The Washington times., 1901-11-15
TO TEST ELECTION LAWS.
The Afro-american Council to Fight
Negro Disfrnncbisemcnt.

A mass meeting under the auspices OF
the Afro-Ameiican Council was held last
evening at Zion Baptist Church F Street
southwest. Rev. DR. w. ]. Howard, pas
tor of the church, opened the meeting
with devotional exercises. after which
John II. Harmon, Chairman of the
Finance Committee of the National Coun-
ell, and president of the local organiza-
tion, presided, and Mr.. S. E. Lacy acted
as secretary.
Mr. Harmon stated that the object of
the meeting was TO raise money to test
the constitutiunality of the election laws
recently passed by various Southern
States. The colored people would not, he
said, object SO much to the passage of the
laws IN question if they bore alike on both
races. but what they do object to is that
the black man is Disseminated against.
II was proposed to carry the case to the
Supreme Iourt of the United States and
get final decision.
Or. Howard made few remarks urging
his hearers to respond favOrably to the
1 appeal for money made by Mr.. Harmon.
Prof Jesse Lawson said in part: In
1898, when the papers of the North and
South were silent on the subject OF the
wholesale lynchings, 1. in company with
others, called on the President of the
United States and asked him to say one
word in condemnation of the lawless pro-
ceedings. We pleaded that unless some
thing Of the kind was done there was
danger that the country would drift into
anarchy.
Prof. Lawson told of the efforts made
by various members of Congress to cut
Gown the representation from the South
of which failed.
Mr. Lawson gave an interesting ac-
count OF his reception by a messenger
from President Roosevelt of the invita-
ton for Booker 7. Washington to dine
with the former at the White House on
the evening of October 16 last, to be de-
livered TO Mr.. Washington upon his arri-
val in this city, he having been previous
ly invited by the President to come and
visit him on the evening referred TO.
When" said he, Il delivered that letter
10 Mr.. Washington he read it, and after
passing 1t over to me walked back and
forth for some time. He could see what
would be the effect OF his acceptance,
but he went and dined with Mr. Roose-
welt, as all the people now know" Mr..
Lawson read some extracts from South
ern papers which declared tina President
Roosevelt had put the South back to
where Grant left it. For my part" said
Mr.. Lawson, Il say, thank God for Theo-
dure Roosevelt
Mr.. Lawson gave the names of eminent
lawyers in various parts of the country
who are working for the council in order
to get their case before the United States
Supreme Court. and in conclusi an said:
depend upon it, we have a friend in the
White House"
Rev. DIR. George W. Il pastor of the
Vermont Avenue Baptist Church, made
one Of his characteristic speeches. Among
other things he said that if President
Roosevelt continued TO do as he has be-
gun. and orators are needed during the
next Presidential campaign, he would
indulge in some oratory himself
A letter Of regret at his inability TO
be present at the meeting was read from
Prof. Kelly Miller. of Howard University,
Sickness was assigned as the cause.