The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-25
NEGRO REPUBLICANS ORGANIZE
Objects of the Progressive AsSocin-
ton of the District of Columbia.

I ODgectA OIL the frOErekSlve AHSOC1n
ton of the District of Columbia.
At a meeting of colored Republicans from
the different assembly districts of Wash
tngton. held yesterday at Carroll Hall, ar
organization to be known as the Progress
sive Association of the District Of Column
bia was formed. ]. w. Patterson was elect
ed president and Rev. ]. Dixon secretary
A permanent organization was effected al
the morning session of the assembly ant
| the officers were duly installed last night
1t was expected that Senator W. E. Chand-
| Ter. Senator w. E. Mason, Reprasen tative
Gibson, Judson w. Lyons and H. r. Cheat
ham, Recorder OF Deeds, would be present
; last night and address the org inizZtlon
| but the audience was disappointed by their
| absence.
William Murrell, who presided at the
morning session, announced that II a.c5rd-
ance with a resolution passed the fol oy-
! ing cablegram was sent to Queen Vic
| toria:
/ We, the coored people OF the District of Column
ba, In conference assembled, after many daysso OF
prayer to High God, beg that Your Majesty per-
init us to extend our heartfelt syfnrat,r and ION
CALCULATIONS 10 you and your army in crushing cut
the Beers. deadly opposed to The Black r5ce OF
Africa. We bid You God speed and assure you OF
our heartfelt sympathy and prayers.
The announcement of this action by the
conference did not meet with the approval
| Of at least one of those pre:en.. He arose
| and wanted to be informed as to how the
| determination was arrived at 10 send e
cablegram, but he was informed that it
was too late to discuss the matter, as the
| message had already been sent and was at
| that moment OF the other side of the At
: lantic Ocean.
From the addresses made at the morning
and evening sessions of the conference 1t
appears that there is wide difference OF
opinion among the c9lored leaders as to
the policy OF the Administration in the
Philippines. AT the morning session
Thomas H. P. Clarke, in an address in
which he took occasion to eIlogize the Ad-
ministration of President Mckinley, stated
that the war in the Philippines was pre-
cipitated by the treachery of Aguinaldo
and his followers, and at the meeting last
night w. Calvin Chase said: II believe
that Aguinaldo is right, and say to vol
that the man who says he is not a patriot
is a candidate for Office Mr.. Chase con-
cluded by announcing that he is not can
didate for any Office.
During his address, Mr.. Chase also paid
his respects to former District Commits
sioner Wight, and criticised very severely
those colored men who made an attempt
to apologize for the injustice Mr.. Wight
was charged with having done the colored
race, by denouncing them as worse than
safe crackers" The speaker advised the
colored people to strive for individual ad-
vancement and development, for, he said,
until the colored race proves itself worthy
of American citizenship the country will
always be controlled by the white race.
Upon his being indicted into office the
President, ]. W. Patterson. addressed the
organization at length. He discussed the
present status of the colored race and
how to improve its cond. ton. He believed,
he said. that its interests would be hest
served through it's allegiance to the Re-
publican party. The colored people, he
said. are a part of the Government, and
they had no idea OF leaving 1t. They came
TO this country with their white brothers,
and by the help of God they will remain
here with them.
Speaking of the proposition TO disfran-
chise the colored people. he said that they
had always been loyal to the country and
the best evidence that they are competent
to exercise the right of franchise is that
by their votes. Grant Garfield, Hayes, Har-
rison, and Mckinley had been placed in
the White House. He also spoke of the
loyalty and bravery of the colored troops
during the late war.
Resolutions declaring the purpose OF the
organization to be ito promote the social.
political, moral, and industrial interests
of the negro in this country were adopted
and the meeting adjourned.