The daily morning journal and courier., 1895-08-23
THE STATE SUMNER LEAGUE
HELD ITS FIRST ANNUAL MEETING
 AT SATIN ROCK, YESTERDAY.

About Two Hundred Delegates Were Pres
 ent-Nineteen Hundred Members in Con
 neoticut--Election of Officers-A shore
 Dinner-Speeches by MT. Peaker and Rev.
 MT. Miller-Plan of Organization.
 The State Sumner league of Connect icut, which is composed of colored citi- zens striving for the improvement and advancement of the race in America, held it's first annual convention at Stew arts at Savin Rock yesterday, The chief object of the meeting was to hear re. ports from the clubs in various towns of the state. From these reports the league was well satisfied with the work as 1t is progressing, and at the splendid showing made. The secretary's report showed that here are now nearly 1900 members in Connecticut. There are about 145 members of the New Haven club and 130 in the Hartford club.
 Joseph P. Peaker, ex-councilman of the Ninth ward, this city, who is the president of the league, in a sort of opening speech at the morning session said:
 '"The Sumner league is not organized for political purposes simply. We de- sire to interest the members of our race In all political affairs, for such affairs form an important part of the obliga- tions of every citizen, but it is mot for politics alone that this organization has been formed We desire to advance civilization and education in every pos sible way. We desire to perform our full part of the obligations of citizen ship, whatever they may be, and the Sumner league has for its chief object the advancement of our race in all af- fairs that pertain to citizenship and civ ilization."
 About two hundred delegates from all
 the larger towns of the state were pres
 ent, and from many of the smaller places. The following officers were elect ed: President, Joseph H. Peaker of New Haven; first vice president, w. B. Ed wards of Hartford; second vice presi- dent Douglass W. Mason of Plainvillei third vice president, Frank G. Stead man of Easthampton; secretary, w. II Ranson of New Haven; recording secre- tary, G. Grant Williams of Hartford treasurer, Richard H. Hamilton of An sonia executive committee, Rev. A. F Miller of New Haven, S. s. Jones of Hartford, A. s. Enos of Cobalt, D. B Bentley of Willimantic, c. A. c. Bemar of Middletown H. c. Brown of Berlin w. H. Burr of Norwich, George Jeffrey of Meriden, Charles H. Walker oi Bridgeport, Richard Wright of Plain vile and J. H. Wilkins of New Haven. The time and place of the next meet ing was left to the president and execu- | tive committee.
 Tn the afternoon an executive session was held, at which internal work of the organization was talked over and also matters pertaining to the future welfare ! of the race.
 1 Preparations are being made to com plete the organization by forming clubs 1 in every town in the state and to takt every colored man in the state into tht organization.
 l MT. Peaker also made the presidents | dnuudl tdQulSSSy III WAilSil nv SSiAeot "e eN | lated the league on the large represent ation present, and that he felt pledged ! to the employment of every means
 which will tend to the advancement O colored people and the making of'bettal citizens and members Of society 0 ! them.
 Rev. MT. Miller of this city also spolS'
 and gave the meeting some valuabl l advice.
 l A dinner was served to the delegate l at Stewards cafe.
 Among the delegates present were w H. Burr of Norwich, George Jeffrey o Meriden, Charles H. Walker of Bridge port, Richard Wright of Plainvilles ) Edgar Jones of Waterbury and J. H
 Wilkins of New Haven.