The Washington times., 1895-06-12
TRIBUTE OF A GREATPAPER
1t Depicts the Nav The Times"
Saved Many from Jail.
Picturesque and weIl-Told Tale of a
Memorable Work in the Interests
ofBetter MOralsin Washington.
From the Music Trades1

editor of the washington Times, has given
evidence of that public spirit which has made
him an honor TO his city and State.
Finding that, under the Edmunds law,
which was intended to reach the Momons, a
large number of the colored population in
washington were liable TO Imprisonment
in the workhouse, because they We're living
IN the marriage state without any civil or re-
ligious ceremony having been performed,
and that several arrests had already been
made, Mr.. Conn hired a clergyman at his
own expense, and set TO work TO free the
colored people from the meshes Of the law.
The whole population of the District of
Columbia is declared by the police census TO
be about 270 900, OF which $4,000 are OF
African blood. The books also declare that,
while colored persons take out only six per
cent. of the marriage licenses, they furnish
forty per cent of the births.
The coBstabulary a month ago began
to arrest all who Were found living to-
gether without marriage. Colored circles
became profoundly agitated.
Not more than two score had been sent
to the workhouse when Mr.. Conn heard
OF the crusade
why not cure these evils with dose
of marriage licenses he asked.
He negotiated for a few reams of blank
marriage licenses and started in. He fitted
up a big room in The Washington Times
building, and made a compact with the
Rev. j W Norris, of one of the local
colored churches, by the terms of. which
the Rev. MI. Norris was toTeport for duty al
three O'Clock in the afternoon during the six
working days of the week aud marry ali
Corners.
The bureau has been running less than
week and the craze TO come down town
and be married" ispreying upon the colored
population. Twenty-four couples were
married on Monday. There have been
seventy weight couples married during the
last four days.
There were eighteen couples waiting for
Rev. Mr.. Norris on Tuesday afternoon.
They were seemingly happy as children ont
for lark Most OF them said they had
not been married before. 1t cost too
much Some OF the applicants for a free
wedding Were aged "uucles" and "aunties"
who had lived together ever 'since de
wah -
1t am sUttenly a CRETE privilege which,"
remark ed the Rev. Mr.. Norris, the moral
sagashuSSess of Mistah Conn unfol's to de
pore darkeued sinners OF Wash'n'ton an
vicinity" The Rev. Mr. Norris might
have said more, but 3 O'Clock rung out;
game was called and he had 10 60 to bat.
His SIS and his duty called.
Things had simmered 10 a system in
this business Of marriage at wholesale.
The preliminary canter, as ii were, con-
sisted OF a fashion Of wedding march,
when, one after another, each couple
paraded before the preachers desk and
replied 10 such queries us the law prescribes.
They did this readily.
The first couple TO score was John Jones
and Della Merriman Johns age gained
him this precedence. He was wrinkled and
bent. with Wool as white as cotton.
"Evah since GinruI Grant reviewed his
troops at de close oh de wah,'' observed
John, me and my ole Della has been
a-livin' together. But I'm gettin' ole, an
me an Della allowed de day befo' yis'tday
dat eff we hadn't lived married, de least
wuZ we'd die married. An hyah we be,
bress de Lawd." John and Della took
the maria gel license and withdrew when the
worst was over, convinced that they were
morally cured and ready to meet on
even terms any ngel of their complexion.
After the Rev. Mr.. Norris had asked the
questions he addressed the multitude
briefly. 1t was a labor-saving GRAFTON. He
said:
Now, eff all you folks viii stan about
me in senmy-suckle can marry seben
couple at a clatter, an shorten de time"
Seven couples arranged themselves in
I
the left wing Of this line of battle stood
william Willard. Williams bride was
clothed in neat black. Most of the brides
were clad in the common raiment OF
every day, but several had on Respondent
costumes. When the seven couples were
arranged the Rev. Mr.. Norris cleared his
throat, opened his book and remarked:
stan facin' each other an jine yo'
right hans" They did ii as if the move
ment had been rehcarsed. There they
stood, these fourteen black candidates for
a better life and a higher plane OF morals,
looking for all the world as if they ex-
pected the next order would be Grand
right and left"
But it wasn't. The Rev. Mr.. Norris
than minute OF those who
were welded that day, all had been in
need of the ceremony from four to thirty
years At least seventy children were
rendered legitimate by that days charity
OF Mr.. Conn.
A colored belle approached timidly and
said she and a young man named Hill
wanted to be made man and wife.
''Whar is he?'' remarked Rev. Mr.. Norris.
pint de trifler out, an I'll marry you"
'Mistah Hill amt heah,' she murmured,
hanging her head. But if it rains we
viii be down tomorrow at o'clock"
whats de rain got to do wild it?' de-
manded Rev. Mr.. Norris suspiciously.
why. Hen7y's a bricklayer, y replied the
bride -to-be. ''Ef it's sunshiny he'll be
at work, an wen have TO put it off.
But ef il rains we II come tomorrow at J"
Delays IS dangerous, honey, said Rev.
Mr.. Norris "Yo' bettah come to morrow"
The correspondent of the New York
Herald, from which the principal part
OF the above account is taken, adds: Mr..
Conn is doing great and serious work. He
stood looking on while Rev. Mr.. Norris
tied the knot, and his face wore smile
OF pleasure"
ITS a good thing remarked Mr.. Conn.
Its better than the workhouse and the
iail. These people aren't bad, they are
unfortunate. It's the first time, l be-
lieve, that any preacher was ever hired by
The week to marry persons, but IN gong
to keep il up while one remains unmarried"
Mr. conn's record of good work done is
long one.
He Invented a mouth-piece to the cornet
wbsch started him on the road to fame
Next be started band instrument factory,
which made Elkhart, Ind, known all over
| the United States, and which proved in
the end that band instruments can be made
| in this country fully equal to the finest pro-
duced in France, England, CT Germany.
He int reduced the electric light into
| Elkhart almost before they had it in Chi
cago, and started a bright daily paper
there when larger towns had nothing but
weeklies.
He erected a big house in Elkhart.
People thought it was for himself. When
it was finished he opened it as home and
refuge for fallen women.
He served his city as mayor, as senator
at the State capital, and finally as
Congressman at Washington
A few years ago be inaugurated a cash
system OF profit SHARING, by which he
distributes annually about SIS 900 among
bis working people.
When the journeymen typesetters in
Washington, who had started daily paper,
and the enterprise was about to collapse
frnrn wa of CanifaI hn fnnl hold of IL