Asheville daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1890-1900, 1891-04-28
COLORED PEOPLE MEET
HARRISON h. BROWN NOMI.
MATED FOR ALDERMAN.


Muaic. Sueeches and OppOsitiOn
to the Improvenent RiIi at the
Court House Last NiRht-FavOr
the school Appropriation.
The Improvement Dill held lively re-
ccption last night in the house of the
colored continent and a feature of the
ue,.,u o,aI =,
.'ee was oman We "" >'>' ~
derman IN the city council.
| From nine o'clock till the day changed
tbe walls of the courtroom echoed TO
the music of the hand the work of mr.
panization snecches of elouuence from
iips accustomed and home. spun oratory.
After the hand had played several airs
from the balcony the cs..,,t room rapidlv
filled and the meeting was called to order.
Henry Saxton was elected chairman and
Prof. F. L. Gain secretary.
H.B. Brown was called upon to state
the object of the meeting. He said it had
been called for various objects, the first
of which was the consideration of the
question, Does the colored element of
Asheville favor the nomination of man
from their own ranks to be a member of
the CITY council"
After much talk the matter has sim
mcrcd down to the question of showing
our colors, and as we have but one. and
that a "East" black. we have decided to
stand by it. The speaker paid his com
pliments to the present CITY government,
and the white people of Western North
Carolina, the latter of whom he declared
to be the best people in the south, and
closed his talk with offering a motion
that committee of thirteen he appoin-
ted to consider the nomination above,
and present for the action of the meeting
name for their suffrages.
The motion prevailed and the follow
ing committee was named: Thomas
Foruey. Robert Smith. w r. Redmond
George Greenlee. Vim. Swepson, Emanuel
Singleton, VIM. Morris, Aleck Black
man, S. Forney, Thomas Ledbeter, RUFUS
Winans. Sandy Goo1rum.
The committee retired for consultation
and during their absence MIR. w. W.,
West. chairman of the school committee
was called upon for p statement regard
ing the contemplated bonded loan for
new school buildings. That gentleman
RESPONDED in few concise remarks.
wherein he showed the absolute necessity
of additional school accommodations II
the schools are to have the efficiency de-
sired.
DR.. d. T. Milard of the school COM
mittee and Superintendent Claxton, made
brief remarks of like tenor and Hon.
Richmond Pearson followed in a speech
for the general Improvement bill. He
said he believed the colorcd people were
divided upon the question of the loan be.
cause of their Ignorance of its provisions.
that the division among all classes of our
citizens argued against any idea of its
being political scheme; that the adop-
ton of the measure would take the load
of general taxation from the shoulders
of the poor laborer and place it where
it rightfully belongs-upon the owner of
property-improved bad streets during
the past winter had made dear flour, dear
stagnation in business that he'd para
lyzed labor-self interest demanded the
prevention of renewal of like condi-
ton of things and vote of approval"
would be the sure remedy.
During the speech the committee on
nominations returned and when the gen
tlemen had finished his remarks Chair
man Saxton rebuked him for taking up
so much of the valuable time of the meet
ing.
Mr.. Pearson presented series of reso-
utions for adoption, declaring in favor
of the Improvement loan, and the en-
ployment under its workings of "home
labor" The chairman refused to put
the resolutions and Mr. Brown informed
Mr.. Pearson that action would be taken
upon them later.
lib. Brown intimated to the chair
that it was "all right" and the chair
promptly suggested, "Mr. Brown, take
your seat" Sandy Goodrum from the
committee then reported that inasmuch
as the committees deliberations had
been in darkened room the report nee
essarily be a verbal one and announced
the name OF II. B. Brown as their unani-
nous choice. Elder Kessler recommended
the nomination and the report of the
committee was adopted.
Rev. Mr.. McDuffie arose to question
If privilege and denounced as an in.
famous lie the statement that he had
been "bought" to make his speech ir
favor of the Improvement bill.l
Mr.. Brown suggested that as counter
, charpes had bcen made against his side
of the house that matter was about
even and began his speech of acceptance