The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-05-06
.WE NEED HE MONEY" DECLARE OFFICERS
 OF THE NEGRO SUFFRAGE ASSOCIATION

such step on the part of the negroes.
 He spoke of Smiths letter which refer
 red to Northern sympathy. He said that
 the negroes could appeal to the negroes in
 other States and push their cases
 through the courts without the assistance
 of the Northerners and then they would
 offer no chance of being held to political
 obligations. He cautioned the members
 of the Association not to put too much
 confidence in either the lily whites or the
 black and tans. Both he said were sons
 of officeholders who wanted to hold on to
 the offices of their fathers and would not
 hesitate to do anything to keep them
 selves in these offices. He advised the negroes to make the present Republican State organization show It's hand before any too much confidence was reposed in 1t.
 Johnson was loudly applauded at the conclusion of his remarks.
 On motion committee on Ways and Means and Resolutions was appointed to lNget together funds to further the cases of Giles and arouse sentiment in behalf of the cause of the negroes. On this committee the following were appointed, A. N. Johnson, Mobile; J. V. Montgomery; A. L. Brewer. Union Springs; W. J. Stevens, Anniston; J. T. Peterson, Mobile; Fred Johnson, Mount Meigs; L. H. Harrison. Birmingham; P. G. Clark, Birmingham: Charles o.
 Harris, Montgomery; c. T. Thomas, An niston; E. M. Dale, Montgomery; H. V.
 Cashion. Huntsville; A. McEwing, Mobile; and w. H. Black, Chambers County. Enter Bill Stevens. A voice from the rear of Dorsett's Hall Stevens of Anniston. The call was | taken up and the chairman, very much ofter the fashion of an interlocutor in a minstrel show introducing Billy Kersands presented, The oldest, the greatest. the best"
 Wearing a mammoth Panama hat and checked suit of clothes. white vested, and smiling. the old negro politician known from one end of Alabama to the other, walked forward He was aven an ovation by the members. Bill Stevens spoke for only a few minutes, discussing
 the decision of the Supreme Court and emphasizing the statement that the high est judiciary body had put the matter up
 in the North and West. and knew they would succor the negroes in their fight Stevens was followed by W. H. Black | of Chambers County, Dr. J. H. Henry member of the Association, who could speak. having spoken, Giles declared the meeting adjourned until 7;30 o'clock. The Night Session. The meeting last night of the Suffrage Association was termed mass meeting for the purpose of raising funds by pop l ular subscriptions. This movement kept l the negroes away and the attendance was small. only about seventy-five negroes hearing the speeches.
 The meeting was called for 7:30 o'clock | but 1t was well after 8 o'clock when Jack | son w. Giles called the meeting to order. He announced that regular list of | speakers for the evening had been pre- pared but at the close of the addresses | of the regular speakers. the Association would be glad to hear from any one. He first introduced Nathan Alexander.
 Receiver of Public Moneys for the Middle District of Alabama. Alexander prefaced | his remarks by comparing the condition | of the negro in slavery time with his | present condition. He said that In slav- | cry time. the negro had powerful friends
 in the North and he asserted that the l power of the North is still with the negro. | In slavery time. he said, the negro was
 uneducated, servile and weak. Now he is
 educated, independent and strong. He compared the so-callery slavery oppres-
 sion with the alleged oppression by the Democrats of Alabama.
 If" said Alexander, "the negroes with | the assistance of their powerful friends could free themselves from slavery. does
 1t not seem that the improved race can
 free itself with the assistance of the
 same. powerful friends from constitutional | bondage?'
 To Reduce Representation.
 He then advocated that the negroes all
 over the land be urged by the Associa- | ton to exact from Republican candidates for Congress pledges that they will vote | to cut down the representation of the South.
 Alexander spoke for over half hour and was at times bitter in his remarks. He was followed by A. N. Johnson of | Mobile, who counselled the negroes to | raise money to fight their cause in the courts and against making an endeavor | to cut down the Congressional representa- tion of the South. He dwelt briefly on l the Constitution, especially the section which provides that no unregistered per- | son can participate in a party primary. While he was speaking he was inter- | rupted by an old negro in the rear of the | hail.
 ''Dey wouldn't force dat, would dey2" quizzed the unknown.
 Just go to a primary and see.' was
 Well. if dey did de Nunited States ud
 sho have to do somethin' sho nuff," was | the assertion of the unknown. Don't believe that" replied Johnson,
 ''the white people of Alabama can and will do what they want to-" Johnson was followed by H. V. Cashin l of Huntsville and Dr. s. S. H. Washing
 ton of Montgomery, both of whom spoke | briefly.
 Waiter Dackers, "an old uncle" from | Escambia County, who had been trying to speak all night then secured the floor
 and told the Association that those mig
 gers in 'Scambia County makes a dollar | and two bits day in a brick yard and
 won't gib nothin' for dere franchise" He averred, however, that Walter Dack- | CTS cherished bis franchise and proudly | exhibited a registration certificate, say
 ing, de white folks knows Ise a good | niggev and gib me my 'stificate." A futile effort was then made to raise | $119s0 to pay Giles's court costs. About
 $50 had been subscribed during the day but not more than $5 was collected last night.
 The meeting adjourned until tonight, when the negroes will meet at 7:30 o'clock | in Dorsetts Hall.