The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-06-12
G. Il. Utter Addresses Co|orsd
Voters at Bethel A. ME-. Church
PRETTY GOOD BOsssHlp.'
Because Few Votes Are Sold the State Is
Not Necessarily Rotten. He Said.

There was a good attendance OF the
colored citizens OF the city at the Bethel
A. NJ. f. church last night despite the
unfavorable weather and those who did
attend listened to interesting addresses
on good citizenship referring primarily
| TO registration. Incidentally other topics
were touched upon and as the meeting
was a Republican rally Governor Garvin's
recent speeches on the corruptness Of the
state were scored and commented on by
the speakers.
William Wenson was chairman of the
meeting and after prayer by Rev John
NJ. Davis the first speaker was introduced
in the person of Hon. George ii. Utter OF
Westerly. former speaker OF the house
of representatives.
He said in part:
II am glad that you began this meet
ing with prayer, for that denotes seri-
Gus purpose. and governments have
| purpose as we'll as individuals.
Il knew OF a man of your color at AM
| herst college who made the most OF his
opportunity. Afterward he went TO Har.
ward Law school, and took the same part
In atnletlcS tneTe tndt ne ndu at amherst.
He was made the coach of the team after
his graduation. That was William II.
Lewis OF Boston. whom President Epose-
welt recognized not long since b. liking
an assistant district attorney. \
I'VE are rather in a critical conliticn'
here In Rhode Island. because people who
should have the interests OF the state at
heart have for the past few years neg
lected their duty. We have been neglect
full of our duties. Now, one of the things
you have heard is that the state is boss
ridden. II we have had too much boss
ship IL has at least been pretty good
boss-shp. So that is not a very serious
matter.
"You have also heard a good deal
about corruption. When a man says
that the state OF Rhode Island is rotten
because a few men have been found who
have sold their votes he Is drawing the
wrong conclusion. A boy over here at
Brown university might steal BARRIERS
sign, but that is no indication that all the
students have gone wrong, nor Is there
any more sense in charging the whole
state with corruption because a few men
have been known 10 sell their votes.
II think II is a sad day for the manhood
of the state when man elected governor.
\ like uLcius f. c. Garvin, can find MOTH
ing better TO talk about than the corrup-
| ton of his state. Governor Garvin Is a
friend of mine. i have known him well
since 1885. and he was talking this same
| thing then. He didn't believe 1t than any
more than he does now. Now he finds
himself the leader of his state. where his
words have more influence than they did
In those days. and he sings the same
old song. would keep silent II I could
find no better song than that
"GoD PITY HIM."
This is a state TO be proud Of Two
pillars that bore the arch Of American
lierty were made right in this state.
Rhode Island protested against taxation
without representation three months be-
fore any other colony. Yet this man
elected as chief executive can find MOTH
ing better to say about his state than that
a few men out in Exeter or West Green
wich sold their votes. God pity him!
Now. Gov. Garvin says that the state
is rotten. and he has got medicine
that will cure IL. II is single tax. !
don't believe anyone here knows any
thing about single tax. There are not
! many anywhere who understand II. It's
n theory / don't understand IL myself.
1t has something 10 do with having no tax
on real estate itself. but taxing all tho
! improvements Whatever its effect would
be. the scheme has nothing whatever to
do with these conditions, and would az
ford no remedy for any possible evils.
"He has another remedy. proportions
ate representation. When your men.
Banks and jenkins. were elected to the
general assembly. they were elected be-
. ! cause they were American citizens. ana
! TO represent you citizens. When Gov.
Garvin holds out that idea OF proportion
ate representation so that you may be
represented by a man Of your own ma :
tionality. or your own color he strikes
| at the very root of American institutions.
We want n man elected. not because he
Is German. or a Frenchman. or an
Italian. because he is dark skinned, but
because he is an American citizen. This
proportionate representation idea is a
false theory. and II adopted would not
mend matters"
He closed saying: Let every man get
in position 10 support this government
by going to the polls and depositing his
, vote The responsibility Is yours"
Rev John Davis was the next speaker
J and he talked on the rights and privi-
leges OF the colored people as citizens.
The pastor OF the church. Rev. c. G.
Dunlap. also spoke and during his re-
marks said The Republican party. he
said. has made this state what IL Is and
he wanted TO see II continued I've lived
I'm this country 40 years" he said. in
both Democratic and Republican sections.
and I have found that the sections ruled
by Republicans have been the most pros
porous and the best governed and have
done the most for negroes"
Charles H. West was called on and
. | smoke on practical politics