The evening times., 1895-11-18

suit against Calvin Chase, Nr. c. H. j. Tay-
lor, OF Kansas, the recorder of deeds, will
again doubtless bring suit TO yindicate his
character aud TO place his alleged maligner
behind the bars This time Mr.. Jerome K.
Riley, Of No. 654 E street southeast, is
the recipient Of Mr.. Taylor's wrath.
As told in The Times Of yesterday morn
ing, II all grew about in this way: Mr..
Riley, who is an ubservant man, wrote a
book called THE Philosophy of Negro
Suffrage. The work is dedicated, IL
says, Ito thinking men and women, with
the authors hopes that in some way his
race will be left In better shape for future
development"
A chapter in the book Is devoted to the
Recordership of Deeds" The author
gives his impressions respecting the un.
fitness" of the present incumbent, and q
comparison OF him with former recorders.
Whether Mr.. Taylor will bring a suit
i'll the criminal Court for libel, or In the civil
court for damages or In the equity court for
aninjunctiou compelling the removal of the
chapter is not yet known. He himself will
not tell.
ACCUSED A NEWSPAPER MAN.
He accuses a colored newspaper man of
inaugurating the newspaper end OF the cpl
sodc between himself and Mr.. Riley.
This man." the recorder said, today,
'is down un me because refused bis sis
ter position in the office. He has freely
used his imagination"
Mr.. Riley was not at his home " hen the
reporter called there. 1t was learned that
he has about as much notion of removing tho
alleged objectionable chapter as porker
has OF observing a holiday. He Is friend
of ex-Att"rney General Garland.
Il read the chapter" said Mr. Gar
land, ''and told Riley IL Taytpr could
bring suit against him 1 thought Mr..
Cleveland and all the others mentirned
in the chapter could do the same. If suit
were brought upon that every public man
would be suing every ne Hspaper every day.
The chapter IN ques,ionis he sixth in the
volume. After naming the previous Presi-
DENTAL appointments in the negro race the
author says in part as follows:
Mr.. Cleveland, after he became Presi-
dent, expressed himself as being warmly
in favor of seeing US hold our own In this
respect. In the appointment or the recorder
of deeds he would seem To have us believe
that in this only executive appointment we
have in IL an equivalent to all the above
named.
IAN account OF salvage will show us that
one position constitutes our entire execu-
tive recognition in this country. Hence IL
this is the estimate of this man by Mr.. Cieye-
were focused in this direction to ascertain.
If possible. his size. his character, virtues
and morality. and iiis fitness for the office
he holds How does this man measure up
We have been forced to accept him whether
or not
MR.. RILEY'S BOOK.
by reason Of MIR. CieveiaDd's placing
this man as our sole executive rcpresen-
tative he becomes public property and is a
fit subject for our scrutiny, especially
as to what he represents in character and
morality. We knew all the gentlemen
who have held office in the District Of
Columbia under the former admin Distration
ard unhesitatingly affirm that lady
could enter tue Office Of any without the
slightest insult being offered her.
1T is. iuded, unfortunate for the re-
corder as we have learned that some of
the literary societies OF the District, repre-
scuting negro wealth, ,cultIrea nd refinement,
should have felt called upon 10 inform him
inwri,ing that his eng agement had been can
ceIed. aud that in tiieir future gatherings
his presence would not be desired And
yet tins man is placed in this office to rep
reseut the race"
Referring TO the Taylor-Clase libel suit,
the chapter continues:
with Editor Chase il was and should
have been a duty he owed the race and the
community at large TO make the exposes.
FearIessly lie set about to perform the
duty. He was unfortunate under our law.
The writer believes with the great ma
jority that Editor Chase was honest and
told the truth, save a very, very trfiling
exception here and there; and not the
half was told. either. He deserves the
thanks. nor only of Ibis community, but
the best moral sentiment of both races
throughout the country
Tn. at,thor says titaI even under the diff
,,,ity OF getting evidence from witnesses
who were employed in government service
ana who feared for their official lives,
the United States Civil Service Commission
was able to get evidence currOborating
10 some extent, the author had heard, the
allegations of Mr.. Chase.
Continuing the author says: If one
eighth of the evidence brought out at the
trial was true. then the recorder stands
morally convicted. regardless OF the YER
dict of the Jury. The entire press OF the city
deserves success. and especially does that
most eminent divine. Rev. Dr. Alexander
MacEey-Smith. the inveterate foe OF vice
and immortality.
After seeking to dispel the charge of
prejudice operating against the recorder
and the allegation of Jealousy born OF u
personal quest for the office, the author
closes thus:
Right here let us add that. while we
greatly desired negro representation. far
better that white man act as q representa-
tive than such as this. That would have
mapifestly left us in better attitude to
defend and hold our gaining