Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-05-19
NEGROES ORGANIZE.
A STATE PROTECTIVE AssOCiA-
TIoN FORMED YESTERDAY.
MANY RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED.
RenIjzing That Every Tub Must
stand Upon It's Own Bottom, They
netcrmine to Rely Upon Themselves
for Their Races Advancement.

In pursuance to a call extended from
Washington about week since, negro
representatives from the ten congress
slonal districts in this State assembled
at True Reformers' Hall. on north Sc
cond street, yesterday at noon, and az
ter a protracted session extending over
the entire afternoon organized what VIII
be known as the Negro Protective As
sociation of Virginia.
A great number of speeches-somc vio-
lent and others quite temperate-wefe
made. and several very volum.nous reso-
utions covering almost every alleged
grievance the negro race has. were
adopted.
There were present about 100 negroes
when A. w. Harris, OF Petersburg. as
temporary chairman, raped them TO or
der. Prayer was offered by Rev. Il. ID.
Lewis. of this city, and a brief address
OF welcome was delivered by Rev. w. W.
Browne. who spoke of the necessity for
organization. Harris replied to this
speech, and was then relieved from duty
in the chair. Robert Cox, Of Lynchburg,
succeeding him.
THE PLAN OF ORGANIZATIONS
A plan of organization was adopted
II provides for the election or state
chairman. a State executive committee
and a State committee; district commit
tees and district chairmen and county
committees. The powers or these va
rious committees and chairmen are out
lined and other less important ana
minor provisions are made
committee on resolutions was APP
pointed and while they were engaged
in drafting their documents epeeches
were made by Revs. j. w. Kirby, Brlce,
Ray. Holmes, and Lewis, ana oH'eF anu
Merchant. -.
A. ". Harris, OF Petersburg, was eject
al chairman of the association, ana
James w. Hayes, OF TINS CITY, "a'
chnsen secretary. An executive commit
toe was also appointed. and they met
Immediately after adjournment.
The report of the Resolutions commit
tee was voluminous, indeed, ana began
as follows: ... ,hot
"Nhereas realizing, as negroes, that
we have interests peculiar to US tnat can
not be served and conserved by any
other race than our own, as loyaiy' ao
zealously, and as earnestly as py 'ne
race. nor can any religious, eouca'iohai,
or political party in wnlch negroes az
not active Observation-Disclosures and lol-
Iowars In common with white men-tos-
ter and protect our race interests
oa tho race can we deem the organlza-
,ion of the race in the State of Virginia
necessity and of the first Importance
in aid of our educational. materlal, ana
political growth"
A NUMBER OF DECLARATIONS.
Then followed seven long resolutions,
IN which IL Is declared that the negro
shall he entitled TO sit on Juries; that
an appeal should be made TO those OIL
cials whose duty It is 10 make appfo-
nriations for the education OF the young
and tc Xix the time that schools shall be
openef during the year; 10 eAtehu 'ne
school term, and, when possible, 10 es-
tablish high school in eacn county,
that the crime so frequently charged
AGAINST the ignorant and brutal of the
race should be condemned, and that the
lvnching of negroes should be deplored
The resolutions endorse the effort be-
ing made by John II. Smyth. and the
countenance given it by the Prison AS
sociation Of Virginia, 10 secure the neces-
sary legislation and material means for
the establishment of a negro reiorma-
tory. and negroes throughout the State
are urged to aid and assist all. race en-
terprises.
Ii IS further set forth that the orSani-
zation proposes to solidify the Republi-
can party so far as the negro IS con-
cerned. but that race interests should
be first and party interests secondary.
The calling Of a constitutional conyen-
ton at this time, ii is asserted in the
resolutions, will not rebound to the in-
terests Of the state. because of the ex-
uense that will attend it. and every negro
is called upon to vote against the propo-
sition.
WAIT ON THE PRESIDENT.
1t was also resolved that committee
Of fifteen be appointed TO visit Washing
ton in company with the Republican Ex-
ecutive Committee and extend copgratu-
lations to President Mckinley
John II. Smyth. ex-Minister TO Haiti.
i'm "A long speech, endorsed the resolu-
tions. and they were adopted as pre-
sented. The body then adjourned, and
the probabilities are that the work
started will die there, as there is con-
siderable disaffection among the negroes,
and Mitchell and his faction. 1t Is
thought will oppose anything done by
the new association. Mitchell having de-
clned to become member OF the Exc
cutive COMMITTEES.