The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-11-16
THE NEGRO in POLITICS
Subject OF the Address Delivered by
Alderman Millar Before the Key
stone Republican Club, in
Bethel Hall.

Alderman w $. AIllar addressed the
Keystone Republican club at Bethel
hall, next to Howard Place African
Methodist Episcopal church, last night
on "The Negro in Politics" Tie had
been invited by the club to speak on
this subject. Rev. II. A. Grant, of
Howard church, and Rev. J. II. Reil,
of Shiloh Baptist church. preceded Mr..
Mllar and they spoke some plain
words to the negro about what he
must do if he expects to be treated on
an equal footing with the white citi-
zens The negro in the north and east,
Rev. Mr.. Bell said, who votes the Dem
ocratic ticket aids in the inhuman
treatment accorded to the negroes in
the south.
alderman AIillar began by saying
| that he intended to speak for the good
Of th9 negroes and therefore might be
impellcd to say some Caustic things.
but they would be prompted by a sim
cere desire for the betterment of his
audience. The papers have said he is
candidate for mayor. That is not
true, the alderman said; nor is he Il
candidate for any other office, there
fore as it is after election he could
|
for Il selfish purpose.
But on election dav a week ago he
stood at the poll in his district of the
Eighth ward from o'clock in the
morning till the last vote was count
ed at night, ard out of the 30 or 40
negro voters in that district only six
voted and twelve others who came to
/ vote were rejected because they We're
. an ripYE lD ~
/ taxes. The ballot is the mightiest
/ privilege given to any man, he said,
! and while the negroes show such in
! difference to avaling themselves OF the
! power to vote for the men who shall
| be their officers they cannot consist
! emily blame anybody but themselves
| it they do not get fair play.
Ever since 1869 when the fifteenth
/ amendment TO the constitution of the
! Ulitcd States went into effect guar
anteeing equal rights to all the citizens
! no matter of what race, creed. color
or previous condition of servitude the
negro has bcen invested with the right
To vote. And it should not be difficult
for them to Judge OF the party 10 vote
for,
The war that began i'm 1861 was for
|
| declared the emancipation procIama- =
tiou on Jan. /, 1861, setting the negro
race in the United states free, and
afterward gave up his lite for that
cause, the matchless Mckinley wh1
! fought in that war on the side of free
| dom-thcse are things to consider in
| voting.
The alderman paid tribute TO the
=
two hundred of them. that in all his
political dealings with them for the
past fifteen years, and they have been
close, he had but one OF them to APP
nroach him for money TO vote, and
that was at the recent election. Ho
said that one of the foremost orators
in the United States today. one of the
best sculptors of the world, one of the
best painters in the world are ne
groes, and the dashinS. fearless Tenth
| United states cavalry that swept with
| irresistible force to the assistance OF
ltoosevelts Rough Riders is composed
Of men with black faces. He urged the
| negroes to pay their taxes, see that
they are registered, save their money
and stand w for their rights.
After Alderman Nillars address the
club conducted business session M
which it was decided TO call a meet.
ing neat week to arrange for an in.
diSnation meeting, the attendance "a
he regardless of color TO which sew
eral of the pastors of the city will be
invited as Il protest against the vii,
mipEton massacres in North Carolina
Officers for the ensuing year were
elected as follows: President, Camp,
bell Hughes; vice president, John w
Jackson; secretary, l.. +. Morton
treasurer, Alex Patterson; sergeant
| alarms, John Bell,