Evening star., 1896-07-22
PLEADING FOR "PUNK'S"LIFE
The Oolored Women's Convention Consider
the Case.
Resolutions Adopted Today-Declara
tiOns Made on Many Questions
of Public Interest.


League Of Colored Women will hereafter
be known, today, by unanimous vote,
nearly every delegate being present re-
Quested the Wcman's Auxiliary of Wash
ington. d. c., Mrs. B. K. Bruce, president,
and Mrs. Rosetta E. Lawson, secretary, to
take all proper action to induce President
Cleveland to commute the sentence Of
Alexander Burrell, better known as "Punk''
Burrell. Burrell Is confined in the District
jail, sentenced to be hanged next Novem-
Der, for the murder Of Quincy Mackall
during fight on the Navy Yard bridge
several months ago.
The action Of the National Association
followed a speech by Mrs. Rosa D. Bowser
or Ric.mond. Va, who stated to the con-
Vention that she this morning learned OF
some matters in regard to the killing of
MackaH which, she believed, placed the
crime outside Of the category of murder.
She was, she said, confident that If the
evidence presented could be laid before
the President in proper form Burrelrs life
the offense.
Mrs. r. E. Lawson Of Washington re-
ferred to the work of the colored people at
the recent exposition at Atlanta.
Revolutions Adopted.
Miss Ida B. Wells Barnett of Chicago
read the report of the committee on reso-
lutions. which was adopted. The resolu-
tions commended the Industrial schools
in the interest Of the race In the District
Of Columbia and elsewhere; also all schools
designed to give higher education to col
ored youth; condemned the practice in
vogue in some parts CT the Union of whole
families living in one room, and urged the
establishment OF mothers meetings for the
purpose Of teaching purity; indorsed the
objects Of the Womans Christian Temper
aEce Union, especially the work of Mrs.
Lucy b. Thurman. the national superin
tendent of work among colored people; con-
demned the Sheets law, passed by the Flor
| ida legislature, which makes it crime to
have white and colored children in the
same school. Under which law, 1t is as
serted, the colored college at Orange Park,
| In that state. was closed, and which, II
similar law Is enacted in other states, will
result in the discharge of hundreds Of
teachers. and pledged the support of the
members Of the organization of the Amer
lean Missionary Association in its fight for
the repeal of the Objectionable law; con-
demned the authorities of Stoner College
Tor preventing those who have contributed
for the support of Lincoln Hall from
using the latter during the present sum-
mer, as has been the custom heretofore:
commended Judge Harlan for his dissent
ing opinion on the separate car law; made
an appeal to the American Missionary AS
sociation to send supplies to country school
teachers in the south; relative to the duties
incident to home keeping; condemned those
colored people In the south who patronize
the railway companies maintaining Jim
Crow cars; thanked George NJ Pullman
Tor extending the privileges of his palace
car system to colored people; Condemned
the lynching of negroes in the south as
We'll as all mob violence; condemned the
convict lease system disgrace to the
United states, and commended Governor
Atkinson of Georgia for his fairness under
all circumstances, to all persons without
regard TO race; commended the republicans
for having placed in their platform adop:eI
at the recent convention at ST. Lo::is q
- nm lft,.r .l,;,
with the democratic party for falling to do
likewise; pledged the all of the members Ia
the John Brown Memorial Association ard
named May as John Brown day on ychjrh
uay memorial services to John Grown viii
De held regretted the death of Kate Field
ana harriet Beecher Stowe and commend
ed the work of Mr. and Mrs Booker r
W ashington in the black Lelt Of the south
"A committee composed of Mrs I,ucy
thurman, Mrs. 3. *. Bruce and Mrs. Ar
thur s. Gray was appointed to prepare The
resolutions in reference to Harriet Reecher
stowe and transmit a copy to the surviv
lrg members of her family
on motion of Mrs. Josephine ST. Pierre
Huihh OF boston, all clubs connected with
the organization were requested to inquire
INTO the lega! status of women and chill
dren IN their respective states relative to
the age OF consent, and other important
questions. ''
The questions growing ont OF the consol-
dat1on of the federation and league were
after the transaction of some minor ln,si.
ness taken up and discussed until the
hour or recess. Upon reassambling a con-
stitution will be adopted and officers for tb.
new association elected.
Last Nights Session.
The Nineteenth Street Baptist Church
was again crowded last evening with dele
gates to the convention and friends who de-
sired to listen to the interesting papers
which We're to be read. During the evening
the report of the JOINT committee Of confer
ence on the Union of the National Fedora
ton of Afro-American Women and the Ma
tional League of Colored Women was sub
mitted. TIE representatives of the former
organization were Mrs. Mary Church Ter
rell of Washington, d. c.; Mrs Victoria
earle Matthews of New York, Mrs Rosa
u. Bowser Of Richmond, Va; Mrs Joseph
Inc st. Pierre Ruffin of Boston, Mrs l.. c.
Anthony OF St Joseph. Mo: Mrs. Addie
Hunton of Virginia and Mrs. Selma Butler
of Atlanta. The delegates from the Nation
al League were Mrs. A " Thompk;ns.
Miss Coralie l.. Franklin and Miss E. F. G.
Merritt Of Washington, Mrs. Florence A
Barber of Norfolk. Va; Miss Julia F. Jones
OF Philadelphia, Miss Anna Jones of Kan
sas and Mrs. Fannie Jackson of Missouri
Ihe conference committee was in session
during nearly the entire afternoon, Mrs.
Terrell presiding. and an agreement for a
union OF the two organizations was finally
agreed upon. AS the action of the joint
committee was final, the consolidated body
Will cicdilSI Dc kHOWH as Ine National
Association of Colored Women" The re-
port also provided that the officers shall be
chosen on basis of equality by the. Joint
committee; that neither association shall
assume any of the liabilities of the ctber
incurred prior to the consolidation; that the
new association shall support the work al
ready planned by each of the old organiza-
tions, and that the Joint committee shall
draft constitution and elect officers for
the ensuing year. The report was approved
by the convention, and the officers provided
for will be elected today.
Papers on the following topics were read:
The Necessity of Training for the Eleva-
tfon and improvement of domestic Ser
VICE" by Mrs. Fanny Jackson Coppin of
Philadelphia; ''Womans WORK" by Mrs.
B. X. Bruce; Moral Influence" by NJ SIS X.
N. Hughes nf Ohio; THE Afro American
Child and Patriotism" Miss Alice Ruth
Moore. Addresses were also mad. Nv Airs.
L. B. Stephens on DE: ,ots in the Training
of Colored Girls" and Mrs. +. T.. W. Har-
per on the lir:,l Home. lni ih'. venerable
Harriet Tu5nlan sang plantation melody
with excellent effect.
THE COURTS.
Equity Court No. 2-Judge Hagner
Williams agt.- Williams; divorce a vim.
mat. granted Camnhel1 Cornhau.