Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-09-27
N e G RO pEM OCR ATS
- ~ 'H~f
Do - ~
Mr.. Still is Anxious to See q Show of
Handa +
what the Cel0redp Politicians Have to
Say Of the A9Hinistr"tion and
of Mr.. AstSvoOds Bolt.

eCutlVe comullttoe 0E the negro NetlCn3i
Democratic Leaeuesand the severance Of
his connection with the democratic party
have set the cblosed politicians Of both
parties all agog. The places which are
freQuented by them were more largely filled
last night. and the sole theme Of discus
sion was the Astwood letter and what bear
ing 1t would have upon the future Of negro
democracy throughout the country. One Of
the wiseacres said that Astwood was the
originator Of the Negro Democratic League
and that it was through him that Taylor
was eventually made recorder OF deeds.
This man thought that Astwood was
the very life Of the league. and that with
his resignation the backbone Of the organi-
zation had been broken. There were those
who held differently, and saad that negro
democracy would survive. In spite OF the
removal Of Mr.. Astwood's bag and baggage
into the republican party.
Incidentally there were brought out many
new things The most novel story related
was that President Cleveland was anxious
that the negro national democratic con-
vention. which was recently held In Indfan-
apoliS, should be success, ana that In
conference with Mr.. Taylor and others OF
its leaders he told them that II the conven-
ton was a success during its deliberations
he the Presidency would send to the Senate
the name of A. E. Manning of Indiana as
minister to Liberia and the name OF some
one of the other colored democratic leaders
for the Haytian mission. The delegates to
the number of twenty-five met, and they
iauded the President sskyhigh In anttcipa-
ton that hourly the news would be flashed
across the wires that the plums had
dropped.
The leaders were disappointed and the
story goes that they returned to Washing
ton and called upon the President to ascer-
tain the cause of the failure to make the
appointments. 1t is here that those who
70 In "a a of m
tanning that the President told the leaders
that instead Of the two or three hundred
delegates that they had promised only
sbout twenty-five met, and that as the
goods were not delivered the appointments
were withheld. The; other side say that
the President assigned as his reason, that
AS the Senate was at that time SO much
wrought up over the tariff. that he was
feartul that the nominees would not be
confirmed. but as soon the tariff bill
was disposed Of the names would be sent
In. But as the names were not sent In the
frst reason seems to be the most plausible
one.
Then some Of the wise ones say that the
President had agreed upon q negro for a
prominent place; and the appointment was
about to be mailed from Gray Gables. when
the newspapers arrived containing the in
formation Of AstwQod's resignation and his
arrafsnment Of Mr.. Cleveland and the ad-
Hintstration. The appointment was &C.
eOrdingfy withheld,
TAX today upon the Astwood letter. Mr..
Taylor had not arrived at his office at
late hour. A representative of The Star
called at his residence on r street between
18th and 18th, but the door bell had been
removed and no one responded to the re-
peated raps which were made at the door,
II. a. Still has called q meeting Of all of
the democrats ip Washington to be held at
ms once on Friday evening. This meeting
Is called regardless of the organizations Il,
which the colored democrats belong. ANY
who profess themselves .'dems'' will be adj,
mitted to the meeting When asked what
was the object of the meeting. Mr.. Still
said that there had been so much talk of
negro democracy, he wanted to see what
the negro democracy really amounted to.
he wanted the fellows to show their hands
He was tired Of the BLUM game, and wanted
to see something tangible done
Astwood did not leave for New York until
TINS morning. He paidIthe republican head
Quarters visit yesterday evening late. and
submitted to Chairman Babcock the pros
pectus OF the Negro National Defender. and
II mas been ARA nged to issue the first eti-
ton on the 9th Of October from this CITY.
1t Is said that the day before Astwood
gave out his final decision that a member
OF the New York democratic committee ON
campaign speeches Of the last campairn In
tnat state called on Mr.. Astwood and told
MIN that II he would Withhold his letter
that. as 1t was more than probable that
Rev. Mr.. Plummer would be removed as
the chaplain OF the army, that there would
be pressure brought to bear upon Secretary
lamont to have him EASTWOOD appointed
fhe place pays 5000 per annum, with all
expenses.