The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-04-28
NEGROES WERE NOT WANTED.
QUESTION RAISED IN SUNDAY
SCHOOL CONVENTION.

Were Named From Georgia ana
south Carolina ON the Nominating
COmmittee-They Failed to Carry
Their Point-Discussion Was So
Warm That the Police Investigate
ed the SituatIOn-Hoke Smith
Elected President by a Unanimous
Vote.
Atlanta, April 27.--The proceedings OF
the Ninth Tr!enual International Sun
day school convention to-day were enliv-
ened by a heated discussion over the plac-
ing of negroes on one OF the committees.
The matter was amicably adjusted after
considerable talk. but rumors which spread
over the city regarding the trouble result
ed in the police department sending a man
TO the opera house to investigate.
Hon. Hoke Smith OF Atlanta, ex-secre-
tary Of the interior, was elected president
OF the convention and presided at to-
nights session.
The naming of the nominating committee
precipLtated the trouble. When Georgia
was reached in the roll CALL w. s. Witham
was placed In nomination. Somebody
was Insisted that he was the choice of
the state. This was denied by Second Vice
President Green, who said that witham
had been made the nominee of the state
delegation.
From South Carolina, Too.
Then The state of South Carolina was
called for its vote.
A white man was nominated, and ne
gro was nominated by a negro.
DIR. u. f. Jacobs, who was presiding at
the time. announced that no state could
have more than one delegate.
score OF speeches were made in less
than the same number OF minutes.
Amendments and substitutes came thick
and fast and the audience was In an up
roar.
He wanted Representation.
Delegate Nell OF Washington, d. c., who
| had caused considerable comment among
| the white people present by leaving that
| portion Of the house set apart and pla-
carded for the negro delegates, and sit-
| ting with the white people of his delega-
| tlon, was introduced by a white delegate.
IT am representing the District of Co.
lubmia" said Delegate Neil, land when
left home 1 thought / would sit with
| my delegation, but now we are separated.
l want to know how we wlll have any
| representation and how we will be heard.
| II white delegates only are to be placed
| on the committees. and white men will not
| sit with the negro, / would be glad to as
| certain what we can accomplish by our
selves.
"The negro Is making rapid headway in
Christian work. and l appeal to this con-
vention not to discourage u.s. for we may
lose years before we will get to the place
we now occupy"
Where the Line Was Drawn.
The excitement was now at fever heat
and many delegates were on their feet In
an effort at recognition. Second Vice Pres
dent Green, of Atlanta, finally secured
the floor. He said
'The negroes have representatives from
this state on the other committees and
that Is the reason the colored man Is not
one OF the nominating committee. We live
here among these people. We respect
them We treat them right. We treat them
as nicely as we do our own color. But we
do draw the line when 1t comes to sitting
together in the same pew" (Applanse)
The matter was finally referred to the
executive committee, which tate In the af-
ternoon reported in favor of Mr.. Witham.
Hoke Smith Made President
The nominating committee reported the
name of Hon. Hoke Smith for President
at o'clock, and their finding was unani-
mousy adopted
At the night session eulogies were de-
livered upon the lives of William Reynolds
of Illinois, Hon. Lewis Miller OF Ohio, Rev.
David Sutherland Prince Edward Island:
Rev John Hall OF New York, Rev. Moses
ID. Hoge of Virginia, Rev. ii. Louis Baugh-
er OF Pennsylvania, and Alexander Tying
of Illinois.
Toronto made strong argument for
the next convention.
-e-ns