Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-28
EMANclPATIoNco CONTROVERSY
An Organization That Claims the Oele-
bratiou.
How the Carson Invincibles Carried
the Day-Possibility Of More Than
One Denomination.

"A dark ClOuQ Inat seems pOrteN(OuS Oh
discomfort. dissatisfaction and all sorts of
dreadful and terrible things hovers over the
prospective celebration Of Emancipation
day. 1t Is a well-estabhshed fact among
the colored population In Washington. or at
least that portion of it which takes an active
interest in the affairs Of the race. that the
10Th Of April is an occasion which calls
forth all the enthusiasm and pent-up ex-
uberance of the multitude and. naturally.
there is great rivalry as to who will par
ticipate as central figures in the parade,
which is the great event of the day. and
receive in no small degree the stirring
plaudits which break from the threats Of
the spectators.
Some weeks ago various individuals who
have attained prominence among the col
ored part of the community concluded that
as the elections were over. it would be op-
perfume to begin the preliminaries for cele-
bratlng Emancipation day. Some one, ac-
cordinsly. issued an invitation for each col
ored organization in the District of Co.
lumbia, secret beneficial, social benevolent
religious. political or associated with the
trades to select three delegates to meet on a
stated day at the old hall of the GAllilean
Fishermen, No. 3l6 Pennsylvania avenue
Whether there was any general response to
this invitation on the part Of the organiza-
lions in question can never be known to a
certainty. but that one of them responded
This was none other than the Perry H. Car
son 1nvincible Club.
The Invincibles on Hand.
Its members are for Perry H. Carson for
everything in sight, civil or religious. cleo
tive or appointive, first, last and all the
time. Being composed of such warm ad-
herents of the popular Colonel and hav-
ing gained a largely increased membership
by reason of the triumph of its patron
saint at the recent republican primaries,
the Carson Invincible Club was compelled
branches There Is a branch in every as
sembly district. and in some two or three
and in every town in the suburbs Is an
other. When the invitation to the con-
branch of the Carson Invincible Club
promptly proceeded to choose three dele
gates In accordance with 1t. When the day
Of the gathering arrived cloud of Carson
Invincibles settled down onGallilean Fisher
mems Hall and hived around Col. Carson.
who was naturally there as the king bee.
No other organizations were represented.
SO the meeting was adjourned to the fol-
lowing week. The next meeting day was
one OF the cold ones, and again only Car
son lnvincfbles were on hand. According
ly, another adjournment was taken until
one day last week at Mount Carmel
Church. and as further delay was out of
the question the Carson Invincibles pro-
ceeded to make their name good by organ
lzing the meeting by electing Carson In
Fincibles officers, and with much enthusi-
asm and charming unanimity declaring
Perry II. Carson chief marshal Of the
Emancipation day parade.
But the Carson Invincibles reckoned with
out their host when they imagined that
carson would go bounding along the ave-
nue.. April 16 on a steed that pranced and
curvetted to the inspiring strains Of
Marching Through Georgia. played by
the Pfckaninny Drum Corps without OBJ
pc sitlon, for it has already come, and a
duly incorporated association possessed of
a seal that Is faithfully placed upon all its
papers, archives, documents and cores
pondence now comes defantly forth and
declares that Col. Carson has no right to
usurp the important functions of chief
marshal OF the Emancipation day parade
Claims a Monopoly.
The name of this combination of men and
methods Is THE Emancipation Celebra ton
and Historical Associa ton Of the District
OF Columbia" and its seal, after stating
this fact further informs the reader that
1t was incorporated May Z, 1885, The or
ganization was formed Just after the cell
epration OF last year. In a letter to The
Evening Star Mr.. r. Halliday, who signs
himself president and secretary, declares
that the association ''is the only legitimate
body authorized to celebrate the emancipa-
ton on the 10th of April
He further requests that no contributions
toward such celebration be given to any
one except the duly accredited agent of
the Emancipation Celebration and Histor-
ical Association Of the District of Column
bia Thus. 1t will be seen that the asso-
citation claims monopoly Of the right to
celebrate Emancipation day. There is no
telling what the future will bring forth.
The Carson 1nvincibles have a peculiarly
powerful way Of carrying out their inten-
hons. On the other hand, the Emancipa-
tion Celebration and Historical Association
Is incorporated and has a seal, and the In
vfncibles have never bucked I'D against
such a combination before