Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1896-10-24
HON. HARRY O. SMITH.
Twice Elected Member of the Ohio Leg
islature and more than 13 Years
Editor of the Cleveland, o,
Gazette.

The above is a very good portrait of
young selfmade man, VINO has push
ed his way TO the front by indomita-
BILE will, energy and honest dealing.
Although but 33 years of age, he has
spent 10 years in newspaper work.
over IL years Of them as Editor of the
Cleveland, o., Gazette" of which he
has been sole proprietor for nearly ten
years, and is now serving his second
term in the Ohio legislature. Mr..
Smith enjoys the distinction, not only
of editing what is generally acknowl-
edged to be one OF our few leading
race journals and advocates, but also
of having twice been elected over white
opponents, 10 the legislature Of his
State, by the largest plurality Cover s
and 10 thousands respectively ever
given an Afro-American candidate for
such an office. This too, in a county
where the Afro-American vote is not
one-twentieth of the total Republican
vote.
One of his constituents (and by the
way for years one of his best political
friends) is the Hon NJ, A. Hanna,
chairman of the Republican National
Committee. Mr.. Smiths work, (per
sonal and news paper in the interest
of the race and the Republican Party,
for period of dozen years or more,
is too well-known to need comment.
SUCCESSFUL MEASURES HE INTRODUCED.
His most conspicuous work as a
Legislator in the interest of the race
during his first term Tin 1880 was the
passage of the Ohio Civil Rights law.
of which the Malby Law of New York
state, is a copy. His "mob violence or
anti-lynching law" which is now on
the statute books of the grand old
State-a mother of Presidents-over-
shadows all his work in the first ses-
sion of the 72nd General Assembly of
Ohio. in the lower branch of which he
is serving his second term, Ito Jan. l.,
1898 For four years, during the
time Senator-elect Foraker was Gov
ernor of Ohio and as a result Of his
favor, Hon. II. @. Smith was depu-
ty state Oil Inspector-the first of the
race ever to hold such a position in
this country. His bond of So, 900 90
was signed by three OF Cleveland's
oldest and most highly respected Afro
Americans.
As composer Of vocal and guitar
music, as a military band director and
solo cornetist, he has quite a reputa-
ton, having also given years to these
lines of work.
Though born in West Virginia, he
has lived in Ohio, at Cleveland, ever
since his second year, and enjoys the
acquaintance and friendship of almost
every Republican in the State of Ohio
No Afro-American Legislator that
state has ever had, has such a splendid
record for work done-the kind that is
of practical benefit to the race, and no
Afro-American is more highly respect
- -, Il 81 -
is the only effective Anti-lynching law
and but one other state (South CARROLL
ma, in the Union has any thing at all
along this line
THE POSITIONS he OCCUPIES.
Mr.. Smith is to-day the leading Afro
American in the Buckeye State, en-
jOylng the friendship, confidence and
esteem of both Major Mckinley and
Mr.. Hanna. His speech at Canton.
August 18th, when at the head of a
delegation DISCO o-Americans, who
visited Mckinley, drew from the latter
a response which most agreeably sur
prised the country and secured merit
ed praise for both For nearly two
years Mr.. Smith had been advocating
the nomination of Mckinley and is
now working hard for his election.
One of the best campaign documents
extant to-day, is his letter on 'McKin-
ley and the Afro American :" 1t is
indeed interesting reading and isfur-
nished free by the Chicago branch of
the National Republican Committee.
Many Afro-Americans in Cleveland
and in Ohio, are grateful to Mr.. Smith
for positions they hold or held, and
others ought to be who are not. Twas
ever thus however. Socially. Mr..
Smith has been the acknowledged
leader among the young men OF our
class of people in Cleveland for ten
| years
PROF. sCARBoRoUGH's TRIBUTE.
Speaking OF his paper, Prof. W. S.
Scarborough. the weil-known scholar,
wrote recently:
This paper has proven a success and
is now by far the best colored paper
published in the state of Ohio and is
one among the beet edited by colcred
| journalists in the United States. 1t is
vigorous in tone, fearless in its defense
of right, an uncompromising enemy of
prejudice in all of it's forms a strong
advocate OF equal rights to all men
without distinction, and a staunch re-
publican in politics-with principle
rather than expediency as its basis.
AN oUrsPoKEN RACE DEFENDER
Mr.. Smith has always welded afear-
less and able pen for right aud truth.
He has fought sq1arely in behalf of
his race, demanding for it recognition
wherever denied. No other proof of
this is needed than the Gazette itself
The Hon. Fred erick Douglass wrote
"In the midst of hurried preparations
for a long tour in Europe / snatch
my pen and spend few moments to
tell you how completely / sympathize
with your political attitude"
} Then again, he adds: st do exbort
your readers to stand by you in your
efforts to lead the colored citizens OF
Ohio to wise political action.
Though at times Mr.. Smith has beer
severely criticized he has never varied
from what he considered his duty.
AN UNswRRvINe REPUBLICAN,
He believes that the republican par.
ty conserves best the interests of the
Negro, and thereupon he becomes it.
able and active defender. He believes
that mixed schools are the best for al
concerned and especially for the Ne
; grO--as separate schools imply race
prejudice and race inferiority--anC
therefore he becomes the RELENTLESS
antagonist to the color-line in schools
He believes that all men are born FIRE,
, and equal in the general acceptance o
the phrase. and, therefore, he demand
for each man, regardless of color "a fai
chance in the race of life.
His articles are read with bot
pleasure and profit, to which fact
largely due the increased and increas
> ing circulation of the Gazette"