Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1896-02-21
Observation-Disclosures
CHOICE FOR DELEGATE

4
TX CHOICE FOR DELEGATE K
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OsKALoosA, Feb. 1O--ED. BYsTANDER:
Who shall represent the Negroes of Iowa
as delegate-at-large to the National Re-
publican convention? The woeful mis-
take of four years ago should not be re-
| peated. For that mistake the Negroes OF
Iowa were not responsible, for the author
| of it was not their choice. But we will be
| held responsible, and justly so, if we allow
it to occur this year. Two, / think, are
equally eligible-Rev T. L. Smith of Keo-
kuk and G. r. Foster of Muchakinock,
either Of whom could support with pleas
ure and confidence.
There is, however, another whose name
has not yet been mentioned, that know
of. He is not a politician, but man not
an office seeker, but O republican from
principle. He. moreover, occupies the
unique position among our race in the
north of beng the owner Of nearly 800
acres of land. successful farmer and
business man and one of the largest breed
ers of trotting horses in this part Of the
state. III. A. Armstrong of East Des Moines
township, Mahaska county, Iowa, is my
first choice of the Negroes of Iowa as dele
gate-at-large. Is there a Negro or white
man in Mahaska county, who does not
second the nomination? If there is whyP
A. G. CLARK.
Editor IOWA STATE BYsTANDER:-I
see by your last issue that there is a dispo
sitlon on the part Of colored voters of Iowa
to send colored delegate to the republi-
can national convention 70 be held June
| II, 1896 at st. Louis. In my judgment
we are entitled to delegate-at-large.
| How to get delegate-at-large: Let the 16-
| 600 Negro voters of Iowa voice one senti-
ment and make this demand You spoke
of many gentlemen in various towns and
districts in the state who would be compe-
tent to go as delegate. but let us settle
down on man like Rev. [. L. Smith Of
Keokuk, whose name is on the lips Of most
every coored voter IN the state of Iowa; a
man who has rendered great service to the
republican party; a man who has taken
the front ranks in the interest of the pro-
lection of the Negroes of Iowa; indeed he
is q great race man. You know he has
the ability. He will not only be credit
to the race, but credit to the republican
party. r. N. HYDE.
Des Moines, Fep. 90.
ALBA, Feb. 15.-ErIToR BYsTANDER:
| saw in the Negro Solicitor that there
ought to be one delegate of the colored
citizens of the state of Iowa 60 to the ma
tlonal republican convention, that conyenes
i'll ST. Louis June 16, and that a delegate
fought to go from .Afahaska county. +
think that Monroe or Wapello county
could fill the place, with more credit to
the party than the delegate that went to
the last national republican convention,
which was held in Minneapolis. You can
send me. am man that has stuck to
the old party and will stick to it.
w. g. RHINHART
Rooms OF THE CoLoRED REPUBLICAN
CLUB, SIOUX CITY. Feb. 16.-THE Iowa
STATE BYsTANDER: The Colored Repub-
lican club of Woodbury. county held q spe-
cial meeting last Thursday evening to dis
cuss the delegate question, and adopted
the following resolution:
Resolved, That the 10000 Afro-Ameri-
cans in Iowa, who have always been loyal
to the republican party, and have on all
occasions advocated republican principles
are entitled to recognition; and such being
the case, we, as club, unanimously on
dorse Rev. r. L. Smith of keokuk as our
choice for delegate.
MUoH1KANooK, Feb. 19.-IowA
STATE BYsTANDER: Having seen in
several issues of your paper your
earnest endeavor to arouse the at
! tention of the colored voters of
Iowa to the Importance OF the inn
mediate consideration of an Afro
American as one of the delegates
at-large to the Republican National
convention to meet in st. Louis,
and your request to hear from va
rious localities on said question,
would like to state the feeling OF
the people Of Muchakinock in this
matter
If quiet, unseltish undemonstra-
tive and heroic devotion to the
principles of the republican party
deserves appreciation and recogni-
ton, and if his strength and i'm
portance is of any consequence to
the success of repubicanism in
Iowa is matter of any moment,
then the Negro republicans OF
Iowa deserves to be represented in
the national convention. 1t is