Richmond planet., 1895-03-30


Jones, ID D., Rev. r. Wells. Rev. Jas
II Holmes, Rev. u. ID. Lewis, b. D.,
Kew. Thomas Briggs and others.
EDITOR MITCHELL SPEAKS.
Chairman Forester then introduced
Alderman John Mitchell, Jr., the man
who had been so unceremOniously con-
demned by Rev. William w. Browne.
The applause which greeted the Alder
man was enthusiastic and prolonged.
he said that the attack which had
been made upon him in the Dispatch
and Times Of the 22nd inst had led TO
the enquiry on his part, "Is Browne
crazy2"
lie had been summoned as a witness
IN the Porter case. He learned that
this was done at the instigation of
Mr.. Porter himself He was to testify
as to the report in the PLANET of the
meeting which took place at the True
Reformers' Hall condemnatory of the
Porter scheme. He had long since
learned that when the sheriff of Rich
mond summoned a person to court, he
must go there or be fined and impris-
oned.
REV. BROWNIES STRANGE ACTION.
Mr.. Mitchell said that his testimony
was in favor of Browne 1t was well
known that the Planet had been for
ward in condemnation Of the. scheme
When Rev. Browne had denounced
him at the meeting referred to he was
much surprised although he had been
previously advised that such a thing
would be done His remark was that
he did not believe that REV Browne
would be as big fool as that The in
formation given proved however TO be
correct.
The meeting however had voted that
Rev Browne and himself shake hands
They did so He thought that this
meant a cessation of hostilities, that
| there would be no more abuse of him
Acting in conformity with this under
standing he had withheld all refer
enee to it from the PLANET, and not a
line appeared anywhere in its columns
with references - it. His surprise and
| indignation coulU be readily imagined
when he found that Rev Browne had
made an attack upon him through the
daily press of the city. Alderman
| Mitchell said that there was not sin
| gle business or professional man, not a
minister so far as he had been able TO
learn, that endorsed that letter, and
| the masses of the people were sOlidly
/ against it. He then described how he
| game TO accompany Representative
| Teamoh and the committee, being in
/ vited so TO do. He described the visit
TO Allen & Ginter and 7. @. Williams
| tobacco factory, reception at the Gov
i ernOr's Mansion and in most enter
| tanning way spoke of the drive. He
| declared that cOlOred men could not
afford to fight one another. The race
had not enough leaders to allow any
one TO kill them off. He declared that
| Rev. Browne was too desirious of fight
n Il fr,f
/ MITCHELL had defended the colored
people at every opportunity. His rec
ord in the Board of Alermen would
speak foritself
THE PEOPLES ENQUIRY.
He declared that everybody was ask
ing the question what did Browne
have to do with it?" Each leader had
his duty to perform. Rev. Browne
| was over the finance 1t was intended
that he should attend to that The
ministers had to do with the moral
/ educational progress of the colored
| people, while he had charge of the
journalistic department to defend the
race against the aspersiOns of the Ne
gro hating prejudiced white element
THE SPEAKERS LABoRs
There was liberal minded white
element made up of some of the best
persons on the globe The officials il
the city and state government knew
that he was constantly trying to aiC
some unfortunate cOlored person
This he did free of charge AbOu
forty per cent of his time was taken vi
in this kind Of work He declared hi
could not fight prejudiced white mel
and vindictive and jealous coloreC
ones.
He would go on with his labors anC
leave the people to keep them off him
lie closed amidst deafening applause.
REV. PAYNE SPEAKS.
Rev. Evans Payne was introduce,
and was warmly received He e,
planned his position in the Porte
scheme. He declared that at the tim
the Grant Monument and Old Folk:
, Home was endorsed by the Ministers
Conference, nothing was known of I
w. Porter, in connection with the af
, fair
Rev Browne had come to the Con
ference in manner to drive them {
retract He for one was not used t
bossism and would not be buldozed
If Browne had come as a Christia
, gentleman, there would have been n
trouble. He did not know whether O
not he should call him "Rev." for h
had taken his commission, handed j
back to God and gone into the none
making business.
; A PERSONAL EXPLANATION.
He explained how he was summon
ed TO court by the Sheriff of the city {
: Richmond. He knew he had to ODE
{ so he went. Rev Browne, he declare
E talked very big at the True Reformer
; Hall, but he did not do any of that bi
4 talking at the court
]. He declared Rev. Brownies asse1
tiOns relative to his having Joined POI
ter to swindle and rob the colored pee
J, pie TO be lie, also the charge that b
I had contributed so much as even on
= cent to defray the expenses of the SUI
n against Browne.
He's got to take it back he so
5 emnly declared. He condemned th
, criticism made by Rev. Browne, cor
cerning the salaries received by til
ministers of Richmond His peop
had raised his to 500 per month an
: wanted to do even more than that,
REV. BROWNIES SALARY.
o Rev. Browne said nothing about IL
8 $500 or $1,000 per year which /
n lBrOwnel was receiving not includir
i expenses. He had sold the regalia d,
= partment Of the Order to the Order f,
e $1,000 and now wanted to sell the plaI
- and oOnvrscyhf Of tho Qrtro DofOv,,,o o.