Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-08-26
COLORED DEMOCRATS
The First Session of Their Convention Not
Altogether Harmonious.
The Platform of Principles Adopted
Committee on OrganizatiOn-Some
of the Speeches Made.

About thirty delegates and as many more
spectators were present last evening when
the convention Of the National Negro DEM
ocratic Association was called to order, and
many or them were by no means in accord
with the principles Of the members of the
association. The first business transacted
was the adoption of the report of the COM
mittee on resolutions, reported by Chairman
Fremont, which recommended that the ad-
dress read by the late first vice president
MIR. James A. Ross of Iowa, be adopted as
the principles and platform of this associa-
ton. Endorsed the financial plank as laid
down In the platform of the national demo-
cratic party, adopted at Chicago June, 1892
and approved OF the financial recommended
ton OF President Cleveland in his late mes
sage converting Congress in extraordinary
session. 1t continued: I'VE believe In rota-
ton in office. and therefore recommend that
a committee of seven be appointed by the
chair to wait upon the heads of the several
departments and request the removals Of
republicans and the appointment of demo-
Gratis wherever practicable. Intelligence
being the highest mark of citizenship, we
therefore recommend national aid for public
instruction wherever needed having come
to the ears of the committee that there are
parties IN this city who are going the rounds
of the several departments demanding s. a
month from each colored employee appointed
ny tne present administration. we denounce
the practice as fraudulent unjust and un-
Democratic and recommend the exposure
and punishment of all such persons" The
report recommended the appointment Of a
committee on organization and conference.
each to consist of eleven members, and Of
fered the support Of the campaign commit
tee to the democratic nominees for governor
of Ohio and Virginia.
Committee ON Organization.
Chas. H. Smith of West Virginia, first
vice president, presided, and on motion of
Delegate MCGEE. appointed the following
committee on organizations: j. Milton Tur-
ner Of Missouri. chairman; W. E. Gross of
New York. w. T. Peyton of Kentucky, Geo.
I. Downing of Rhode Island, L. c. Moore
Of Mississippi. Joseph Houser of Missouri
and Peter H. Clark Of Ohio.
1t had been announced that there was to
be q debate on the silver question and the
tariff. and upon these subjects several del
esates addressed the convention.
incidentally the question of whether the
whites in the north or south were the best
friends Of the negro cropped out. and the
end OF the evenings session was not as har-
Fremont Of Virginia and John E. Bowies
Of Maryland were the first speakers, and
their remarks were well received;
length upon the manufactures in New
England, said: Can you tell me how many
eSlored men are employed in them?" In
actly the same pursuits that are followed
by the whites. while in the north the prayer
Is oh: Lord have mercy on the negro in
He said that in the south the negroes
could be found keeping stores, engineering
and engaging In all other pursuits. while in
job on railroad track with a pick and
shovel The republican party. he said. had
did the democratic party. He urged his
hearers to stick to their friends, no matter
to what party they belonged as he said
division Of the colored vote would mean
their elevation that much sooner. He also
said he was believer in the theory that
to the victors belong the spoils.'' and said
IA he coll fu xrntrl1 NOT v1lxr
accept offices now held by colored repub-
licans but that they expected to get them
willing to Leave 1t to Congress.
Mr.. Ross of Iowa made an interesting
speech and caused some merrment by say
ing that since the silver question had come
to the front he had been unable to hear the
merry jingle Of single silver dollar in his
little pocket. He said he thought the silver
and tariff questions had been thrust upon
sst bTs feW n his race were
able to dicuss the questions intelligently.
and. for himself, he would leave the mat
ter to the President and Congress for set
Chaplain McGoines made a short speech.
In which he said that the colored man
presidential campaign and predicted that
many Of them would be in line in Virginia
Then Mr.. Fremont Of Virginia was again
on his feet. He had grievance about the
circular sent out over the country giving
hoped to see all the delegates stand by
what they had done. but he was sorry to
say they had not
An attempt was made to have him sit
down. but he informed his few hearers that
he would remain on the floor and have his
say If 1t took him all night.
I'm a man and / don't play boy" he
added. Il am willing to stand by what
said in the committee and / want every
body to understand that when my name
goes before the country attached to any,
thing it means something and 1 am going
to stick by it,"
Mr.. l.. c. Moore. an ex-member Of the
Mississippi legislature was introduced as
the next speaker. but he declined to make
an address. He said ne was unable to tell
from what he had heard whether this was
a republican or democratic meeting. He as
sured his hearers that he was a democrat
and that he was willing to fall and rise
with his party.
In conclusion he said that he would have
to decline to make speech and he would
also decline to serve as member Of one
Of the committees of which he had been
appointed a member.
Owing to the lateness of the hour speech
making was INDUCED in no further and the
association adjourned to meet in conference