The evening times., 1899-02-02
PRESIDENT WILLIS CLUB.
Potent Reasons for the Failure of n
Roard Meeting.

The regular annual squabble for which
the various organizations that indulge in
emancipatory celebrations on the ami
versary of the day when President Lin
coin proclaimed all the colored people who
were enslaved free are justly famous. has
commenced already. The celebrations are
in the hands of what is known as the His
torical Society, composed mostly of ex-
slaves, and the officers of the parade to-
gether with the speakers for the occa-
sion, are secured by the board of direct
ors of this society, four meeting of the
board being held for this purpose each
year. As sure as the time for the meeting
rolls around there is quarrel among the
various members of the society as to what
constitutes the legal board of directors
These are supposed to be elected each
year directly after emancipation Day. and
are expected to prepare plans for the next
celebration. A stated number is each year
held over from the old board to go on the
new. These are the men who generally
cause all the trouble as nearly all of the
former board want to be held over and if
they are not they hold meetings of their
own and elect officers to suit themselves.
Such a board meeting was called for last
night at the Friends of Zion Hall, ON G
Street southwest, between Third and Four
and-a-Half.
The ether board met at the hall on the
night of January II and elected their off,
GERS, Lewis Willis being elected president
of the ward in which the meeting was
held. The rival board was to meet last
night. and they do not recognize Mr.. Willis
George Thomas was their president and
they intended to make all the arrange
ments for the celebration to be held APRIL
16, including the selection of the speakers
and the invitations to parade. The time
set for the meeting arrived and reporter
for The Times appeared at the hail. which
was dark. Inquiry was made as to whsth-
er this was the right place and it was
found that it was, but the residents of that
locality did not seem to know much about
the meeting. The reporter stamped around
in the snow for a while and was Just about
to leave when he saw a large determined
looking man walk up to the front of the
building and take stand near the door in
which in some mysterious manner appear
ed light. The reporter walked up t,
this individual and again inquired if tie
preparations for the emancipatory ceremo-
MES were to be discussed in the hall dur
ing the evening. The answer was sort
and to the point.
No They amt no meeting going to
be held here said the large man in a
very angry tone. The reporter timidly in
CURED why and was told, Cause they
amt" While making the last statement
the man had occasion to remove his hands
from the deep pockets of his overcoat and
in so doing revealed a very large and knot
ty stick which he had heretofore CONCEAL
ed behind his arm. 1t might be called a
cane by some people, but it was in realty
club of most villainous appearance.
''It ain'ts going to be no meeting here
for this reason" said the man with
the club, .and that's because
they amt no one comm to
it. The board of directors of the Historical
Society held meeting here couple of
weeks ago and they made all the arrange
ments for the celebration which was pub
lished in The Times at that time. This
meeting was called by man named Thom-