The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-04-14
SOME RESOLUTIONS
Adopted by the Mass Meeting Of Col
ored People.

At the meeting OF the eoIored people
held at the old court house Thursday
evening, with Rev. Mr.. ShafeF as chair
man. the following. among other reso-
Intlons; was adopted. with only one
dissenting voice:
Whereas, It comes to US from sources
reliable that Edward Stephens a black
man, posing as leader and educator of
eoIored youth, has been guilty Of at
tempting to defame and blacken the
reputation and good standing Of the
colored people of Topeka. by publicly
and falsely stating they were low and
corrupt in morals and manners. making
no exceptions as to age. sex or class,
seeking by such a statement to place
the cOlOred people of this city in the
most odious light possible before the
white people of this community, and
thereby lessen their regard and con-
sideration for US; and
Whereas, Such utterances are con-
S1stent and in harmony with the course
and. conduct of said Stephens toward
the cOIOred people OF this community
during his stay of more than four
years, and all of which time he has
been OF benefit to no one but himself,
though representing and pretending
that he was working for the colored
youth of Topeka when in truth and in
fact We believe he has been working for
himself only. and
Whereas. The said Stephens is at the
head Of the Industrial Institute for coll
which we, as colored people of Topeka,
are much interested, and would gladly
give our hearty cooperation and sup
port but for the course and behavior of
stephens whose universal custom is,
when speaking of our race to say
''cO0ns," ''niggers" and "darkies" and
who has set on foot a gigantic and sys-
tematic plan to place the colored peO-
pie of the community in a ridiculous
and OdiouS light before the world; and
Whereas, The said Stephens has the
reputation of being a user Of intoxf-
cants; and
Whereas. The said Stephens is a gen
eral disturber of the peace and a
stirrer-up Of envy and strife among
our people II this community; and
Whereas. The said Stephens has SO
people of this community as to destroy
his usefulness (if he ever had any)
among US: therefore. be it
Resolved That We, the coIored people
Of Topeka, in mass meeting assembled.
and for this purpose only. do denOuEce
the said Edward Stephens That we
look upon him as a man whose aims
and object are cold blOded and selfish
That, as tax payers and citizens. We
protest against the appropriation of
the peoples money for the maintena nee
Of said institute while Stephens is at
the head of it, or in any way connected
with the same, for the only reason that
we regard the same as wasted. Owing
there is not now. nor has there been. we
are informed, more than a half dozen
bona fde pupils in said school. but ap-
preparations we believe are being con-
sumed by Stephens in providing for the
comforts of himself and family to-
gether with the two hangers-on who
trail at his heels, tramp the streets, do
ing his bidding, and catching the
crumbs that are swept from his boun-
tifuI table. made so, We believe, by gen
erous donations of phflanthropists and
the state legislature Be it further
Resolved, That we ask the board of
managers of said institute to discharge
said Stephens and disconnect him from
the same in every way, and place at the
head Of the same some one whose
Christian department, intelligence and
manly bearing will insure a success of
the school in cur midst, and that to this
end a committee of seven be selected
from this meeting to present these res
o1utions to the board of managers, and
make known our request; and that
these resolutions, which are for the
benefit of the public, be given to the
press of the country
J. B. BASS. Chairman,
S P. HAWKINS.
J. H. b TAYLOR,
J. D EDMONDS.
D. HOPE.