The state capital., 1892-04-30

At the head of the colored men in
the house is Colonel George +. BOWles,
of Natchez, who ably represents a
white and colOred constituency of
Adams county. Colonel Bowles is in
many respects a remarkable man. He
is native Of South Carolina. having
been born at Charleston. June 20, 1874
Receiving a common school education
in South Carolina and Tennessee, he
adopted the law as his profession, and
was admitted after the close of the
war to the bar OF Tennessee. In 1871 he
removed to Mississippi and located at
Natchez and commenced the practice of
his profession, having been admitted
to the Mississippi bar early after his
arrival in Mississippi. Although we'll
qualified for public office, Colonel
Bowles has never been an office seeker,
although he has been repeatedly hon
ored by his people with positions of
trust. His first public trust was as a
member of the school board of the city
of Natchez. He was then elected
chief of police of that city, resigning
soon afterwards to accept the more
congenial office of city attorney, and
in 1887, 1889 and 1891 was unanimously
elected to represent his county in the
lower house of the legislature. The
last time he was elected defeating his
white opponent, Chas. R. Byrnes, by
handsome majority He was a dele
gate to the Chicago convention in 1884.
and will head the Mississippi delega-
| tiOn at Minneapolis this year i'm the
interest of President Harrison. He
was nominated couple Of years ago
| 70 A txyi IN, hn csfo to
constitutional convention, but declined
the honor 1t is not as politician,
however, that Colonel Bowles has won
his greatness, but as a benefactor OF
his race. In 1887 he associated himself
with several others and organized the
| Universal Brotherhood, a benevolent
destitute, bury it's dead and aid its
members in benevolence. Colonel
Bowles was elected it's supreme COM
mander, which position he still holds,
and under his able management the
order has grown Ito a membership OF
over $4,000. Last summer, in New
| York city, he was elected major gener-
al, commanding the Uniform Rank OF
the Colored Knights of Pythias Of the
world, comprising,a body of over 25, ,00C
men Last March colOred bar asso,
| citation was formed in Mississippi and
Colonel BOwles was made it's president
But the association in which he takes
| the greatest pride is the Interstate
Mutual Benefit Association This asso-
| citation is doing great and good work
in providing an easy and cheap means
for all who become members to secure
| their own homes, or to pay Oft existing
mortgages, debts and claims and il is
gratifying to know that it is being
taken advantage of by many colored
people throughout the country, fol
whose benefit it was established. IT
is most beneficent in it's purposes and
is doing great work in aiding the
colOred people to secure their own
homes, thus making of them better
citizens and inspiring in them an am
bition for higher and more refined
| civilization, as we'll as encouraging
| thrift and industry amongst them
| ends that deserve the encouragement
of all. Of this association Colonel
Bowles is the chief ruling spirit. Its
headquarters are at Natchez, where
with master hand, he controls the
organized destines Of the $4,000 mem.
bers of the order. and he does it in such
a manner as to insure it's steady growth
Altogether, Colonel BoWles is remark
able man gifted to remarkable degree
with exceptionable executive ability
and truly a prominent member of the
| Mississippi legislature said to me to.
| day, "If that man had white skin, he
would be leader of this house"