The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-10-18
PLEA FOR EQUALITY
BISHOP WALTERS. DISTINGUISHED
CoLoREp PREACHER, DEPRE-
Gates RAEE PREJUDICE
MEETS FRIENDS IN ST. PAUL
Plans heine Made. for National Afro
American eedncii Which Meets
Here-Thinlss Action of Wom-
en's Clubs Unfortunate.

twenty-five of the prominent colored
citizens of st. Paul assembled last night
at the nome of Attorney F. l.. McGhee
to meet Bishop Alexander Walters, of
New Jersey, lone of the most distinguish
eo colored preachers in America, and to
discuss with him plans for the National
Afro-Amerlcan council, which meets in
81 Paul next August. This is the largest
cclored organization in the world. The
churches and clubs allied with it repre-
sent Following of over LOCO, 900 colored
cltizens Of the United States. The execu-
i've committee is composed of three men,
pers from each state in the Union. The
OBJECT or the organization is the moral
ana educational advancement of the race
ana the creating of a sentiment against
mob violence. At the present time this
organization is fighting a test case
against the recently enacted election laws
or the state of Louisiana, in an attempt
TO nave the, United States supreme court
not only knock out the famous grand
tather clause of this particular law but
to declare all laws DISTINGUISHING the co..
ored citizen declared unconstitutional.
w e are not opposed to an educational
qualification, but.-we, insist that it shall
apply alike to-Twhite man and black, -
said Bishop Walters last night, in dis
@cussing the ease ~ ~ &ke
Bishop Walters is serving his fourth
year as president of the council. At the
meeting last night the colored citizens
present pledged themselves to give the
council the heartiest support, financially
and otherwise, and it is likely that a
mass meeting will be called to consider
definite plans for the entertainment of
this convention. 1t will be the largest
gathering of the colored- race ever held
IN the Northwest, and the most distin-
guished members of the Afro-American
race in America will be present.
Bishop Walters is a tall, dignified-look-
ing man, with a magnificent physique
and very magnetic personality. 1t is easy
to understand how he swayed the great
ecumenical council of the Methodist
church in London, last month, when he
delivered the address as the representa-
tive of the colored church of America
which was described by. the Associated
Press as receiving "the warmest recep-
ton accorded any speaker IT never
saw such demonstra tons of sympathy
and encouragement as displayed by the
English people in behalf of the co1ored
people, said, Bishop Walters last night
The English are particularly strong in
supporting law and order, and do not ap-
prove of mob violence"
AS TO THE ADELPHI CLUB.
When his attention was called to the
action of the Federation of INomans
Clubs, in excluding the Adelphi club from
membership, Pis1iop Walters said: sit
is most unfortunate. 1t was fine opper-
tunity, it seems to me, for emphasizing
the more equal relations supposed to eX-
list in the North between black and white
and it is greatly to be regretted that it
was turned down. It does seem to me
that this prejudice against the colored
race, as a mere prejudice, is utterly fool
ish and ineXp1feable. When the intel
Iectqa1 quality of the. black women is
granted, as understand it is in this
case, the refusal to grant the applica-
ton must be based entirely on mere
prejudice, It is indeed unfortunate that
any fuel should be added to the fire of
race hatred in any form
Asked as Mr. William Hannibal
Thomas much discussed book on the
American Negro Bishop Walters ex-
planned that, while he did not wish to
roast any man, it was well known that
Mr.. Thomas was disappointed and dis
gruntled gentleman, who had allowed the
Illustration of personal ambitions to sour
him. He was glad to note the difference
in the reception accorded by the white
people to Booker T.. Washingtons book
and to Mr.. Thomas book. Washington
was the optimist and the builder; Thorn
as, the pessimist and the adestructionist,
of the black race.