Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-08-22
NEGROES CONDEMN MCKINLEY.
They Dislike His Attitude on Lynch.
ings in the Soutl, ssl7

Chicago, Aug. 1s.LThe Afro-Ameri-
can council turned its attention to
President Mckinley soon after the or
ening of its national convention yes
terdav and condemned the admins
tration for its position on the lynch
iligs in the south. Bishop Alexander
Walters presided. Bishop C. II. Harris
OF North Carolina made the opening
prayer, and the secretary, Mrs. f. l..
Barnett. called the roll. Howard S.
Taylor, representing the mayor, well
coined the delegates and the Rev. A.
j. Carey followed on behalf of the
pulpit.
Then Adelbert H. Roberts waved the
red flag which aroused the anti-admin-
istration forces. Mr.. Roberts admon-
lshed the convention it would be an
unwise move for the council to put it,
self on record against the national ad-
ministration. Bishop H.. NJ. Turner
thought otherwise, and said SO, and
the convention gave him rounds of ap-
plause. He said:
The president is the accredited
guardian of the nations honor. And
If, by act or Discrimination to
act, if by speech or by silence he
shirks his duty and betrays his trust,
he should be discredited and condemn
ed by the Afro-American." i1a
The greatest excitement prevailed.
Men stood on chairs and waved their
hats and shouted until they were
hoarse. Half dozen delegates clam
ored for recognition. Above the din
could be heard the voice of ex-senator
I. i. Allan, calling to the chairman
that there was nothing before the
house but the appointment of the com
mittee on credentials. The chair ruled
Senator Allain's point well taken. He
then appointed Jesse Lawson, District
of Columbia, chairman; C. II. Adams.
Chicago; Chris ]. Perry, Philadelphia.
Pa: the Rev. r. G. Ransom, Chicago,
and w. Allison Sweeney, indianapolis,
Ind.
j. G. Napier, of Nashville, Ind, a
nephew of the late John Mercer Lang
ston, made a short speech, in which
he incidentally touched upon "thc
apathetic attitude of the national
administration on the lynching ques-
ton
President Walters began his annual
address with an outline of the councils
aims and purposes, touching incidental
lys upon the labor question. Then he
took up the lynching problem at some
length. He said:
Where shall we turn for relief or
look for remedy? ] tell you, my
friends, when our officials by acts or
silence strive to injure the race we
should resent it at the ballot box.
There is nothing for us to do but struy-
gle for our rights. Again, the few
paltry dollars paid to a few Afro
American officeholders can never COM
pensate the colored people for the
great wrong the race has suffered by
the long silence of the president on the
subject of mob violence"
Wild applause followed this state
ment.
Chicago, Aug. 1s.-By Associated
Press.) The Afro-American council
passed resolution saying that the
colored men would not vote for any
candidate who would not promise to
make the path of the African to the
polls "as straight, smooth and safe"
as that of any other citizen. 1t also
selected committees to confer with
the leaders of organized labor to i'm
press on them the mutual benefits Of
the removal of race discrimination.
and also endeayor to interest the ma
tional labor bureau in the matter.