The times., 1898-12-31
THE TUMULT CONCLUDED
Afro e-AmericansAd!guEp Their
Annual Session.
AN ADDRESS PROMULGATED
To Establish "a Daily Newspaper i'm
Washington - Funds Subscribed =
Politics I'm the SOuth-A Distribu-
tion of the ConGested Negro Pop
uIatiOn Advised-Much Wrangling.

The National Afro American Council re-
sumed operations at the Metropolitan Bap-
tist Church yesterday morning, and the
tumult which had marked the session OF
the previous evening again held sway for
two hours
= The trouble was caused by the report OF
the committee instructed to prepare an
address to the negroes OF the country.
Many of the delegates claimed that the
| committee should report to the execu-
tive committee.
The programme for the morning was
entirely disregarded and the presiding Of
| icer could not make himself heard.
At the evening session the report of the
executive committee was read by 7.
Thomas Fortune, of New York.
The address advocates agitation in the
North and education and development in
the South. The following statements are
then laid down:
| ]. Since 1865 there has been steady and per-
sistent determination to eliminate from the
politics OF the Southern States We are not be
, eliminated. Suffrage is Federal guaranty and
| not privilege to he conferred withheld by the
States We are not opposed 10 legitimate restrIc-
, tion of the suffrage, but we insist that restric-
| tions shall apply alike to all citizens OF all
| States We are willing TO accept an educational
neither of these intended is conserved by
! the new constitutions of Mississippi. South Caro-.
! lima, or Louisiana. Their trainers intended and
did disirancise Il majority OF their citizenship be
! cause OF race, color, and previors condition,
and therefore call upon the Congress TO
! duce the representation of those States in the
4 Congress, provided and made mandatory. by
! section of article NV of the Constitution.
>. The increase of mob and lynch law in the Re-
! public must be source OF regret and grief 10
/ every iaw-abiding citizen. We regret that the
! q he led 10,
with silence this vital matter in his second annual
/ message to Congress.
| 3. The separate ear laws have grown to such
provoking proportions, and they 50 unjust, de-
| grading, and oppressive in their operations, that
| we deem 1t urgent 20 direct attention to them
here. We urge and advise, in the interest Of
! justice and dccency, that the graduated passenger
rate prevailing in North Carolina be substituted
| for the infamous system now in force in most
of the other States Of the South
4. In the interest of humanity, we request that
| the penal institutions of the South he reformed.
| D. We feel that more general distribution Of
| the Afro American race throughout the States of
| the Union and the Territories OF the Republic,
in order TO reduce the congested population OF the
| Southern States, would do much to simplify the
| race problem in those States. We shall remain
! here and fight out our destiny in tho land of
| our fathers.
| 1t was voted that engrossed copies of the
| address be forwarded TO President McKin-
| ley, the Senate and the House of Repre-
| sentatives.
The reading of the address was follow
! ed by AN hour of wrsngling. In one in
| stance, when a dozen delegates were argu-
ing and two dozen others were demanding
the floor. the chairman repeatedly shout
ed: Mr.. Fortune has the floor of New
York. Mr.. Fortune has the floor of New
| York
1t was finally voted to send COM
mittee to wait upon the House committee
who are considering thesell providing for
a home for aged colored people.
Colonel Pledger, of Georgia, introduced
resolution providing for the establish
ment of daily newspaper in Washington
to voice the sentiment of the colored race.
Colonel Pledger sad that one good news
paper was worth dozen churches.
The resolution was adopted and s., 900
was at once pledged by those on the plat
form. Five hundred dollars in cash was
also raised by the delegates. The paper
will be capitalized at $4,000.
DR.. Morsell, of Philadelphia. delivered a
short address on the condition of the
| negro.
Mrs. Tompkins, of the Womans Aux
iliary Association. then read the report
| from that branch.
The convention adjourned TO meet in
Atlanta in December, 1899.