The Washington times., 1905-07-29
WILA|NGTONPS BOSS
IS A COLORED MAN
Breaks Deadlock and Puts
Son III Office.
He PLAYS DEMOCRATS FALSE
Fools Them With Promises-Postles a
Disciple and Friend OF Addicks.
Whites Resent His Power.
He PLAYS DEMOCRATS FALSE


date for the Senate, slipped into town
last Wednesday and after comforting
with his friends for an hour or so,
slipped out again.
All the city and the State have been
wondering what brought the great man
acre this time. But there was no need
20 wonder long. The Addiclxs gold brick
was passed out al a meeting of the city
council.
Thomas E PostIe.. a colored man.
Sho has been an AddIcks delegate at
TWO national conventions-one in ST.
Louis, the other in Philadelphia-with
the aid of six Democratic councilmen.
broke the deadlock that had lasted for
weeks and seated five Addicks Re-
publicans, two of them coIored men, in
The best Offices at the disposal OF the
city council.
Makes Secret Agreement
1t had been secretly agreed that in
return for this PostIes would vote to
seat two Democrats in the remaining
two Offices Instead. Postles played
on the Democrats a trick worthy of
his master in politics
Instead Of voting for the Democrats,
who are holdovers in the offices, Pos
ties, having already got what he want
ed himself cast a blank ballot.
This left the Democrats stfn in the
offices. so the Democrats who aided
the colored man are TO this extent en-
eouraged.
But Postles is now at the point
where he may form secret agreement
with the Republicans IN the council,
ana. possibly, get another Addicks
man INTO a good office.
AS consequence of the deal he
tween the Democrats and POstIeS, a
situation has been created which is
without parallel in Delaware.
Puts Own Son Over Teachers.
Postles put his own son. Joseph E.
Postles, twenty-three years old, into a
city Office where he is required to pay
on every month the white women and
girls who teach in the Wilmington
schools. There are 400 of these white
school teachers.
Serious fears are expressed that the
stirring up OF the race feeling. in conse-
quence OF this action viii lead to
trouble.
man to hold important office in Della
ware. The State Legislature has never
had a colored member. POstles served
one term IN councils when there was a
large Democratic majority. He could
DO nothing at that time. and there was
no loud protest against him.
One term interviewed. and this year. in
June, he came back 10 councils repre-
senting the Sixth ward, which contains
a large colored population
Holds Balance of Power.
1t so happens that the city council is
evenly divided. With Postles, who was
elected as a Union Republican or Ad-
dicks man. there are six Republicans
The Democrats number six also. The
presiding officer is a Republican, which
would swing the body If Postles stood
with the Republicans.
But from the start Postles stood aloof
from the other Republicans. This gave
possibly the most potential man in Viii
nington. This was q situation deplOred
by Democrats and Republicans alike,
not In Wilmington alone, but all over
Delaware.
Now that the Democrats have virtual
~ surrendered to the man and permit
ted Postles to name two colored men to
offices in the city hall, there is q great
deal of infiamed talk
No Effort TO Disfranchise.
So far Delaware has made no serious
effort to disfranchise the colored man,
as have so many States south of Della
ware. a law is on the statute books
that provides for registration and the
payment of 81 registration fee. It~has
this dollar and let the colored men vote
Similar laws in other States, but more
rlgidIy enforced. practically put the
colored man where he may not go near
the ballot box.
II is predicted that Postles' act, al
though he accomplished his purpose
with Democratic aid, viii result in a
demand almost universal from all parts
OF the State for the enforcement of the
stringent laws which Will make il i'm
possible for ignorant colored men TO
vote IN Delaware
This will sound the death-kuen of
the already gasplng Addicks movement
The colored vote has been the pur-
chasable vote, and without IL Addicks
would long ago have been undone.
PostIes. row the central figure pn-
iltically IN Wilmington. was brought up
as a farm Iaborer in Kent county, and
did not get more than three months
schooling. His parents had been slaves,
Was a Foundryman.
on arriving in Wilmington. Postles got
a Job IN foundry, and then did odd
jobs around the town. He saved money
and bought his own home. Schools are
separate in Wilmington.
Postles' son. now appointed as clerk
to the city treasury. left school early.
and has worked since in a morocco fac
tory But one Of Postles children. his
daughter, is now a pupil IN the coIOred
high school, and a music teacher.
George ". Anderson, the other coli
order man appointed by Postles and the
Democrats. is a hod carrier and a Veri-
table type OF the ignorant colored man.
He viii be the bailin and usher of the
city council. which pays $3.50 a year
PCstles' son will draw $3.50 a year.
others who were named TO Office by
the combine of FCstles and the Demo
Gratis were Adicks Republicans. Daniel
T. Stewart, defeated for the nomination
for mayor. becomes coal oil inspector.
and will draw fees amounting TO 5000
q year Benjamin Spence. who, with
Justice of the Peace Bradley, IS alleged
10 have fiSed up the Addiciks job for the
Democratic c0uncilmen and swung
Pcstles into line. becomes city auditor, /
at 81 2c0 a year. Joseph G. Moore be-
comes clerk of the markets. and Will
earn from $500 10 81 200 q year.
or course. the principal query is.
What does POstles get out Of it?"
Postles was seen and questioned about |
he matter.
Says All Are Equal.