Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-04-09
THE KILLING OF FOSTER
Equal Rights Association Takes Up the
Matter Again.
The Meeting Last Night and the
Foundation on Which the As.
ISOLATION Stands.

w
Vermont Avenue Colored Baptist Church of
the District branch of the Equal Rights
Association, an organization of colored peo-
pie which has for it's object the teaching of
patriotism the obedience of law and the
security of equal rights both to the white
man and to the negro. 1t had been pro-
posed to make the meeting announced for
last night a great gathering but the IN
clemency of the weather prevented large
attendance. Quite a good number of dele
gates from the various councils of the or
ganization were present however. and
number of addresses were delivered.
President Jesse Lawson, in calling the
meeting to order, explained that the prin-
cipal purpose of the meeting was to hear
the report of Attorney Thos. L. Jones in
the matter of the prosecution of Policeman
Green for killing Reuben Foster, a young
coiored man, near Anacostia last month.
Before calling upon Mr.. Jones for report.
however. Mr.. Lawson stated that he had
been appointed chief commissioner for the
District colored people at the exposition at
Atlanta. Ga, which is to be held from
September Is to December 81 next The
other District commissioners, said Mr..
Lawson. are Thos. l.. Jones. E. E. Cooper.
Henry F.. Baker, Maj c. A Fleetwood, A.
F. Hilyer, l. H. Merriweather. Profs. Hugh
NJ Brown and Geo. w. Cook and J. E.
Johnson. meeting of the commissioners
had been called, announced Mr.. Lawson, at
the National Capital Bank, F street, for
next Saturday evening. when plans would
be perfected for an elaborate representation
by the District colored people at the expo
sition. He urged the hearty cooperation
of the colored people of the District in the
matter, and trusted that their exhibit at
the exposition would rank second to none
other there.
The Objects.
Mr. Lawson, for the benefit of those pres
~t,,to Il n
ject and purpose OF the Equal Rights As
sociaton, explained that it had been in
corporated here about six months ago. and
since then branches had been organized in
many of the states. In North Carolina, he
stated. the organization has 1SI.bU MEN,
bers. A national convention. composed OF
members of the organization, would he said,
he held here before many months, when
branches will have been established in all
of the states. The object of the organiza-
ton was to teach the negro patriotism. %
teach him to respect the law, ard to have
him obey it, and see that all others obeyed
it. In word. said Mr. Lawson, its oh
jeCt is TO make the negro respected and
desirable citizen.
MIR. jones' Report.
Mr.. Jones was then called upon for his
report in the mater of the prosecution of
Policeman Green. and in response explain
ed at great length the killing of Foster.
| the steps taken 10 secure an llulCt 1ne!it Oh
| the officer by the last grand jury. and con-
| corning the request made by a delegation
| of Coiored people to the District Commits
| siorers for the officers Suspension from
| duty. That request, said Mr.. Jones, the
| Commissioners hal refused, Commissioner
! Trueslel saying to the delegation: Officer
| Green is on duty, and he shall remain on
| duty until the police trial board declares
| him guilty of having violated the police
| regulations. The present grand jury,
stated Mr. Jores, viii be asked to indict
| the officer, and the district attorney had
promised that no relative of any police
| officer should otherwise influence that body
| Mr.. Jones advised his people to he cam
many more true friends amongst the white
| people OF the District than he imagines
explaining that all the white people wish
| ed the negro to be was to be loyal self-re-
| speeding ard honest.
Other Speakers.
| MIS-. l.. J. Webster made quite an I'M
| passioled speech on the killing of Foster.
| DR.. Wellington Bryant the national sec
| rotary of the association, next briefly ad-
| dressed the meeting. The association. he
| explained was not organized for the pur-
| pcss of drawing the color line, but to OBJ
| literate it. The movement, he said, is hav-
| ing a grand success in the states, especial
| ly in North Carolina, where 1:D councils
| have been organized. In Arkansas ninety
| six have been organized and grand good
| work is being done in Texas, Kentucky
| and other southern states. He was glad to
| know that the negro was now standing up
| for his rights. not with a razor or club,
| but in a manly, earnest manner.