Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-09-11
HARDING HEARS PLEDGES
OF SUPPORT BY NEGROES
q. o. r. Nominee Expresses Alb
! horrcnce of Use OF BRUTAL and
Unlawful Violence"
JOHNSON LEADS PILGRIMS
iGeorgin's 100000 Peach" Heads
Group From National Baptist
Convention in Session at Coiun,-
bus--Pcrshing Makes Speeches.
IBy Universal scrvlcc.l

tBy Universal Scrviccl
MARION, OHIO, Sept. 1o.-Five
delegations of negro Republicans,
representing various organizations Of
the race In both the North and south.
gathered ut Senator Harding's front
porch today and pledged him their
support in several hours OF char
ecteristic demonstration and oratory.
In response the Republican nomi
nee made two speeches praising the
loyalty and ottainmcnts Of the ma
lions negro citizenry and promising
that the Federal government will
not fail the American negro" He
asked that theey make service to
country the everyday standard OF
their citizenship, aud declared his
abhorrcnce OF the use of brutal and
unlawful violence" against the black
race or any other class.
Harding Hears Grievances.
y In several private conferences SEN
ator Harding also heard the griev-
anccs of various negro leaders. and
assured them he would make n care
full study of the situation. Lynch
ing and segregation of negro Fed
cral employees were two OF the things
for whose suppression the visitors
made n particular plea.
Conventions of negro Eaptists, in
session Mt Columbus and Indian
opolis, sent the largest delegations.
and n camp-mce;ing spirit ruled the
days celebration. The first group
came up singing Harding viii Shine
Tonight" in parody OF a revival
hymn, and "Amens" and "Hallelujahs"
floatcd heavcnward with "Oh. Boys
and You Tell Ems" as the success
sion of orators poured out their pro-
LESSONS OF loyalty TO the party OF
Lincoln and Grant.
Henry Lincoln Johnson, Republican
national committeeman for Georgia.
headed the group from the national
Baptist convention at Columbus,
which arrived during tho morning,
and was the first 10 be addressed by
the nominee. The afternoon speech
was 10 representatives of the National
baptist Convention. Incorporated.
whisn is meeting in indianapolis, tho
National Equal Rights League. the
African Methodist Episcopal Church.
and the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Many Speeches Are Made.
Besides Johnson, those who made
speeches included the presidents of
both the conventions. William IL.
Lewis, OF Boston. former assistant
attorney Charles Cottrill, OF
Toledo, former collector OF internal
revenue AT Honolulu; the wife OF
Thomas W. Fleming, OF Cleveland,
bead or the colored woIuan's bureau
81 the Republican National Commit
Tee. and Halle .. Brown, president Of
tic National Federation of Coiored
Womcn's Clubs.
\ prayer opened the afternoon
meeting, which had lasted for nearly
two hours before Senator Harding
was reached on the program OF
spcakers. Other speeches followed
his. and then the visitors nockca up
rife front steps OF the Harding home
and Kept the candidate busy for a
b.tf hour shaking hands.
Two hundred thousand votes from
negro women were promised the SEN
aior by the women speakers, one of
whom praised his stand for party
government, and said the women OF
bis race would claim representation
in the government in proportion TO
their numbers.
*. PcrshinE Stirs Enthusiasm.
; AT both the morning anG afternoon
celebration. General John ]. PERISH
ing. an overnight guest at the
Harding home. was an added attrac-
zion that helped str the .an,hus as m
Of the visitors. To each crowd he
made a short speech prassing the
service of negro soldiers In the war.
but not touching on political sub
jects.
One of those who conferred with
the Senator during the day was Will
liam Monroe Trottor, of Boston, ex-
ecuttve secretary OF the National
Equal Rights League.
He asked that segregation OF ne
gro employees OF the Federal gov
eminent be abolished. and declared
afterward that the nominee had
given tho request apprcc!ative con-
sideration.
Tomorrow Senator Harding Will
speak 70 delegations O; business men
from Chicago, Detroit ana Indiana
cities. and is expected TO make one
of the important speeches of his
campaign. outlining his stand on bust