Evening star., 1898-12-30
Pandemonium Reigned at the Afro
American Council.
SET PROGRAM WENT TO SMASH
The Chairman's Ruling Was Finally
Sustained.
RESOLUTIONS TO BE OFFERED

Their was complete tranquility in the
Metropolitan Baptist Church this morning
when the third session of the Afro-Ameri-
can Council was called to order by the
president, Bishop Walter. There was no
evidence of the intense feeling apparent
at the meeting last night. To add to the
peaceful air prevailing, Bishop Walter sug-
gested that all rise and sing Nearer. My
God, to Thee" DIR. Johnson led in prayer
The fraterral feeling. did not continue.
long, for the convention at once began to
wrangie and indulge in acrimonious debate
over the question as to whether or not the
committee which is preparing an address
to the public shall report to the executive
committee or to the council as BODY
Disorder reigned for two hours. the chair
man calling vainly for quiet and order be-
lore yea and nay vote was taken Pan
demonium was the supreme ruler of the
coGncl and every one the floor endea-
Vored to be heard at one and the same
time.
Bishop Walters stentorian voice rang ont
above the cries of the multitude and he
ruled that the address committee should
report to the executive committee which
IN turn should report to the council to-
night.
The Chair Sustained.
There was an appeal from the decision
of the chair. After working for an hour
to quiet the delegates two tellers were ap-
pointed to poll the vote of the convention
on the motion to sustain the ruling of the
| chair. The confusion did not subside while
the vote was being taken. and the tellers
consequently disagreed.
This added to the general excitement and
confused order of things and q new set of
telers was called for. Finally the dele
gates quieted down somewhat, and the vote
was proceeded with. 1t resulted in the
Delegate Marsh, from Massachusetts,
arose and moved that the address be re-
ceived from the executive session at 7:30
o clock, declaring there should be time 10
discuss it, as the document was unmanly
and was prepared by administration office
holders. No self-respectng black man. he
said, wodld vote for its adoption.
In the newed confusion following these
remarks some one moved an adjournment,
and the convention broke up without action
by the chair and needless of attempt 10
pronounce a benedictiCn.
The program for the morning which in
cluded addresses by Rev. Z. c. Morris of
Arkansas, E. E. Cooper, Magnus L. Robin
son of Virginia, r. S. Smith of this city.
Prof. Booker 7. Washington of the Tus-
, kegee Institute, Alabama: Prof. Kelly Mil
Ter of Howard University. and Paul Law
renee Dunbar of Ohio. was allowed to go
Ito smash as one delegate said and he
added from the floor that the evening pro-
gram might do the same"
At session of the executive committee
resolutions were adopted and will be pre-
sented later to the council setting forth
that
The purpose of this council is to dis
passionately consider the conditions under
which the Afro-American is working out
his progress as an American citizen, and
devise means of ame,iorating such Incl
dental circumstances as operate unfavor-
ably, and to utilize such opportunities as
promise greatest good: and
That we regret that in the public meet
ing held during our session last night GER
tain persons, not members of our council
but whose attendance could not well
prevent. should have given expression 10
their preJudiceS and irrational emotions in
manner that was mistaken by some as
an expression on the part of this council;
a lack of confidence i'll the purpose of the
administration to guard and TO promote the
welfare OF all the people, regardless of
class, race or section.
And we declare it 10 be the sense of this
co'inc1t that all such expressions are for
elgn both to our opinions and the spirit
of our work.