Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-04-18


ical interest in the approaching Ma
! tional election. What has occurred
since that time has been nothing less
than a continuous sensation. Up TO
last week one could easily believe
from the freely expressed opinions
on our streets and ON the housetops.'
so to speak, was that every colored
leader and voter on the western
shores OF Lake Michigan was against
anything and everything that looked
like Taft OF Roosevelt. But you
never can tell you cannot know from
what is said. believed and endorsed
to-day what is going to happen to-
morrow. Enumeration of political
sensations are now I'm order.
I'D At a political convention in
the First Congressional District held
on last Monday night. March 80. for
the purpose OF electing delegates to
the National Convention, at which
convention the cOlored members held
the balance Of power. a resolution
endorsing Secretary Taft was carried
by a decisive majority People not
| living here can scarcely realize what
a deep impression this action has
| had upon all kinds OF politicians
There was no change OF front OF pur-
chasing of votes. but the convention
composed OF men who had scanned
the political armament easily saw the
! direction the stars were apt to take
IL was not expected, not prayed for.
and certainly at first not hoped for.
yet the action came with such de-
cisiveness and force that Il has had
the effect OF making nearly everybody
turn only one way and that way was
toward the Secretary OF War"
But the stars didn't take that di-
rection until Hon. s. Laing Williams
was appointed to take charge OF the
Bureau OF immigration. Colored
folks I'm that section are very easily
satisfied. She cites another fact:
"(2) Sull another unexpected oc-
currence. On Saturday morning
last there was noticed a group OF
leading colored citizens Of this city
confidently and cheerfully vending
their way down Michigan avenue in
the direction of the big and palatial
hotel known as the Auditorium An
mex. A colored sister noticing this
well-dressed and well-known compa-
ny. was heard 10 remark, There's
something doing for sho.' And so
there was. It appears that the
friends OF Secretary Taft had sent
out letters OF invitation to n number
OF the leading colored citizens OF
/ this city for the purpose Of holding
conference with the Secretary in
one OF the hotel parlOrs.
This delegation OF colored men was
only one OF many delegations. re-
presenting other interests and races.
who called TO pay their respects to
I the avowed candidate for the pres
idency on the National Republican
ticket. In due course OF time the
/ big. gOod-natured' and frankly
speaking Secretary appeared. The
| conference had the appearance OF n
/ big family gathering. Seer etary Taft
/ expressed himself as happily aapre-
/ ciative at meeting SO many OF the -
/ preventative colored citizens OF Chr
/ cago. In the few moments he had
/ ne spoke freely and earnestly con-
corning his views on the race ques-
I tion."
Then follows the views as express
ed by Secretary Tart. with which we
shall deal in this issue. Now
here is a list OF the influential col
ored men present:
The committee who thus listen
/ cd 90 the Secretary confessed them
| selves as deeply impressed with the
| Sccretary's manifest sincerity and
| left him with the feeling that they
had been talking TO man who full
\ ly measured up 20 the higher stand
ards OF real craftsmanship
The committee was composed OF
\ the following well-known Chicago cit
liens:
Rev. d. P. Roberts. pastor OF Quinn
! chapel a. NJ. r. Church; DR.. A. J.
/ Carey, pastor Of Bethel: Rev. r. J
/ Fisher. pastor Of Olivet Baptist
I Church; Rev. ID. H. Harris. pastor OF
/ Shiloh Baptist Church; Major r. A.
! Dennison, Assistant CORPORATION
/ Counsel; Hon. Oscar DePriest. Coun-
/ ~ Commissioner: Hon. +. II. Wright.
member Of the State Central Com
mittee $. Laing Williams. Assistant
/ United States District Attorney;
Louis b. Anderson. Assistant County
Attorney; Mr.. r. L. Taylor, promi-
nent citizen and member Of the Mag
ara Movement; w. II. COwan. prom
inent business man; Col ]. r. Mar
shall, OF the Sth Regiment. Illinois
National Guards and alternate dele
gate 20 the National ReDubli-
can Convention; Mr.. Brown. q
prominent citizen OF Vandalia. III.
Ex-senator T. T. Allan: S. B. Turn.
or, editor of the Illinois Idea: DR.
George G. Hall; Mr.. Willis jefferson
prominent politician; Sandy w. Trice
OF The COnservator.
Please note another fact and that
is that the conference took place
April 4th, 1908 and then Mrs. Fan.
ME Barrier Williams says in the
same communication:
DIR. Booker T. Washington reach.
ed Chicago Friday morning, April 3
and entered upon a program of work
that would have daunted most men
IN behalf OF the Tuskegee Institute
On Friday night he was greeted in
Orchestra Hall by as fine an audienc,
as ever assembled in this magnificen,