The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-26
COLORED MEN TURN OUT
MIG REPUBLICAN MEETING AT POT
TIERS HAT FACTORY LAST NIGHT.
MIR. Overstrcet Speaks There and at
BrightwOod - Reception to
Leopold Levy.

very large and very enthusiastic meet
ing of colored Republicans was held in the
main room of r. f. Potter's hat factory
last night, on West North street. Repre-
sentative Overstreet, Chairman Charles S.
Hernly, Colonel Harry B. Smith and sew
eral others addressed the meeting and all
were enthusiastically appiauded. The Her
culean Republican Club, under whose
auspices the demonstration was made, had
worked hard, and was rewarded by one of
the largest and in every way most success
full meetings which have so far been held.
If the threatening aspect of the heavens
prevented the attendance of any one there
was nothing to give evidence to it.
The large room which had been furnished
for the occasion by Mr.. Potter was cleared
of boxes, and the walls were decorated with
the stars and stripes. Red. white and blue
Japanese lanterns gave light within and
without the hall. AT the south end the plat
form had been erected. In front, in plain
sight of every one in the audience, were
large-sized portraits of President Mckinley
and Vice President Hobart and around the
pictures were folds of the national colors.
On one side two men were kept constantly
busy supplying punch to all corners.
A large number of chairs had been
brought in, but it is safe to say that not
more than one-fourth of those present were
able to obtain seats. The aisles were
crowded, and many climbed up boxes or
hung to stray timbers in order TO obtain
better view. Behind, even into the street,
many people stood listening eagerly to every
word. Scores of white men were mingled
with the crowd. and most of them stood
curing the entire evening. yielding the seats
as well as the occasion to their colored
brethren. During the meeting the music
was furnished by the colored knights Of
Pythias Band, and by two colored men.
who sung several loudly-cheered songs.
The speeches were brief and to the point.
Before the formal opening of the meeting
James w. Noel gave d short Introductory
talk. In it he reviewed briefly the history
OF the Republican party's pledges, and
showed how fully they had been kept. DIR.
s. A. Furnjss, the chairman of the meeting,
then formally opened the meeting in a few
words, and presented Charles S. Hernly.
Mr.. Hernly made an earnest and patriotic
address. He began with the words: THE
Republican party never fired on the Amer-
can flag; the Republican party never sho.
down our black brother" Continuing, the
speaker reviewed the financial record of
the Democratic party. + He pointed out the
distress of the Cleveland administration.
My black brother, do you want to pass
through that again?' he asked.
Mo- cried the audience in one breath.
And you, my white brother, do you want
to pass through that again?''
No" they cried together.
LOYALTY TO M'KINLEY.
Mr.. Hernly stated that in the watch he
has kept on the temper of this State he has
found everywhere a strong loyalty to the
policies Of Mckinley and the Republican
party. From one precinct word was re-
ceived that every Republican would stand
by his party, while fifteen Democrats had
signified their intentions of supporting the
peace and war policies of President Nc
kinley.
James III. Lott followed Mr.. Hernly. His
speech was warmly received. He said he
was a Republican because where. the Re
publican party rules ce4ored men do not
have TO ride in a separate car of the trains
nor in separate street car. He stated that
in the town of Augusta Ga, there is an
ordinance .forbidding colored people the
privilege of riding with white people Fol-
while the band was playing, and was wei
coined with loud cheers. Mr.. Overstreet's
speech received the profoundest attention
He appealed directly to the sound sense of
those present. He showed how the Demo-
cratic party has failed to keep it's promises
in the past. and asked If it is now safe to
ton to the fact that there is no place for
independents in this campaign, and
showed to the eolored men, who are inclined
to call themselves Independent, that they
are actually supporting the Democratic
party.
Horace Smith made a short talk in sup
port of the county ticket. The crowd then
called upon Colonel Smith. He devoted his
remarks to the record of the colored men
in the war of the rebellion. George Knox
and Rev. A. /. Murray also made short
talks. Nci 81 IS raE