davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun., 1916-11-02
TELLS HOW ROFRANO|
ALMOST LOST JOB.
Defendants Former Counsel,
Buckner, Says Perkins Urged
Deputy's Discharge.
MAYOR
Lawyer Declares District At
tOrney's Office Was Hostile
to His Client.

The TACT thai District Attorney Per-
klns requested Mayor Mitchell to re-
nov Michael A. Rofrano as Deputy
Street Cleaning Commissioner during the
course Of the Carnivalle trial for the
murder Of Michael Gaimari-for insti-
eating which murder Rofrano Is now be-
ing tried-and before Rofrano had given
his testimony In that trial. was told yes
terday by Emory II. Buckner.
Mr.. Buckner. who was counsel 10 the
Curran Aldermanic committee that in
vestisated police conditions. and who
was attorney for Rofrano when the lat
ter wa frst implicated. said he first
met L member Of the District Attorneys
office in regard to the case BOOT after
Rofrano's checks had been subpDnaed.
with Harold Demmins Mr.. Buckner
met Assistant District Attorney Murphy
In the Harvard Club and told Mr.. MUIR
ply hat Rofrano would give up any
papers the District Attorneys office
wanted and answer any questions. MIR.
Murphy didn't give them n encourage
ment. Then during the Carnivalle trial
Mr.. Buckner called on District Attorney
Perkins at the request Of Mayor Mitchell.
Mayor IL Noncommittal.
The Mayor said Perkins Is anxious
to have Rofrano resign from the depart
ment.'" said Mr.. Buckner. Perkins had
asked the Mayor to ask Rofrano to re-
sign or TO fire him. The Mayor Was nom
committal n passed 1t on to me. lie
did not say whether no would or would
not accede to the request.
Perkins pointed out that SO long as
Rofrano was In office they would be un-
able to get at the truth. and I told him
that II Rofrano resigned II would have
the same effect on the other side. told
him that az Rofrano was about TO 20 on
the stand for him to resign at that time
would discredit his testimony: also that
II they did not have enough to indict
him they did not have enough TO cause
him to be fired.
Mr.. Perkins said--although | knew
him very weli-that he could not dis
cuss it,"
Il was not quoting Rofrano. merely
giving my own views Mr.. Buckner re-
piled To another question. II do not
mink he knew ] went TO see Mr.. Per-
k'ns I'LL after II was all over
Don't you know said Mr.. Brothers
on characterization. that men sus.
pected OF murder are not usually per-
mitted to come In and arrange the de-
fence under the nose Of the District At
torney?"
Yes" replied Mr.. Buckner. who VA.
Formerly In tho District Attorneys Of
h"c. but was always glad TO hear
what the defendant had to say"
Did they say in words or in sub.
stance that they wouldn't listen to Ro-
francs story"
The sun., 1916-11-02
'h, TAG Rates I.sumated,

me l'lG tax rates are 2.04 in Man.
!" an 2Os IN The Brock. cOs m
n''"N IN, 2os In Queens and 2.l3 In
''"nd, The estimated rate OF 40
''i'"'S fpr 1917 would. az already
.."'"', include nearly five points to cover
~" ot IN" special assessments
aka "-' 'hAt borough.
~" bronx and Brooklyn the as
''"4 rates Of eos for 1917 would in
'' 'p~'r"x'mately two points 10 cover
M~e .'.'s az the special assessments In
.'"-' "ptopghs, and IN Manhattan the
'N'.dpt'"I rat" ~ log would include ap-
'H 'ar '"iN one point for the special
80 "u'S IN that borough.
ED therefore,, bo obvious tha. II
.' q N're TO |peciai assessments to be
."''i .rh year IN The o " boroughs
lr .', 'h' l.l; rates would lie lower
'""N 100" Of the current year"
'h"lgh they we're very tired. men,
- 'W' Estimate BOARD had q hot
The sun., 1916-11-02
Non-political, lie says.

According e Frazier. who has been
here for several days supervising tbs
work OF getting signatures on the East
ern roads. the movement is entirely non
political. as proof Of which he pointed 10
the fact that ne had been a Democrat
al, his life and his father was appointed
by President Wilson as Assistant Com
missioner Of Patents.
II started this movement myself OH
our own o in Tennessee. because,
though a clerk in the valuation depart
ment of my road, I was getting onlv
500 n month. while the members Of
these brotherhoods were getting two and
three times as much. what We want Is
IN equitable scale of wages fixed for
all classes. after an investigation. or
else the repeal Of the Aiamson law en-
tirely.
The Adamson law takes away the
opportunity OF bargaining. Both classes
OF employees have now lost the principle
OF collective bargaining. but tho brother
hood men in return ave got a :5 per
cent. Increase in wages. while we have
got nothing. and no chance to get any
thing, with this principle surrendered
Dur idea Is 10 keep out OF politics, but
of course II canno be denied that many
OF the men signing these petitions are
incensed over what was done last sum-
mer In Washington
The sun., 1916-11-02
POLITICAL.
POLITICAL.
Where Labor Stands To-day
On PRESIDENT WILSON
and
"On the 1907 Candidate" p!
SIX YEARS IS A LONG TIME, Mr.. HUGHES!

SIX YEARS is A LONG TIME, Mr.. HUGHES!
for an Endorsement by representative OIL labor for their candidate.
In full pages of Observation-Disclosures printed throughout the country, they
quote an editorial by John M. OHanlon in the Legislative Labor News"
Why Don't They Quote the Same Paper and the
Same Editor To-day?
everywhere pulling from his pocket and reading o audiences Of wage Garner that
81 year old editorial
Apparently the Republican managers don't read the newspapers If they did,
they would not have quoted Mr. OHanlon in full page advertisements which ap-
he las supported President Wilson evers since he vas renomnaed.
QUEER, ISN'T 1T, THAT Mr.. HUGHES HAS TO GO BACK SIX YEARS
TO FIND "A. INDORSEMENT FROM ANY LEGITIMATE REPRESENTATIVE
or LABOR LET'S ME-
In the absence of any other bona!de labor Endorsement your six ear old one
may be valued by YOU Mr.. Hughes, but come back to the present and listen to
Mr. OHanlons statement issued att Troy, n. Y, October 90, 1916. He said:
81 have been supporting President Wilson for reelection both in the columns
Of my paper and wherever have had the opportunity to express my conviction
orally er sme he has accepted a denomination.
The quoted article in the issue of the Legislative Labor News of October.
ernor Of this state is based IN fact. a similar appreciation could have been issued
have occupied national spheres OF actor.
"Mr Wilson as President has fMWd uery expectation aroused b. his career
as Goernor Mr.. Hughes has nt
"As a candidate for President Mr. Hughes has declared his opposition to tn.
Wilson program of legislation and seized upon the eghthour law for railroad men
to emphasize that opposition. In discussing it he has attacked the sincerity and ntUi
gmr Of organized labor and charged it with greed by declaring that it inUmijaed
Congress into enactng q wage law designed to create Xa wages for more than
eight hours Of work a day. The chief object of the railroad men and ali other
workers is to prevent moret than eight hours work a day by exrting higher price
for extra hours.
"The entire labor movemen of The State ofNew York almost without ercentor
is in favor of the reelection of President Wilson. The record of his achievement
in Congress is such that n wage earner whether a member of organized labor or
not should fail to support him for reelection
This is 1916, Mr.. Hughes, Not 1910!
NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE.
The sun., 1916-11-02
Important Budget Increases.
COUNTY

Some OF the most important budget
are:
The sun., 1916-11-02
100000 RAIL MEN
FIGHT 8 HOUR LAW
Monster Petition Will Protest
That Great Injustice Has
Been Done.

A petition signed by 400. 900 railroad
workers protesting against the Adamson
law as working an injustice to those en-
ployees not members OF the four broth
erhoods will be presented to Congress In
December. Work has progressed % far
that more than SOC. 900 have al
ready been obtained.
According to Robert 7. Frazier. Jr.,
a clerk on the Nashville. Chattanooga and
st. Louis. who Is heading the movement,
$1,000 employees on the Pennsylvania
east OF Pittsburg fave signed the petit
ton. The work Is going on now on other
Eastern railroads.
Frazier. a Democrat from Tennessee,
IA the man who sought to obtain an inter-
view with the President whom the negoti-
atoms with the brotherhood chiefs were
on last summer. Although he at that
time had a petition bearing l05. 900 sigma
lures. representing all classes Of rail-
road workers outside of the four broth.
erhoods and asking for consideration Of
their claims In case any Legislation
was enacted. he never got in n see the
President with 1t. and had to leave II
with his secretary. 1t was found later
In the Office of Judge Chambers Of the
Board OF Mediation.
The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1916-01-22

Duluth, Minn.-Past Grand Master
Jose Sherwood, who is Grand Lee
turer during the term of office of
Grand Master H. J. Shelton, paid an
official visit to Doric Lodge of this
city Monday evening. He came up
from ST Paul Sunday afternoon and
spent rssst of the day Monday visit
ing old friends in Superior. He ap-
peared to be we'll pleased with the
progress of Doric Lodge, realizing
the severe handicap under which the
Lodge has been .laboring recently be-
cause of the lack of proper meeting
place.
They are now comfortably situated
in their new quarters and bid fair to
rival any Lodge in the jurisdiction.
AT the Head of the Lakes, they are
very much interested in this young
man; as he is the product of Su-
perior Lodge, and received most of
his Maconic honors in Duluth, and it
was in this city he was elected Grand
Secretary, and then later here he be.
came Grand Master. He was the
guest of Grand Master Shelton.
The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1916-01-22
MISS MARIENNE JEFFREY
Wins Musical Honors.

One of whom the people of the
Twin Cities are justly proud, is Miss
Marienne Jeffrey, the popular young
pianist OF our city. Going from the
Bryant school where for two years
she had been head of the orchestra,
she was almost Immediately made
pianist of the largest classes of Cen
trail High; and at the presentation of
the oratorio Creation" last spring,
Mr.. Morris, the director, said of her,
that, "its success was largely due to
her" At the beginning of last
term she was elected pianist of the
Glee Club and at the presentation of
the opera, pirate of Penzauce" on
the evenings of Jan. 18th and 18th,
1916, swas the director as we'll as
pianist Mr.. Morris took one of the
leading parts in the cast. At the end
of the ist act on Friday night she was
presented with beautiful bouquet of
American Beauty roses from the stage
by the Glee Club. She is the daugh-
ter of Mr.. and Mrs. w. c. Jeffrey,
and has promising future in the
musical world.
The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1916-01-22
LABORS IN MANY
GOOD MOVEMENTS
Success Of Rev. Or, |. L
Downing at Roanoke, Va
NAN OF LIBERAL EDUCATION

Minister Of Fifth Avenue Presbyterian
Church In Thrifty Virginia Town
Evlnees Deep Interest In Municipal
Affalrs-Member Of Odd Fellows,
Masons and Organization Society.
Roanoke, Va.-One of the important
factors In racial development In this
section Of the country is the Rev. Dr..
I. L Downing, pastor Of the Fifth Av-
euue Presbyterian church, probation
oGlcer and vice president Of the vir-
ginia Negro Organization society. He
b making his contribution 10 the race
along practical lines.
The Rev. Mr. Downing claims as his
birthplace Lexington. Va, where he
was born just few years before the
surrender Of Lee, so that after the
emancipation of the slaves and the
sehoolroom was thrown open to the lit
10 boys and girls Of our race he was
5ugt. old enough to be among the first
30 get into the public schools Of Lex
1ngtnn. He was dfigent student and
made good use Of his time. Being anx-
The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1916-01-22

appointed the first probation .ofncsr,
and he u doing his work 90 wen that
It has caused the city officials TO take
special notice Of his work.
In the fraternal organizations he is
an Odd Fellow and was for a long
time district grand master, and now
he Is the grand master Of Masons fol-
Virginia. to which position he was
elected at the last session, held in Fred
ericksburg. He Is being heard from In
the fraternity. rendering great serv-
ice to the craft. .H
DIR. Downing has the distinction of
being q commissioner to the general
assembly of the Presbyterian church
three times In succession and has been
for q number Of times moderator OF
the presbytery. ...-.
The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1916-01-22

Ions to further prepare himself for his
nfs's WORK. he entered Lincoln univer-
dty.
It was while IN the preparatory de-
partment Of Lincoln that the ability of
young Downing was manifested. For
four years he stood at the head Of his
class, and his general average was so
high during the four years that he was
given scholarship in the college de-
partnent He made good in his work
and In 1889 graduated from the college
department with honors. He felt that
he was called to the work Of the gospel
ministry and at the same time felt a
cali to prepare for that work and en-
tered the Theological seminary, deter.
mined to make ample preparation for
his calling. He graduated from the
theological department Of Lincoln In
1904
While he was a student in the theo-
logical department he taught Latin for
two years in the preparatory depart
ment Of the same institution. He was
considered a good instructor and was
offered permanent place In the
schoolroom, but preferred to follow his
calling. He received from Lincoln the
degree Of bachelor Of arts, bachelor Of
sacred theology, and I'm 1905 the insd-
tuition conferred on him the degree OF
doctor Of divinity.
Dr. Dowling was not without class
honors. for in 1887 he won the sopho-
more gold medal for the delivery Of an
original grafton. Finishing his school
work, he found his way to Roanoke,
Va, where he took charge Of the Fifth
Avenue Presbyterian church in 1894
and has remained its minister ever
since. In July Of 1894, when he took
charge Of the church, 1t was small
mission with seven members, but pros.
poets were bright for larger mem
bership. The services were then held
IN q hall on Sixth avenue, but now the
congregation owns beautiful church
building on Fifth avenue. entirely free
Of debt.
Speaking Of racial development, DR..
Downing has figured in the affairs Of
state and has been for the past nine
teen years member Of the Repub-
ncan city committee, being the only
member of his race In that body:
hence when 1t comes to the affairs Of
the city he ably represents our people.
Il b not surprising that be should Be
=
The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1916-01-22
BUSINESS LEAGUE TO MEET
At KANSAS CITY, NO., AUG. is
Executive Committee Of National Body
? Accepts Local Leagues Invitation.

After q most careful consideration Of
tho several invitations received from
different sections Of the country for
tho ne3t meeting Of the National Ne
gro Business league we are authorized
By the members Of the executive COM
mittee to announce that the league has
decided to accept the invitation extend
cd By the Local Negro Business league
Of Greater Kansas City, Mo. The
meeting viii be held Aug. 18, IT and Is
It appears that the Business leagus
has selected a most opportune time to
hold It's meeting In Kansas City, for,
as Mr.. Fortune J. Weaver, president Of
the Kansas City Local league, says,
these dates At in Just right, az the Ma
sons will hold their grand lodge In
Kansas City during the second week
Of August, and the National Medical
association comes during the fourth
week.
These two meetings, In addition to
the Business league session, will offer
the best possible inducements to rail-
roads to make special reduced fares
and WIN afford delegates to the grand
lodge and the Medical association an
opportunity to attend some Of the ses-
sions Of the Business league.
The executive committee has also de-
cided that It will be most appropriate
and fitting that the first nights ses-
sion (Aug. 10 be devoted to memorial
exercises In honor Of DR.. Booker T.
Washington, founder and first presi-
dent Of the National Negro Business
league.
Further announcements regarding
the forthcoming meeting Of the Nation
al Negro Business league will be made
from time to time through the press
and by the officials Of the league.
The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1916-01-22

officers. leaders Of their own, held or.
ganization meetings, attacked and
fought in an organized way. The race
or class has not secured independence
Or abolition Of prescription and disa-
bilities through individual work or
lights or through financial or material
success by individuals History proves
this Of opposed races or classes since
Sefore Greece down through modern
European and American history.
History also proves that with this
fhct goes another great fact-namely.
that these races and classes have won
rot only by organization, but BY or
ganized effort for themselves by the
Individuals suffering the same race or
class disadvantage.
$50 nearly universal has this been
the case that accepted principle Of sue.
Con- for oppressed classes has come out
of ths worlds struggles. Who would
be free themselves must strike the
blow This means that the chief nee
essary factor Of enduring success Is or
ganization BY, for and under those
whose rights are denied.
III ever there has been an oppressed
and prescribed race and class our col
ored Americans In the United States
Of America are such q race or class to-
day. In the south they are, because
OF an admixture Of African blood, dis
franchised, in some cases held in peon-
n oo. A., xha ho~das o<o k<o n "a co,,thoyv,
states denied equal rights, segregated
by law, frequently lynched. Even In
the north they are In practice denied
service In places Of public accommoda-
don and resort; by law degraded and
prescribed In the south, by custom pro-
scibed ciyhly In most Of the north
and by the federal government itself
segregated at work In the national cap
ital In some government buildings.
"More significant is 1t that caste dis
cr1mina ton is growing in degree and
territory. This is the situation Of ten
or twelve million citizens entitled to
equality by law, ,enslavement Of whom
was abolished over fifty years ago, fol-
lowed by enjoyment Of full rights.
Surely these colored Americans come
under the proved principle, ''Who
would bs free themselves must strike
the blow" They are in the category
- classes struggling against oppres-
s1un and inequality. AS we have stat
cd, such races and classes as have
Overcome oppression have had organ
i1ataons Of their own. According to
history, we cannot succeed unless We
have such on a national scale. There
b no historical precedent whereby
without II colored Americans can pro-
tsct their equal citizenship"
The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1916-01-22

RE12 raH lgrAN-Iv's Nswsy.
The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1916-01-22

number in the professional service,
as shown by the u. S. census for 1910.
Actors 1919; Architects 50, Artists
and Sculptors 32o; Authors ~; Che
mists 1928; Civil and Mining En-
gineers 217; Clergmen 17,4os; College
Presidents and Professors 242; Dem
lists 47s; Lawyers $50; Musicians
and Teachers of Music 5000; Physi-
clans and Surgeons 3,077; Teachers
2o,4S5; Trained nurses 2,43s; vetinary
.surgeons 122 That We own 860.soa
homes and operate farms in the south
ern states of a value Of 81, ,083, ,658,-
3s1.
We are called a criminal class and
yet the same u. S. census shows that
among the ten million of Negroes in
the u. S. 3,685,0o7 more than one out
of every three, are members of some
religious organization.
That of that number 2,211,172 are
Baptist with church property valued
at $24,Sl3,08o. And that 88o,710 are
Methodist with church property
valued at $1o,sso.232.
These figures prove that the race
is advancing rapidly, despite the fact
that we are commonly said to be an
ignorant and criminal race.
The main reason why the white
man disregards, in his estimates Of
Negro life, the extraordinary progress
of large and growing section of the
race, and for the fixing of his atten-
tion almost entirely upon its less
desirable members; is that the latter
are the Negroes most prominent in
your daily lives and the display head
lines in the newspapers. The As
sociated Press Of the country features
in bold type the Negro criminal, and
passes unnoticed many of the COM
mendab1e achievments of that class of
Negroes who, bearing the burden of
their disadvantages, are struggling
onward and upward in the march Of
civilization and accomplishing those
things which make better men and
women and consequently better citi-
zens Of them.
AS the Negro gains in culture, In
efficiency, in his struggle for COM
petence, he withdraws into a world
Of his own. a world which lies all
about the white man, yet whose exis-
tance, you rarely expect. The inef.
ficients of the race, the handicapped.
the unambitious, the physically and
morally degenerate-af1 these remain
in that economic morass which you
regard as purely racial: and from that :
class Is drawn the notorious, Negro
and the jail.bird This kind of Negro
attracts your attention, but as fast az
a Negro rises Our Of that class he
disappears from your field of vision.
for as the Negro rises higher to intel
1ectua1 and industrial levels in most
of the sections of this country ne is by
segregation pushed out of your lives
and denied the right to complete with
the white man.
The situation of the American
Negro Is nitifui In the extreme. He
Is much like an orphan. So different
from all other races of people In
America for they have powerful
Governments back Of them, save ire
lew. and the Jew. being 81 Cod's
chossn people 4 abb y take ~ n