The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-06-11
Letter From President Hughes.

To the Colored Voters OF Lackawanna County:
1t is neither my province nor my purpose. to
do more than to submit few facts for your
candid consideration, trusting that you may be
able to discover whether or not there is any
hope this side of the grave.
The keystone Republican club has labored ln-
defatigably to place one of your number upon
the city police force without success While it
il necessary in the matter OF the appointment
Of a policeman that the mayor may appoint yet
the council Of the city must confirm in order to
make the appointment valid The present city
magistrate is not only willing to appoint
policemen. one Of whom shall be of our race,
but has with a bulldog pugnacty maintained
this position from the outset while the council
with equal peIsstenCy refuses to concede the
proposition upon the ground that it is not neces-
sary and besides increase of considerable
taxation
| notice the council refuses at this very mo.
ment to concur in the removal OF policemen for
cause notwithstanding the mayor is the sole
Judge in such matters. One Of your race in
the person of David Brown, has been suggested
TO his honor. Mayor Moir, and it is Just to him
to say that not only does this name give him
great satisfaction hut it is one which on more
than one occasion he declared was fully capable
of becoming a city guardian But the most
tonishing thing in connection with this matter
is that one colored gentleman openly boasts
that no colored man but him shall secure this
] nrlIe, unless L mistake, bOtn nlS nonOr, tne
| mayor, and the keystone Republican club, it
| will be as impossible for this gentleman to
| crafty his ambition it is to dip the Mssis.
| sippi river dry with teaspoon.
| This club, of which am the honorable exc
| cutive officer, was the first to endorse the Hon.
William Conncll for congress; Thomas p. Dam
ielS for clerk Of the courts and John Copeland
| while to the many other worthy candidates was
| left a fair field and favor. The Hon. Will
| lam Connel's record is cogently set forth in a
circular now undoubtedly read by every voter
in this congressional district, the data Of which
no one will gainsay.
That record is rot one of a iawsmith, but rath-
er that of the blacksmith, the ring of whose
anvil has been heard during the past around the
| globe. This congress and the last one, unlike
| its predecessors, have signazed the new CEN
| tury both by becoming the legislators whose
| Solomons wisdom must sooner or later ma
terialize and modernize the purposes and policies
| of all races of men and to come into these
extensive fields of the earth.
Colonel Ezra H. Ripple who assists Mr.. Con-
nell in disposing OF the multiplicity of questions
arising every hour for him to solve, always finds
| time to be courteous as well as aiable TO those
of us who happen TO call upon him. Both our
church and our club are indebted to the gallant
| colonel for his many deeds of charity. What
is thus true OF Colonel Ripple is almost true
OF both 7. p. Daniels and John Copeland
| Then it follows that your few friends who may
aspire for positions should be cordially support
| ed while your enemies should be sternly re-
buked. The charge is boldly made that you
are not as harmonious you ought to be.
To which / reply that you are not only har-
monous but more so than any people in our
! city and that it is impossible for you to be
| otherwise. To you I deem it my duty to say
| You must not expect one man to do all the
fighting without your showing or rendering some
assistance. You complain in Pennsylvania be-
| cause there is denial of the right to vote by
| your people in the south, while here you refuse
| to vote yourself or attend the many meetings
we hold in the city. The Scranton Tribune and
| Scranton Republican, both in unmeasured Ian
! guage have condemned southerners flor their
short sightedness in depriying your race of this
inestmable boon at the south, and yet these
| papers ask you to assist them at the polls
| without your response.
am glad to say this statement concerns only
few Of our race and to this few it is well Ia
say don't be so loud mouthed about your not
being able to get any recognition, when the
failures upon your part to concentrate your
forces is the reason Of your seeming defeat
Your race has never been known to entertain
the folly of planting corn in the morning with
the expectation Of eating that corn for supper.
little patience and a few feeble efforts will
bring desired rewards and no one is more de,
sirous than myself for the consummation OF
these very gratifying objects.
| Truly yours
Campbell Hughes,
Scranton, Pa, June 10.