The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-09-11
NEGROES ASSEMBLE
 AT HARDING PORCH
Nominee Pledges That Gov ernment Will Not Fail the
 American Negro
By Associated Press


 Marion, Ohio, September 10.-Five dele- gations of negro republicans, represent ing various organizations of the race in both the north and south, gathered at Senator Hardings front porch today and pledged him their support in several hours of characteristic demonstration and oratory
 In response, the republican nominee made two speeches, praisng the loyalty and attainments of the nations negro citzenry and promising that the federal government will not fail the American negro" He asked that their service to the country be the every day standard horrence of the use of brutality and violence against the black race or any other class K ss--ssssF,--
 In several private conferences Senator Harding also heard the grievances of various negro leaders and assured them he would make careful study of tile Situation. Lynching and segregation ot negro federal employees were two of the things for whose suppression the visitors made a particular plea.
 Conventions of negro Baptists in ses- sion at Columbus and Indianapolis sent the largest delegations, and a camp meeting spirit ruled the days celebration. The first group came up singing liar ding Will Shine Tonight in parody of revival hymn, and "Amens and "Hallelujah floated heavenward with '.Oh, boys and You tell 'em' as the succession of orators poured out their professions of loyalty to the party Of Lincoln and Grant.
 JOHNSON HEADS SPEAKERS
 Henry Lincoln Johnson, republican na- tional committeeman for Georgia headed the group from the national Baptist con- vention at Columbus, which arrived dur ing the morning, and was the first to be addressed by the nominee. The aft ernoon speech was to representatives or the National Baptist Convention, lncor- porated, which is meeting in lndianapo- lis; the National Equal Rights League, the African Methodist Episcopal Church and the Methodist Episcopal Church.
 Besides Johnson, those who made speeches included the presidents of both the conventions. William H. Lewis or Boston. a former assistant attorney gen. eral; Charles Cottrill of Toledo, former collector of internal revenue at Homo lulu; the wife of Thomas W. Fleming of Cleveland, head of the colored Wom- ans bureau of the republican national committee, and Hallie Q. Brown. presi- dent of the National Federation of Col ored Women's Clubs
 prayer opened the afternoon meet ing, which had lasted for nearly two hours before Senator Harding was reached on the programme of speakers. Other speeches followed his. and then the visitors flocked up the front steps of the Harding home and kept the can didate busy for half hour shaking hands.
 PROMISE WOMEN VOTES
 Two hundred thousand votes from ne- gro women were promised the senator by the women speakers. one Of whom praised his stand for party government, and said the women of her race would claim representation in the government in proportion to their numbers.
 At both the morning and afternoon celebrations John J. Pershing. an over night guest at the Harding home, was an added attraction that helped stir the enthusiasm of the visitors. To each crowd he made a short speech, prais;ng the service of negro soldiers in the war brt not touching on political subjects.
 One of those who conferred with the senator during the day was William Monfoe Trotter of Boston, executive sec retary of the National Equal Rights I I,eague. He asked that segregation or negro employees of the federal govern ment be abolished. and declared aftei- ward that the nominee mad given the re- quest appreciative consideration.
 Tomorrow Senator Harding will speak to delegations of business men rom Chicago, Detroit and Indiana cities' anu he is expected to make on oI lne i, nortant speeches of his campaign, out- iinirr the stand on business issues ana his stand for after-war financial recon struction.