The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-04
TO ASK WIGHf'S REMOVAL
Committee of COl0red Citizens TO
Visit the President Today.
The Resolutions Protecting Against
the Commissioper's Utterances to
Re Preseuted-An intimation That
the Negro Voters May Bolt IL
Their Demands Are Not Needed.

The committee appointed at the meet
ing of colored citizens of the District. held
in the Second Baptist Church last Sun
day to call upon the President and ask for
the removal of Commissioner John b.
Wight from Office has completed ar
engagements. and, according to its Chair
man. W. Calvin Chase, will go tc the
White House today. Besides Mr.. Chase the
committee consists of ]. W. Patterson.
Lewis H. Douglass C. l.. Marshall. and
j. S Thompson.
In anticipation of the call upon the
President. the resolutions passed at the
meeting last Sunday, have been suitably
prepared and an address has been formu-
lated. both of which will be handed to Mr.
Mckinley for his reading and consdera-
tion. The resolutions set forth in a pre-
amble the language used by the Commits
sioner before a committee Of the United
States casting reflection upon the colored
citizens and taxpayers OF the District. and
CHASING them as we'll as resident Italians
and irish. as criminals and call upon the
President TO remove the said Commits
sioner from office or not to reappoint him
at the expiration OF his present term of
service
Mr. Chase stated yesterday that the ad
dress drafted by the committee would
bring to the Presidents attention addi-
tional reasons to those embodied in the
resolutions why Commissioner Wight
should be either summarily removed or
another man appointed in his place when
his term expires
The committee appointed at the meet
ing on Sunday to wait upon the Senate
District Committee to present resolutions
and to make a statement relative to the
opposition of the colored people of the
District to the reappointment of Commits
sioner Wight. it is understood will also
act today. This committee consists of
Prof. n. E. Weatherless Miss Emma f. e.
Merritt, Dr. Lucy E. L. Martin. John A
Simms and Prof H. II. Hart 1t was
stated yesterday at the High School. on
the authority of Prof Weatherless, that
the committee had completed its arrange
ments and was ready to go to the Capitol
to perform its duty.
1t is understood that the colored people
of the District have entered into this fight
in earnest Mr.. Chase stated yesterday
that his committee would make represen-
tations to the President, which. he
thought would command a hearing The
hurt by this unwarranted attack upon
their character as citizens. They are of
the opinion, il was remarked, that a NUM-
eipal official. dependent upon the colored
taxpayers for a part of his annual salary
who could use the language attributed to
MIN, is unfit for public office.
We propose to have Mr.. Wight re.
moved or to defeat his appointment to
succeed himself" said Mr.. Chase. IF
that is not done. he continued. "the col
ored people of the District have one re-
course left. They can send cut word to the
100000 colored people in the States that
a public official, appointed by President
Mckinley, says the negroes of Washing
ton are equal to the criminal conditions
in any city. and if they stay away from
the polls in some States We believe that
President Mckinley will not succeed him
self We should be loath to take that
step, but it is among the possibilities =