The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-09-10
AFRO-AMERICAN CLUB,

The Members Are Independent and Pro.
pose to Think for Themselves. !
The Afro-American Republican club of
Helena promises to prove a puzzle to those
who eount upon the oolorsd vote under any
and all circumstance az with the republican
party. The club now has about seventy
members and is growing right along. Per-
manent quarters have been secured at Mil
ton hall, and last night there was a meet
ing, attended by about forty members.
Short addresses were made by Geor 90
Noodson and F. F. Sterling, and it was de.
cided to organize = campaign Qlee club. A
consultation committee, consisting of tho
officers. the executive committee and nine
members of the club, was named, its bus
mess being to select topics for discussion
Mt the meetings. The Independence of the
members of ths club was clearly proven in
an informal discussion on ths duties of the
consultation committee. James Crump
said he was in favor of the members speak
ing right out and letting the politicians
know just what they wanted. For himself he
would not vote for any man. republican or
democrat. who did not show that he was
his friend. He knew that the member of
the club had grievances, and he wanted all
the candidates on both sides to come to the
club and be told just what the members OK
pecteo. As one of bis grievances he cited
the fact that when a friend from the out
side visited him there was no restaurant or
hotel to which he could invite that friend
to dine with him. ''Only the other night"
said Mr.. Crump, when the bulletins were
coming in on the prize fight I tried to got
into Tom Crnhan's to sec them. but was
ordered out. 1 snow that a year ago a COL
ored man would not only have been allowed
to drink in that place. but that a hundred
of them would have been given q dollar
apiece to do 80. These are some OF my
grievances, and, as I said before, l will not
IN this campaign vote for any man. repub-
lican or democrat. who does not prove be ia
myfriend.'
This sentiment was echoed by several
other members, all OF whom announced
their determination to scratch the name of
every man who was not the true friend of
the colored man.
A resolution was offered BY q member
endoreingI the republican national, state
county tickets. A motion was made to
adopt it. but a motion to lay 1t on the table
was carried by an unmistakable majority.
The following resolutions reported from
committee were adopted:
Resolved, That the principles of the re-
publican party as nounced at the Mime.
apolis convention and later on by Pi resident
Harrison's letter of acceptance are pre-
eminently American in ideas. and in the
highest sence of the term patriotic a. re-
CARDS American interest.
AhoS soo mummy WILL OIll
and the diplomatic statecIaft Of the Hon.
James G. Blaine in the recil rooity measures
are far reaching in good results in the
struggle of our country for the balance of
trade and commercial supremacy.
Resolved, that We deplore tho prejudioes
that exist in the south and elsewhere
against ths colored people, in many in
stances unjust and uncalled for, and We
denounce the murders that are perpstrated
by mob violence unde the guiss Of lynch
law az = blot upon civilization and a CRYING
shame to the moral sense and fair name Of
our country.
Resolved, That if the law-abidinQ and
justice-iovinp elements Of our cOuntrv
are not awakened and aroused to this evil
Of mob violence it will by nature of its own
increasing force wreak it's vengeance upon
those who obey ant condone such orimss.
for it breeds contempt Of law and DESTROYS
all moral sense of justice TO our fellow
men.
Resolved, That we believe that in the
Afro-American's %kindliness of heart backed
by q growing intelligence, a rapidly devsl.
oping education amongst the masses, and
an increasing spirit of manhood and senti-
msnts of self respect. will eventually dis
; arm prtjudices in this country, therefore
we deprsciats and condemn all hot-hsaded
and incorporate speech, coming from
whRtever source ~ conducive more Of evil.
than Of good.
Resolved. That as Afro-American citj-
zens We ars more intensely intsr ested in
questions affecting our rights ~ American
citizens than we are in questions Of tariff,
protection or free trade, inssmuch 40 we
are declared from employment in manufac-
turing establishments. in factories, in fouu-
dries, In commercial enterprises and trades,
and AZ these various employmen.s do not
affect rs IS q MAS. We are only interested
in tho tariff question from . political End
: PATRIOTIC atAndpoint.