The evening times., 1896-07-21

ored women out of all the elements at
hand was the CHEF subject before the
convention OF the National Federation
OF Afro-American Women at the Nine
teehth Street Baptist Church today.
Mrs Booker T. Washington presided and
called the convention to order at S:4o
O'clock Mrs Thurman led the devotional
exercises. Mrs. L. C. Carter, OF New
Bedford, the recording secretary, read the
minutes and they Were approved.
Mrs. Washington read the letter from the
National League of Colored Women, ask
ing for the appointment OF Comnittee
OF seven from the federation to meet
with seven members OF the lea que to CON
fer upon the problem OF union. She said
she had last night appointed the com n;ittee
desired, and also in the absence of the
federation's corresponding secretary, Mrs.
L. A. Ridley, OF Brookiine, Mass, had writ
ten To the corresponding secretary OF the
le: que of the action.
AS the letter from the league had asked
the federation to fix a time and place
for the Joint Committee meeting, she la
suggested IL a. IN. or l:30 p, m. as the
hour, and a room at the Nineteenth street
Church as the place.
She was herself heartily in favor of the
union, and would do all she could, as she
had done from the first. to bring il about.
She believed she represented the federal
ton in the matter, and hoped that the com
mittee would afford every opportunity for
establishing it.
THE CoNSOLIDATIoN.
She considered lie outlook for an honor
able consolidation Of their forces. She
hoped the members OF the committee would
continue closely in attendance at the church,
so as To be ready for the league committee
when they should come.
Tie committee appointed by President
Washington OF the federation is as follows:
Mesdames Victoria Earl Matthews. NJ. c.
Terrell, Selma Butler, Rosa d. Bowser, L.
c. Anthony, j. st. z. Ruffin and Ella s.
| Moore.
Reports from societies were read by Mrs.
| jerome Jeffery OF Rochester, n. Y: Mrs.
| Mary H. Dickerson OF Newport, r. l., and
| Mrs. Aldrich from the Pittsburg society.
Mrs. Josephine sewcils reported for New
Bedford, Mass, telling how much help
they had received from visits OF prominent
! colored women.
Mrs.L c. Anthony, of Jefferson City, Mo-,
|
| hoped 10 see one organization evolved from
the Boston meeting They were disap-
| pointed ia that, but were very desirous that
| a union he effected at this convention.
| Mrs. Bentley, of Allegheny City, said the
society had devoted its efforts TO fighting
the drink traffic and trying to save their
| boys from the cigarette.
| Miss Williams of Greenville, Miss, paid
a tribute TO Mrs. Bruce, Mrs Lynch aEd
Mrs. Washington, and told how the club
had worked among tie people OF that sec
ton, and set in motion forces for the ill.,
| provement Of colored lhomes. /.
| Mrs. ]. n. Kemp reported for two Min
| neapolis, aud Mrs. Agnes Adams for Ros-
ton society. Miss Georgia W. Lewis Of
| Cambridge brought greeting from that
place.
Mrs. Rosa D. Bowser, of Richmond.
told how the league from which she came
was organized to aid John Mitchell In his
| famous Lunenburg case. She said they
had collected money. The freedom of
Polkie Barnes had been secured, am Mary
Aberuethy was awaiting in the Lynchburg
| Jail third trial The trio had been saved
from judicial murder They would have
been hanged without trial but for the efforts
OF the league. In closing, she pleaded
for union OF effort by the two great
| national societies, and was applauded u gain
and again.
Miss A. Z. Greenige, of the Home of the
| Friendess. in This city, told of the Difficult
ties VITA which they have had to contend.
They have cared for zoo persons, and only
four have died. The ages range from -four
| years to ninety.
She asked that, while men are busy with
finance and protection, the women give
their time to the proper training for use
full lives of the young of the race.
| A SEWING CIRCLE.
Mrs. j. W Hawkins reported from the
Lucy Thurman W. C. T. u, organized in
February last. They have twenty-six mem
bers. Mrs. A. S. Cray is president. They
maintain sewing circle, where good prin.
cipes are carefully taught while the work
goes on; also they have plan for trsin-
ing girls in cooking.
Mrs. ]. NJ. Layton reported from the
Baptist Lyceum OF the Second BsS,tist
Church of this city. She said Senators
Chandler, Lodge. Palmer. and other promi-
nent men had favored them with papers
that We're heard and discussed by the
society.
In closing she said, Let us resolve
sink or swim, survive or perish, we will be
oDe." This was applauded.
Upon motion of Mrs Gray, the cour;esies
of the convention were extended to Mrs
Francis f. w. Harper, the poctess, and Miss
Fannie Jackson Coppin, the writer.
Mrs. Eta J. Webster reported from the
Equal Rights Council of Washington. She
amused and pleased the audience with an
account OF the troubles of colored people
in Washington. She told how IN war times
the pass word was Potomac, but the people
got it twisted in giving 1t from one to
| another till it came cut "buttermiik" In
this way they got things twisted so as tc
give great trouble.
In one case here there was a stir over a
niissiOners sent out a committee to settit
the matter, and the only child they cop:t
find was white, so far as anybody coult
determine.
She spoke of the timing of a woman $50t
for killing a eOlored boy as case OF in
justice. THAT woman" she exclaimed
could pay that money easier than car
| pay q dollar, because haven't got u half
dollar this minute"
when Coxey's army was here" she said
..I felt like twenty men. Major Moore sal,
he couldn't let Coxey speak on the Capito