Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-30
Association of CoIored People
Excluded From Mails.
FALSE PRETENSE ALLEGED
Scheme Said to Be Designed to Mis-
lead Ignorant People.
HEADQUARTERS IN THIS CITY
Issue of Circulars to Negroes So
liciting Aid in Securing Pen
sions for Former Slaves.

Proclaiming itself the lark Of the col
ored race" to advocate the lawful rights
of the colored man and his people, and
incidentally to secure by agitation and
faithful prayer congressional action pro-
viding freedmen with pensions for the
labor done by them during the cruel
days of slavery" the Great National
Ex-Slave Congressional, Legislative and
Pension Association (the National Ex-
Slave Union, Congressional and Legisla-
tive Association of the United States,
with it's officers and agents as such and
G. c. Conley, general manager, was put
under the ban of fraud order by the
Post Office Department today. 1t is
charged the concern and it's agents are
engaged in a scheme to obtain money
through the mails by false and fraudu-
lent pretenses and to mislead and impose
upon ignorant and credulous colored
people.
The address of the concern and of
Washington street northwest, Washing
ton, D. Z.
Also Under the Ban.
1t is claimed that Conley, who is a
colored man. was formerly connected with
the National ex-Slave Union Mutual Re-
lief Bounty and Pension Association OF
Nashville, Tenn, which is also under the
ban of a fraud order, and that he had
collected $132. all but 30 cents of which
he claims to have expended In stationery,
printing, circulars and lawyers fees for
drawing up the articles of Incorporation.
The plan of the concern, as outlined in
the memoranda of the assistant attorney
general for the Post Office Department,
on which the fraud order was issued. Is
to send out state organizers with power
to establish local branches of the union
and collect 81 as initiation fee and 10
cents as monthly dues from the MEM
bers. Half the dues collected were to be
retained by the state organizer. and the
Conley's Printed Plea.
1t is claimed Conley was sending out
circulars broadcast to coIored people ask
ing them to join him in the effort to
educate and elevate the colored race: to
advocate the lawful rights of the colored
man and as citizen Of the United States
and secure. for him and his people a full
measure of enjoyment of life, liberty and
the pursuits of happiness as outlined and
contemplated by the fundamental princi-
piles of, this government, and to enlighten
the members of the association upon the
/
pending in Congress known as the Vaughn
ex-slave pension BILL or the southern tax
payers pension bill. and to urge upon
Congress the necessity Of enacting sub
stantial provisions of said bill into law"
Conleys circular. it is said, recites that
Senator Marcus A. Hanna. by request.
introduced identically the same bill to
provide pensions for freedmen, and it in
vokes fathers, mothers, descendants
and friends of the old slaves to get to-
gether and make one great and noble null
as never before in the history Of our
lives, by agitation and through faithful
prayer to the Lord Almighty in heaven.
that We might get public sentiment"
Each ex-slase is urged to do this. "that
the Lord may soften the hearts of the
law-making powers that they will agree
one to another to give us something for
the past labor that we created in the
cruel days of slavery" The circular con-
cludes with a blessing for all hands.
At the hearing at the department Con-
ley appeared as general manager and
financial secretary. Parker Morton, as
president and w. W. Small as treasurer.
Legislation Not Possible.
The assistant attorney general of the
Post Office Department states there is no
such bill pending in Congress. and there
is no possibility of securing such legisla-
ton. In support he quotes from an ad-
verse report from the Senate committee
on pensions. dated January 16, 1900,
which states that such bills If enacted
into law would take millions upon mill
lions Of dollars from the Treasury and
adds: The introduction of these bills
has given an opportunity for dishonest peo-
pie to. impose upon ignorant and credu-
lous freedmen and their children Of the
south in way that will surprise the peo-
pie when they know the facts"