Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-27
ADVOCATES OF SUFFRAGE
They Turn Out in South Washington Sixty
two Strong.
An Association Formed After ConsiA.
cradle Parliamentary Trouble
DR.. Reyburn's Address.

In response to an Invitation extended to
the citizens Of South Washington by Mr..
R. H. Lewis Of the District Suffrage As
sociaticn. No. /. sixty-two persons as
sembled last evening In q little hall back
Of the First Colored Baptist Church. near
9Th and G streets southwest. OF this num-
Der twelve were women, three were half
grown girls, and two were small boys. A
Star reporter and DR.. Robert Reyburn were
the only representatives of the Caucasian
race. The former was there on business
and the latter was present to tell the citi-
zens of South Washington of the charms
of suffrage.
Mr.. Lewis called the meeting to order,
and after the Rev. H. C. Robinson. the
pastor Of the church. had offered prayer.
Dr. Reyburn was introduced as the prime
mover and the great leader in the strug-
gle for suffrage in the District. DR.. Rey-
burn explained the provisions of the bill
asking Congress to permit the people Of the
District to decide whether or not they
wanted different form Of government.
He said that he had received letter from
the District Commissioners to the effect
that they had returned the bill to Con-
gress with the recommendation that 1t
should not pass. Such report, he said. was
perfectly natural in the Commissioners,
and he claimed that neither they nor
Chairman Heard of the House District
the measure fairly. Mr.. Heard, he stated.
had showed the matter off on the Commits
sioners, and they had showed 1t back on
the House committee. II, declared DIR.
be secured. suffrage would be the result.
OF that, he said, there could be no doubt
Forming nm Association.
Dr. Reyburn's remarks were loudly ap-
plauded, and before the applause had half
ceased Mr.. Lewis Willis jumped to bis
feet, exclaiming that he was for suffrage
first, last and all the time. In his opinion,
there was no time to lose, and the sooner
they started the ball rolling the better it
would be for every man, woman and child
in the District. He thanked God that :he
democrats would pass out OF existence in
Congress next Monday. and remarked that
the ice boats now here could well be util-
lied in carrying them away. He proposed
that they should proceed at once to the
formation of Suffrage ISOLATION No. 2.
The proposal of Mr.. Willis was unani-
mously adopted. and the meeting proceed
ed to the election Of the required officers.
Everybody had a candidate or two. and
points Of order. privileged questions. per
sonal explanations. previous questions and
all those things came SO thick and fast
that at length Chairman Lewis was COM
PEELED to use a heavy cane in rapping
the meeting to order. That had some effect
for time. but the disorder soon broke
IOFtn again, ana II raSeQ Tor perhaps an
hour before one man restored comparative
quiet by crying out: Gentlemen, don't
you see that there's a reporter here? For
heavens sake keep quiet and act like you
We're something. If you don't that reporter
will show the people Of the District that We
amt fit to have suffrage or anything else"
An Appeal That Restored Order.
This appeal had its effect, and the rest
OF the proceedings were more orderly, al
though every little while the discussions
became rather heated. At length, however,
the organization was completed by the cleo
ton Of the following officers: President
Rev. H c. Robinson; vice president, JOS
Mannings; secretary, Rev. A. w. Shields;
treasurer. VIM. Scott, and sergeant-at-
arms. Lewis Willis. At the suggestion Of
the newly elected president, the meeting
Joined him in singing, "All Hail the Power
OF Jesus Name" Addresses were then
made by Mr. James H Smith and the Rev,
Mr.. Shields, after which the meeting ad-
journed, out Of respect to the memory Of
the late Frederick Douglass.