The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-09-21
IRON LEAGUE MEETING.
Colored Men of the City Deeply In,
terested I'm the Campairn.

The Iron League, strong colored Repub-
lican organization that owns its own club
building, at Indiana avenue and the canal,
held an enthusiastic meeting last night. 1t
was what is called womeE's night, one
night each week being set apart for the
wives OF members of the club to entertain
in what manner they see fit. These enter
tainments are turned to financial profit as
well as social. and what is derived above
the expenses of luncheon. concert or
other amusement is turned into the treas
ury of the club This pleasant feature of
the club falling upon the same night Sc
lected for a political convocation merged
into very desirable combination.
Frank wesch presided over the meeting.
Daniel L. Brown was the first speaker. Be-
ing an old soldier his speech dealt largely
with the Democratic party's attitude in the
time of Lincoln and the present usurpation
of the great Abolitionist's words. He said
before the party now quoting Lincoln, and
claiming to follow in his footsteps. shall
tell him how to be patriotic. he must first
see 1t get down upon its knees and apollo
gize for what 1t said about the martyr who
fell by the hand of an assassin in the six
ties. To more clearly point out the stand
ing OF the party at that time, he read from
clipping taken from the La Crosse. Wis,
Democrat in 1864, which expressed the wish
that Lincoln's heart would be pierced by
the point of a dagger IL reelected and an
editorial eulogizing the assassin after the
crime had been committed.
Speaking of the Philippines and govern
ment without the consent of the governed,
he said there was plenty of room to begin
at home, and referred to the disfranchise-
ment of the negro in the South.
After he had finished Charles A. Book
walter addressed the meeting. He spoke
almost exclusively of home matters, touch
ing upon the Philippine question in a COM
parison of the doctrine the Democrats wish
to spread abroad and the rule adopted in
the South. So far as national questions are
concerned, he said the present prosperity of
the country is making one continuous
speech for Mckinley and the Republican
administration. Taking up local affairs, he
said the Republicans had been ia control Of
Marion county for more than five years,
taking depleted treasury and enormous
debt off of the Democrats hands and build
ing up a strong financial foundation upon
which the county is now accommodating
wealth and prosperity through conservative
economical management and without in
creasing the tax levy. He also spoke of the
careful management of the money affairs
by the state administration and asked IL
the voters of this city wanted to turn the
"extrayagant gang" in control of municipal
affairs into the Statehouse. TO this ques-
tin there was loud and unanimous MOI
Then Mr.. Bookwalter said that to elect the
state ticket meant to transfer the city adj
ministration in the basement of the court
house into the Statehouse.
After Mr.. Bookwalter Joseph Broyles, a
member of the club, delivered a short adj
dress He said the Democrats were given
chance in 1892 and the allusion to another
opportunity caused broad smile to spread
over every countenance in the house.
William w. Lewis was another speaker
called upon, but he cut his speech short,
owing TO the late hour. He said there was
one thing in this campaign that impressed
him more than anything else, and that was
the Acknowledgement OF the negro in the
South. He said: ut might have been ex-
pected in Louisiana, Mississippi and South
Carolina, but when North Carolina, the
first jewel of the Southern States, which
the colored man has been taught to look
upon as the one friend he had out of the
entire Confederacy, disfranchised the ne
gro. 1T is time TO give this matter serious
consideration. IL is time TO be awakening
TO the interests of our race. the lethargy
should be shaken of and we must be up
and doing, for what can we expect next?
This is the paramount issue to me, and, my
brothers, IL should be to you"