The Washington bee., 1911-12-23
Life of Bradshaw.

Mr.. Bradshaw's father was Henry
| Bradshaw, Of Gloucester County, New
| Jersey, who was of Quaker parentage,
was one of the original antl-slavery
men of his State; prior to the war OF
1905, was yice-president OF the ''un-
| derground railroad OF New Jersey,
and was one of the men who resisted
the return OF fugitive slaves, was
soldier Of the Union.
The son, Aaron, and the subject OF
this sketch, when about sixteen years
of age, became a prominent factor
in the Republican party of the Dis
trict OF Columbia In 1868, was one
of the organizers Of the Fifth Ward
Republican Club, and soon thereafter
became a member OF the District Re
publican Central Committee, was
made chairman of the committee, and
served as such for years.
/ In the convention which nominated
Hon. Sayles J. Bowen, the first Re
publican Mayor, Nh Bradshaw was a
prominent factor, and in the election
of Mr. Bowen; great credit was given
him for the mastery manner IN which
he conducted that portion Of the work
allotted to him
1t is thought that the colOred peO-
lple Of this District owe more TO Mr..
Bradshaw, perhaps with one exception
and that exception being the Hon.
Sayles J. Bowen, than any other man
who has had to do with Republican
politics in this District since 1867.
The appointment of Geo. w. Coop
er. a colOred man and a veteran OF
the war, to the police force IN 1903
the appointment of the first coloreC
: fireman; are some of the things II
. which Mr.. Bradshaw bore a cOnsplcu
Gus part.
: In the contest for delegates in I87.
for the National Republican Conven
$ ton, Mr. Bradshaw cast his vote 70
Prof. A. NJ Green, a colored man
' which vote elected Prof. Green, de
feating Gov. Henry d. Cooke.
However. the most conspicuous o
r his many acts OF friendship for tn
{, colored people through all the years
u was his advocacy of and insisting
( upon. the nomination of the late Ap
e pleton p Clark, as alderman tror
J. the Fifth Ward. Through Nj
S Bradshaw efforts, Mr.. Clark recelV
led the nomination and was elected t
the Board of Aldermen and subst
quentlv became chairman OF the Con
mittee on Schools, and the splendl
school system which has done 5
much for the colored people OF tn
A District Is due almost entirely to tt
efforts of Mr Clark and the found;
ton made by him years ago when a
e alderman
~ Mr.. Bradshaw's political activiti,
- have not been confined to the Di
u trict of Columbia The Hon. Saylt
y ]. Bowen said OF him in 1896: Il giV
d my testimony to his untiring and III
p, selfish devotion to the interests al
ia welfare Of the Republican party fro
'J the time / first knew him III 1867
.u | the present day. No personal sa
!" ri6ce has been too great Tor him
VI Iany and all times to make. If he co
> sidered that the good OF the par
would be promoted thereby. Al
y" whatever success the party h
K achieved in this District, for Whs
|, ever influence it may nave exerted
the national affairs in the past,
other man is entitled TO equal cred
in my opinion. with Mr. Bradshaw.
This endorsement OF Mr. Bradshs
/ n
To the men OF our party of the ear
days, but the younger people Shot
/ be informed: if they do not alrea
i know, that they owe to Mr.. Bow
and the men who sustained him
! those trying days OF the past, [
great benefits they enjoy today, /
/ it must be remembered that tho
were days OF ostracism and prejudi
and the man who publicly stood
/ the platform Of the universal brot
lerhood of man. was indeed a bra
one-such was Sayles J. Bowen a
those who stood with him, and \
/ Bradshaw was not the least of the
/ in ability to do things looking
Il | the betterment Of men.
Il During the administration of Gt
i eral Arthur, Mr.. Bradshaw was cha
Il man of the Board of Pension a
II peals The opinions written by h
L while holding that position did mu
I to lberalize the pension laws;
i citation of one case alone, the cla
j of Catherine Holman, a widow,
deared him to every veteran in t
country, for in that opinion r.
ms was laid down which enabled tho
ate ! sands OF meTtOTiOus dependent W
IN ows' claims to be allowed, and II
decision merited and received I
thanks of every veteran in the COZ
he try, and thousands of widows
at stricken soldiers of the Union tha
his Henry NJ Teller for his selection
the Mr. Bradshaw 20 that most imp'
ing tant position, the chairman Of I
at Board of Pension Appeals, Depa
rid r71pur Of the Interior
The above is a part of the histc
3rvI of Aaron Bradshaw, who may becol
lis a candidate for Delegate to the \
Of | tional Republican Convention.
hat Is there a veteran Of the war
cu-l a colored man in this District W
oIs will not be glad to vote for him?
We should hope not