Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-04-30

capacity for command. but was black, had
a little difficulty about an order given by
him while on parade with a son of Mr.. b.
X. Bruce, who was also an officer, but sub
ordinate to the other. Young Bruce, Mr..
Moore said, not only did not obey the or
der, but drew his sword and threatened to
run his superior officer through with it.
The latter would not allow Bruce to do
this. and an investigation was held by
what Mr.. Moore called the ring" and the
major dismissed. and Bruce retained. He
had, however. he said, learned within a
few days that the major, through the eff
forts OF Mr.. Bruce, had been reinstated.
Mr.. Moore further said: There is great
deal of talk in the District of Columbia
man out of Jail in Mississippi and lynch
him. That is not legal, but here in Wash
ington the District Commissioners will
put BLUE clothes on a man. give him
pistol and he can shoot down people and
you can't help it,.
Mr.. Moore also complained that there
were some prominent colored men who had
four OF more relatives in good offices, while
the average black man, solely On account
of his color, could get no public position.
Mr.. Jones' Suggestion.
Mr.. Thomas l.. Jones urged that in
stead of the complaint of the audience be-
ing sent to Congress, as proposed, it should
first be laid before the District Commits
sioners, and If the latter would not do
anything in the premises, make an ap
peal to the higher body. He argued that
there was but little hope Of a change for
the better until the people of the District
had the right of suffrage.
The suggestion of Mr.. Jones dld not
meet with second, and Chairman Black
announced the committee 20 place the
action of the meeting before Congress-
Rev. G. w. Lee, J. NJ. Foster, Thomas l..
Jones, j. w. NJ. Stewart and w. J. Tyler,
and a motion carried to add the name
of the chairman of the meeting.
Mr. Lee on the Color Line.
Rev. George w. Lee made the closing
speech. He began his remarks by relating
anecdote OF a colored boy in the south,
who seemed to have an idea that all he
went to school for was to get an Office.
why" Mr.. Lee asked, did 1 want to
be appointed a school trustee: Because"
said he, answering his own question, Il
wanted office" The audience roared
with laughter, and Mr.. Lee went on with
his remarks: Seriously, however, said he,
there is entirely too much discrimination
on the part of the colored people against
each ether. But I don't wonder that the
mulattos don't want to mix with the
blacks. The truth is there has been too
much mixing among the yellow people al
ready"
Then, looking at the reporters who were
seated at table near by, Mr.. Lee said:
There are only two races that have any
reason 10 be proud of their color; yours
and mine.
80 far as the charge of discrimination
against black children in the public schools
is concerned, l have never investigated
single case in the District of Columbia, nor
l am after competency in the schools, and
l don't care whether the teachers are yell
low or black, so that they are properly
qualified to give children instruction.
"At this time the District Commissioners
will listen to no complaints from us. Their
ear is turned toward the White House to
hear what is said to them from that di-
rection. If they were elected by the peo-
pie of the District they would, when citi-
zens call to see them, put out heap more
chairs for those who have business with
them, and there would be several more
nimble backs in the board room. if there
was any way to affect their tenure of office
except through the President
Mr.. Lee made plea for suffrage, and, in
concluding, remarked: I think Congress
ought to rise and take us back into the
Union
Mr.. Blake's Remarks.
During the evening Mr.. E. NJ. Blake, chair
| man of the legislative committee of the
Federation of Labor addressed the meet
ing by invitation. He remarked that he had
been given personal credit for the success
of the appeal before the Senate of the United
States in favor of the appropriation for the
erection of a school building for colored
children in the southeast section of the city,
though he was entitled to only small por-
ton of the credit. The credit belonged to
the local federation Of organized labor, Of
which he was the servant.
THE Federation of Labor" he said, ais
sensitive where the rights of labor are over
looked, and are ever willing to champion
the cause of the friendless or oppressed.
Learning from a gentleman that the
party whose duty it was to represent the in
terest of the colored school children had
Disseminated a hearing before the House
committee in favor of additional school