The state capital., 1891-09-12

met Rev. J. NJ. Gilmere, presiding
elder of the Ohio conference, A. NJ. +.
church, the other day, and knowing
that the elder is an extensive traveller,
engaged him in conversation upon the
condition of the Afro-Americans in
places he had recently visited Rev.
Gilmere is young man. being not over
thirty-fv years of age. He is bright
minister, hard student and a close OBJ
server of things in general, and about
his only failing, if failing it can be
called is his too aggressiveness. That
is he is one Of those fire eaters" as is
the term usually applied to men who
are never for compromise, but always
in favor of force. Like many Metho-
dist ministers, he has a soft side for
politics, although he has never taken
any active participation in politics to
the extent of holding or seeking office
''Well, elder what do you know was
the question we piled him with. Re-
moving his hat and wiping the persplra-
ton from his brow (all Methodist min
isters perspire) he said Il know a
thing or two guess, and one of those
is l have just finished trip through
large portion of Ohio, and | noticed
that the colored voters were generally
considerably exercisedn' well, elder, =.
said l, you know as a general,
thing, colored voters are consider.
ably exercised before an election,
but invariably become reconciled
by the time election day rolls around" J"
"Agree with you, agree with you. was
his quick response, but my friend,
the Australian lallot system adopted
in Ohio is going to afford protection
to them now Anticipating his mean
ing we said, 81 suppose you mean they
can vote as they please now and need
not fear of being detected and marked
for r1rty isolation?' just so, just
So" said he, land you will find that the
colored voters of Ohio will be as uncer-
tain and mysterious a quantity as the
farmer vote" Our greatest desire was
to learn something regarding the
| Negroes financial condition, and know
| ING that when the elder fell to discussing
the political situation he continues at
an indefinite length of time, we inter
rupted him by asking him how he found
J the Negro progressing financially. Rev.
Gilmere has peculiar style of repeat
| ing his opening sentences, and in keeping
with this style or manner, he answered
'Oh blooming, Oh blooming, why its
wonderful what strides he is making il
that direction. and don't lose sight o.
the fact that | never miss an oppor
tunity to impress upon, and instill into
them ideas of frugality. Our race has
a natural tendency to improvldence
caused of course by slavery; every evi
that we are heir to is traced to tha
accursed institution, and when you SET
them practicing frugality, it's an evi
dence of progress sure. In my travel
! have watched particularly to see
my race was prospecting from tinan
cial standpoint, and l have been agree
ably surprised to notice the genera
tendency to lay up for rainy day.
Mark my word for it. young man
Afro Americans will within the mex
fifty years produce a Gould and Rock
efeller'
Elder Gilmere is quite frugal himself
and is laying aside for himself for fl
ture days He is possessed of some fin
property in and out of Columbus, and
he fails to become Gould, his heir
| authorization, may emulate this grea
money king.