The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1897-02-03
He WAS BORN A SLAVE.
A NEGRO ELECTED TO SERVE IN
THE GOVERNORS COUNCIL.

Always o Champion of the Cause Of HE
Race-Has Been Active In Politics I'm BOs.
ton For Years-"NIy Speciality Is a Think
en-" He Observes-His Record Not Clean.
Isaac B. Allen, who is the first colored
man in any northern state to be elected
councillor TO a governor, was born a
slave in Hampton, Va, 90 years ago
In early life he served il the navy.
He has been elected as councillor to
the governor of Massachusetts.
He came to Boston over 30 years ago
with his parents and has since lived
there.
During his residence there Mr.. Allen
has figured prominently in politics He
has kept dining saloon, and is now in
the real estate and collecting business.
The first public notice of az allen
came in the now historical Butler cam
paign, at the time General Butler first
Ean for governor. In this campaign, as
well as in the subsequent campaigns for
governor and president by General But
der, he was an ardent supporter of the
general
1t was in this school Of active politi-
cians that - Allen first began to cut
has political eye teeth. Since then he has
dgured prominently in the politics of
she south end wards under the old lines.
He likes to boom candidates of his
own race for elective and appointive po-
sltions, and it was through his efforts
that ex-COuncilman Charles Hall was
elected the first cOlored member of the
old Eleventh ward Republican commit
tee. Later on he doomed ex- Ri presenta-
tive Andrew B. baltimore for alderman
and DR. S E. Courtney for school com
mittee man.
1t was last spring at the Republican
state convention that Allen became
most conspicuous in a speech which he
made nominating DIR. S. E. Courtney, a
colored man, for alternate at large to the
st. Louis convention. His speech turn
ed the convention, and DR.. Courtney was
elected.
At st. Louis - Allen worked among
the southern coIored delegates and
brought a portion of them around to
the gold side.
AT the recent caucuses held by the
Republican paTTST,- = Allen was defeat
ed in his ward Ior the nomination
to the house. He then went into the
contest for the nomination to the gov
ernor's council, believing that no one
else wanted it,
The district heretofore has been Dem
ocratio. Republicans had simply been
put up to fill out the ticket, and the
nearest they ever came to carrying it
was two years ago, when the Demo-
cratic majority of 5000 was reduced to
1900 by A. B. baltimore, q colored
man. Last year Mr.. Sullivan beat ex-
Senator Stillman Blanchard by 5000
- Allen is trustee of the Ebcnezer
Baptist church and a member Of the
Kirk Literary association.
He has been accused of having a bad
record and of being intimate with the
inside Of the police courts He was re-
Gently interviewed by a reporter in re-
gard to his record
Are you the Isaac Allen who served
ten months in the house of correction|'
'No."
The police records show that the
Isaac Allen arrested tallies in descriD-
tion with the Isaac Allen VINO served
ten months in the house of correction. -
don know anything about that.
They don't want me to so to the gov.
ernor's council, but I'm going to watch
the vote. -
How can you explain these similar
descriptions one of which you admit
and the other of which you deny?''
was never in the house of correc-
ton :"
Can it be that any one personated
your
~ Perhaps somebody did. There was a
Nnan arrested once who said he was
s~1saac 3. Allen, but lie WASH t.. -
After some further conversation AL
aen said that he would see what was