The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-09-13
ROANOKE DELEGATES COME IN
Rules of the CoIored Mems Con-
vention Complied With.
The Local Members Still Wary OF Their
out'of-Town Brethren Upon the Politi.
cal Position They VIII Assume-Com
mittees Will be Heard From To-day,
and Some Discussion May Arise.

Aue SeCOuu Jay b SESSION OF the con-
ference of the colored citizens OF Fifth,
Sixth, Ninth and Tenth Congressional
districts Of Virginia, convened at 10
o'clock yesterday at Davis Hall on
Gainsborough avenue, with ~ delegates
in attendance. The R oanoke delegation
twenty strong, was on hand and asked
to be admitted to the conference, but
that body adhered to the report of the
committee on credentials and refused to
allow Roanoke but seven delegates and
the local colored men withdrew and
left the body to shape the des einies of
the colored race without their assist
ance.
The committee on permanent organi-
cation reported the following officers:
Chairman, w. G NJ artin, OF Henry; vice
chairman, j. A. Or, C :eet, OF Wytheville;
secretary, Robers Cox, OF L1nchburg:
assistant secretary, w. L. Anderson, of
Lynchburg. On motion these gentle
men were elected without serious OF
posi- ion.
A. j. Grove objected 10 the election
OF these officers on e. ,hnical grounds
but the objec ton was overfuled
The following resolutions offered by
ference com mittee, were adopted:
Resolved, That the chairman appoint
the following standing com mi ttees TO
consider and report to the BODY such
matters as may BIO referred to said CON-
mittees:
"First-Rules Of order OF business.
"Second-A higher education Of the
negro.
"Third-The public school system and
the Ell cts on the r. CO.
"Fourth-The negro as laborer and
agriculturist.
"Fifth-The moral status of the race.
"Sixth-The general industrial pro-
gress of the race.
"Seventh-Commerce and trade.
"Eighth-Polit'cal history Of the
freedmen since emancipation
"Ninth-The financial status of the
race.
"Tenth-Plans for permanent, gem
eral and subordinate organization.
"Eleventh-The judiciary.
"Twelfth-Raislng funds to defray
the expenses of the conference"
Alter some discussion of the foregoing
resolutions the conference ad iourned to
meet again at 8 o'clock in Davis Hall
instead Of the Old Opera House as was
announced. During the afternoon the
Roanoke delegation held a caucus and
decided to accept the terms Of the con-
ference and go into the meeting with
seven delegates.
The conference was called to order at
o'clock, and the committee on creden-
tials reported the following delegates
present from Roanoke who were ad-
mitted: t. Il. Henry, w. A. Merchant,
John Ii. Davis, DR.. r. j. Bowlen, M.
Belts, j. II. Oatmeal and Frederick
Hannibus. Under the rule no delegate
was allowed to occupy the floor longer
than ten minutes. William Merchant
occupied his time in explaining the con-
duct of the Roanoke contingent, and j.
A. Crockett, of Wythe, followed in de.
Tending the conven ZION.
The chair announced that it had been
published to the world that the political
status of tho negro would be discussed
and IL any political matter arose let it
come
At this juncsure collection was
taken up, and while that interesting
proceeding was in progress the solo,
Slavery is Dead" was rendered by
Delegate Crowell, of Pr, .ylvania. the
whole delegation joining in the refrain
and keeping time with their feet on the
floor. The chair then read the order of
business for the day, which included
chiefly the reports from the com mittees
appointed at the morning session. A
motion to admit Rev. Jones and Rev.
Brown to the deliberations of the BODY
was lost and numerous motions to ad-
jouln were voted down.
The Roanoke delegation showed an
evident reluctance to allow any political
debate to take place at this time and in
this position they were backed by a
number of others. At 10 o'clock the
conference adjourned to meet at $50
o'clock this morning.
The most interesting and Important
matter to-day will unquestionably be
the discussion of the reports on the
judiciary and the political history OF
the conference.
WILLIAMS GETS A JUDGEMENT.