St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-03-17
THEY ARE INDEPENDENT.
How Colored Political Club Was
ORGANIZED Last Night

Organized Last Night.
The organization of the Independent
Colored Mems Political club last night
was not accomplished without consider
able difficulty. In fact, it is matter of
doubt whether the organization was
effected at all. About fifty colored men
congregated in Plummer Post hall with
the avoWed intention of forming club
that would be able to make itself factor
in the coming political campaign. In
The meeting was called to order by r.
Wood, who ruled over the now defunct
Afro-American league or club, organized
about year ago. Il. Mitchell, the col
ored newspaper man, was appointed
secretary pro TEN much against his
wishes, after George Kent had declined.
Then the matter of formal organization
came up and with 1t a heap o. fun"
A Mr.. Williams took the floor and de-
livered a long speech, in spite OF the
protestations Of the chairman,
tiles and what he knew of
parliamentary laws. He also asked that
the speakers be held to five minutes
discourse each. though subsequent
events demonstrated that he had no ref
erence to himself when he made the
motion. When he had finished, "Dick"
jackson took the floor and made a
tiowery speech on behalf of the men of
Ethiopian descent. incidentally he
made some remark which displeased
Mr.. Williams, and that gentleman again
took the floor and explained his posi-
ton. In vain the chairman requested
him to take his seat aud allow the or
ganization of the club to be completed,
but Mr.. Williams would not down.
When he finally wound up. he said:
''Dere amt no man kin tell me muffin
bout politics. see? l knows all bout
it, See?'
With this he took his seat, but soon
bobbed up again and offered to give
the club name. The chairman eX-
planned that he was trifie too previous,
and to hold his horses bit. Mr.. Woods
was then elected president, and accept
ed the position with thanks and a
speech. Mr.. Mitchell was nominated
for secretary. He declined to act, stat
ing that he was not in position to ac-
cept any Office. and could do the club
more good OH the outside, but President
Wood would not listen to him, and,
though Mr.. Mitchell protested vlgor-
ously, he was duly elected.
sit down, MIstab MITCHELL" said the
president, 'you'Se got to be elected,
and can resign aftahwahds, ii you'se
wishes"
William Herdon was elected treasurer
without any difficulty, and John Neal
was nominated for first vice president.
He too declined the honor, but the pres
ident would not hear of it, declaring
that when Mr. Neal made his declina-
ton he was out of order and couldn't be
listened to for moment. SO Mi. Neal
was also elected In spite OF himself. w.
K. Morris, the colored attorney, was
nominated for second vice president,
but he declared positively that he would
not allow his name to be connected with
the club in any capacity whatever. he
made forceful speech, in which he
said he would tolerate no practical Jok-
ing, that he was true-blue Republican
and under no circumstances would be-
long to any independent organization.
The president evidently recognized
that there would be trouble if he per-
sisted in declaring Mr.. Morris elected.
so he reluctantly withdrew his name
and that of John Allison was sub
sttuted. But more trouble was en-
countered here and Mr.. Allison's name
was finally Withdrawn and it was de-
cided that no second vice president
would be elected. Mr.. Mitchell took
occasion TO state, at this juncture, that
he should not consider himself elected.
Mr.. Neal followed suit. but the preSi-
dent ruled them both out of order. sat
down upon them, fguratively speaking.
William George, the old butler of the
West hotel and the ''colored Shake
spearean exponent of the Northwest"
was introduced as the speaker of the
evening, but he denied the soft i'm
parchment, declaring that he "knoW'd
nothing at all Of what the meeting was
about" However. he began to speak.
and posing dramatically, after the
fashion of all Shakespearean actors,
said:
'Perchance l might say, that know
nothin' of whence comes this call for
me to speak before you. l did not allow
my name to be handled in the newSpa-
perS, for | was not aware OF the re-
Quirements and impeachments OF this
organization. / do not yet, fam would
say, whether it is Republican or
Democratic gathering. However. l will
say, il it please you, that am true
Republican, and have been since l had
the right to vote. Nay, sirrahs. | do not
believe in striking your cOlors. was
in the war and carried "a musket and
never struck my colors then, and, by
the help of the Almighty, never will"
Mr. George concluded with dramatic
and impressive bow to the audience,
and retired. The president then an
nounced the executive committee, after
which several other speeches were
made. The committee consists of the
following, the president and secretary
being ex-officio members: William
George, Solomon Sanders, Charles Ham
ilton, A. Ii. Myrick and r. j. Coleman.
The meeting then adjourned.