The Republican. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1894-1???, 1896-08-22
Chicago, Aug. Z, 1896.

Chicago, Aug. Z, 1896
10 the Editor Seattle Republican:
My trip to the Windy City has been
made both pleasant and ENJOYABLE in
more than half dozen ways. After
the adjournment Of the national Demo-
cratic convention | turned nv atteD-
ton to business, and find, after visiting
several other cities of this state. that
the Eastern states are not the harding
,ers for the strong growth, from finan-
clal standpoint, for the c0lored Ameri-
can. Business avenues are crowded.
trades and professions are the same.
inducements are not encouraging, and
the survival Of the fitteSt is more an
parent in this section than elsewhere
west Of here. Now, Chicago the won
der of this age, is an immense city.
Sixty thousand Negroes, with a voting
population Of 10000, within her limits
having political representation in city
and county in all their various depart
mentS Of government to the number Of
about $50. The first assistant city at
torney is colored gentleman by the
name Of Franklin A. Dennison, at a sal
airy Of $4,000. per year. The second as
sistant county attorney is a colored
gentleman by the name of William
Ward, at salary of 900 per year.
On the hoard CT county commission
ers we also have representation, in the
person Of Theodore Jones, who is a
county commissioner at a salary Of
$4,000 per year. In the sheriff s, clerks
recorders, treasurer's and abstract of
fees, and in the city departments. in
the mayors efIiee, the health depart
ment, the fire department the police
department, the board of public works.
are employed from five to seven coIored
clerks in each, at salary ranging from
SIS to $500 per month.
There are about forty colored lawyers
practicing at the bar here Those that
are in the front ranks are Edward II.
Morris, Franklin A. Dennison, William
H. Ward, Charles w. Scrutchen, John
son & Alexander, John G.. Jones, R. O.
Lee and W. G. Anderson. Mr.. Scrutch-
en- is from the Evergreen State, and
halls from Spokane, where he took his
first lesson in Blackstone under w. C.
Jones, our present attorney general,
previous to going to Michigan univer-
sity. He stands high in the profession
in this city and is rapidly winning his
way to the front His many friends at
home will doubtless be glad to know of
his success.
AS to the medical profession, there
are about twenty colored physicians
here. The leading ones are Dr.. A. M.
Curtis, DR.. Hall, Dr. Wilberforce Will
Jams and Dr. E. E. Barr. The number
OF colOred teachers in the mixed schools
here are between twelve and fifteen.
in the commercial world the c0lored
people fall short of what l expected. I
ind very poor representation, according
to the number. However, as property
owners they pay taxes upon a small
ratio, yet a few have very desirable
homes. All in all, this is not the haven
we have heard so much talk Of in the
far West for the colored American
Their political representation is not
in proportion to their voting popula-
ton. There are quite few able, strong,
intellectual giants among the colored
men and women OF this city. They
compare fav0rably with the representa-
tive whites as scholars, orators and
statesmen. Their colored military bat
talon encamped a few weeks ago at
Springfield, numbering 400 men, won
the laurels and praises from the gov
ernor and representative men Of the
state. Major Buckner was in command
of the Ninth battalion, and is at pres
ent member of the state legislature.
The political pot is boiling to the
brim. The question of the hour is free
coinage of silver or sound money. The
sound money Democrats will hold their
convention September at Indianapolis
to nominate candidates for president
and vice president. The Chicago sound
money Democrats commenced this fight
after the adjournment Of
the Chicago convention and it was TAX
en- up bp thirty-five other states w. J.
Bryan, the silver candidate, will arrive
in the city tonight on his way to New
York to meet the notification commit
tee. Great preparations are being made
for his reception by the silverites.
The chairman of the national Repub-
lican committee, Mark Hanna, will be
here Monday, as this is the battle
ground for all parties I am Informed
that number of colored speakers Iere
IL