm
IL u
est politics, for representation in county
and State offices given by the suffrages of
the people. We advise them to insist upon
the opening Of the doors of their mills and
them to use their ballot to bring about such
an end.
FAVOR TARIFF REFORM.
The State of Pennsylvania, with all her
vast industrial interests from which the
negro is excluded, is the cradle of protec-
tionism. In view of the fact that a great
majority of the fro-Americans dwelling in
the State are consumers and not producers,
we favor such reform in the tariff as will
reduce the necessaries of life to the lowest
possible minimum. We appeal to the Afro
American voter to oppose a protective
tariff which only protects a few at the ex-
pense of the many.
We commend the wise and judicious ad-
of Governor Robert E. Patti
son, and urge upon the oolored voters of
this State the necessity of supporting the
party which now stands prominently be-
lore the people as the earnest advocates of
pure, clean and honest politics.
Last nights meeting was public, and was
not very well attended, not over 80 being
present. The meeting was presided over
by President Still, who introduced as the
lrst speaker Senator Homer j. Humes, of
Crawford county.
MR.. HUMES MAKES A SPEECH.
Senator Humes had only arrived in the
'ity at o'clock and was hardly prepared to
make speech, but consented to say a few
words. The speaker then started off by say
ing that white man was as good as a negro
IN long az he babovad b;,orolf rrLo, are