The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-05-08
RULE OF IGNORANCE
That is What Russell is Giving
the City Of Newborn.
WORSE THAN EXPECTED
BUT THE CITY WILL NOT BE
TURNED OVER TO THEM.
NEGRO CITY ATTORNEY DEMAND
His Demands Unheeded-- 8oth Boards
Meet at Mood To-Oay--Watch
For Developments.

The five councilmen appointed by Gov
ernor Russell as cOncilmen at large for
| the city Of Newborn, for four years
term. have received their commission,
which will not get them as much as would
a Confederate bill.
No individual, from the most cultured
| to the lowest illiterate. dreamed that Rus
sellism would ever be stamped on such
small figures to represent a law-abiding
people i'm this community.
But it has been done, and whether Rus
sell did it or left it to some other less
competent to do it for him, is a question.
Five white men were appointed, and
here they are: S. A. Pope. ]. w. Wat
son, J. NJ. Harrison. J. f. Scheelky, and
=. NJ. Draney. Do you know them! Has
anybody ever had business with them?
They are the five, and will be designated
as "Russelrs Lovely Five"
Not representative man in the num-
ber They have nothing at stake-ex-
cepting one, and he has trustees to look
after his affairs. This is what they have
given us to make laws for our municipal
government, but they will never have the
change to carry their ignorant dOings into
effect.
They met in the city hall here yester-
day and accomplished all they could. 1t
reminded your correspondent of a sham
battle They. with the three negroes
elected from the three black wards, met.
organized into what they might have
thought was lawful board of council
men, cheered up a crowd of poor Office
seekers by electing them to the several
characteristics of city officials, thereby
making them think they had job after
pressing brick" so long
They all had their "official documents"
and had assembled for business. j. w.
Watson. who was the scholarly Reading
Clerk Of the late State Senate, and one
of the appointees, called the meeting to
order. and "Russell's Lovely Five" with
| the three negroes elect, were sworn in
| by negro magistrate, whose white pearly
teeth sparkled with his dark complexion.
as he administered the oath.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS.
The first proceeding was the nomination
| and election of a mayor This was
quickly done, Major A. r. Dennison be-
| ing elected, after which he took his seat
| with as much dignity and grace as a
| duke and presided over the would-be
council.
Then they elected a city clerk. f. r.
Dudley. (col.); city attorney. Williamson,
(col.); city treasurer, P. NJ. Draney. Then
came the squabble for policemen and
| sergeants. After elect:ng a chief, who
| happened To be a white man. one white
| sergeant and one black, and six white
policemen. it was found that some col
ored brothers had been overlooked and
| didn't have job. This necessitated
more offices. and motion was in order
| to increase the number of police from 3
| to -, which was carried, and six negro
policemen were elected and added to the
list. Could this crowd draw a salary it
| would increase the amount paid for
police service now over $500 per
annum.
Oh, you ought to see this handsome
force. They'd be ''hot-stuff' in uni
| form of blue, and would be capable ca
of making the most beautiful shapes and
| faces blush with jealousy Some Of the
gang have suspended judgments hanging
| over them in the mayors court now
One Of them was let off provided he left
the city. He went off, but came back
and got job.
PASS RESOLUTIONS.
A resolution was passed serving notice
| on the councilmen of the First, Second
| and Third wards Democrats) to attend
| an adjournment meeting Of this board at
II a. m. Saturday, May Sth, and in fail
| ure to do so the vacancies would be de-
clared and councilmen would be elected
| to fill them. A notice to the same effect
| was served by the Democrats Tuesday
upon the three negro councilmen-elect to
| meet with them Saturday at II a. m. Oh
their places would be declared vacant.
| and they, the Democrats, would proceed
to elect
The following resolution was also
passed:
BE it resolved, That r. w. William
son, city attorney, be instructed by the
board of city council to make an immedi-