The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-03-21

Notwithstanding the declaration of
United States Senator Benjamin r.
Tillman that he never had and never
would shake hands with a negro, Fred
erick L. McGhee, the colored attorney
of this city, went over to Minneapolis
last night incidentally to hear Senator
Tillman lecture on "The Negro Prob
lem," but primarily to request Con-
gresham John Lind, who presided at
the lecture, to personally introduce him
to Senator Tillman. He says he did so
by prearrangement with Mr.. Lind.
But Mr.. McGhee's wish was not graf
flied. Congressman Lind did not in
troduce him to Senator Tillman, nor
did anybody else.
McGhee sat well up to the front In
the First Baptist church where the lee
ture was delivered. AS soon as Sena-
tor Tillman had uttered the last words
of his lecture, he turned and abruptly
left the rostrum, retiring through a
side door.
Mr.. Lind followed Senator TiIlman,
but soon emerged from the vestry into
the church. Approaching Mr.. McGhee,
Congressman Lind expressed his re-
gret that he had been unable to intro
duce McGhee, as Senator Tillman was
obliged to catch a train for Milwaukee
within an hour.
Mr.. McGhee was seen by a Glob
reporter at his home last night. When
asked if he had requested Congress
man Lind to introduce him to Senator
Tillman, Mr.. McGhee replied:
Asked Lind to Introduce Him.
"Yes, sir, I did request former Gov.
Lind to introduce me to Senator Till
man last night, and my reason for so
doing was better than at first blush
may appear. Did Mr. Lind consent to
my request? Yes, sir; why should he
not? The matter, no doubt, to one
not acquainted with the peculiarities of
the case requires a little explanation.
This was the way of it all: I con-
slider John Lind as one of the very
best friends l have in the world, and
when it came to my ears that my peo-
pie were incensed because Lind, whom
we (the negroes) consider one of the
very best friends we have among the
white people, was to introduce to the
people of Minneapolis a man who
openly and blasphemously avOwed
himself the bitter foe of the colored
race, l say, that when it came to my
ears that this was the feeling among
the negroes, L Immediately telephoned
Mr.. Lind and asked him if he was to
introduce Senator Tillman to the au-
dience. Mr.. Lind replied that, as a rep
resentative man and prominent
Democrat, he had been chosen, and
could not in honor refuse. 1 had hoped
that he might be able to refuse and
that was the reason 1 phoned him.
Il knew that is was largely due to
the negro vote Of Hennepin county
that he had received his election, and
1 did not want to see his chances
spoiled again.
Just as l was talking to Mr. Lind, 1t
occurred to me to ask him if he would
feel at all embarrassed if he were re-
quested to introduce some of st. PaHls
colored people to the senator, adding
that l had heard the senator had made
it his boast that he never had and
never would; shake hands with a me-
gro. Mr.. Lind said he would be
pleased to present me to Senator Till
man if 1 wished It, and the appoint
ment was made. 1 was to be at the
platform at the conclusion of the
speech and be presented to the speak
er as usual at the end of the speech"
"And you were there tonight Mr..
McGhee?'