Huntsville gazette., 1891-11-21

Noted Negro Politician Says NoW's the.
Time for the Negroes to Come to the
Front.
(From the Birmingham Age Herald Nov. 4th.)
William J. Stevens, commonly
and better known as Bill Stephens,
was in Birmingham Yesterday. He
is one of the most noted negro repub-
lican politicians in the state, and
now lives in Admission. His pollti>
cal fame was won as a resident of
Selma, and leaper in the old fourth
district. He twice represented that
district in the Republican National
convention as a delegate, and went
as an alternate from the state at large
to the last National convention.
Stevens was in 1874 elected clerk of
the criminal court of Dallas county,
and also represented that county in
the legislature in 1876. Since that
time, he has figured conspicously in
the politics Of his party in this state;
he has been before the voters of Dal-
las for senator and the district for
congress, and presided for six years
as chairman Of the republican exe>
cutive committee for Dallas county.
Bill is now a tonsorialist, and num-
bers among his patrons the leading
democrats of Admission, who regard
him as the best barber in the state,
all of whom know ofhis polical proc
Invites and delight in passing word
with him upon the polical issues Of
the day.
An Age-Herald reporter, hearing
that Bill was ON the political war;
path again, yesterday drew him out
as follows:
Bill, who will be the republican
nominee for president?
The man from Maine has the call
Mr.. Blaine can easily walk off with
the prize if he SO desires. Bnt MIR
Harrison has made most excellent
president, met every expectation and
requirement of the party; fearlessly
patriotically and manfully evadet
nor lodged any Of the principles
enunciated at Chicago in 1888. Hi
influence is now and has been al
along in line with the workers in the
| party. So if it is not Blaine it viii
be Harrison.
Bill, it is understood that there
will be quite contest between the
white and colored republicans for the
control Of the party organization
next year?
Yes, sir; many colored men think
it is time to ask for place on the
state ticket, as we do all the voting
| iu this state. | do no. think it j:
an unreasonable demand. You
know though, that we are strict, ant
unyielding partisans and are willing
at all times to make sacrifices in the
interest of party harmony and unity
To this end we have surrendered oul
rights to others to control the party
organization and make the ticket ir
the past, with the hope that thereby
we would hush-up and drown out
the cry Of racial antagonism, streng
then and put the party on fighting
basis. But have trusted everything
have made brave aud gallant fight
for the loaves and fshes-federa
Toffices allowed the party to 60 t(
the devil or any other seaport, to thu
injury and exclusion of the negro
We shall in our own way try to rem
edy this evil, and it may be quite
necessary for US to take complete
possession of the so called party or
ganizatien to accomplished this pur
pose. This will compel US to looI
forward for some one among our
selves for chairman Of the state exc
cutive committee. We must hav,
some one for chairman who love
party more, but not Office less, t.
resuscitate, revive and breathe lif,
again into the party organization
We can give you all negroes ON tn
state ticket will compare favorabl,
with tickets made in the past by my
party in this state.
Yet, this is something We do not ask
and will not try to accomplish.
| Will you all demand the chair
manship of the state committee!