Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1949-04-08
THE WEEK
Under Capitol
DOVE
By Clifford Ruckcr

From no less an authority than
our good friend, Billy Williams Of
the Governors office comes o bit
Of historical news which readers
Of this column might find of in
terest.
There has been only one Negro
member OF the Minnesota State
Legislature. He was Representa-
tive J. Frank Wheaton. 4 Repub-
hean, and q lawyer by profession,
Mr.. Wheaton was born in HRgers-
town, Maryland. educated at
Slower College, HArper's Ferry.
West Virginia: at Howard UNI
versity. Washington. d. c. and at
the University Of Minnesota. He
served az q clerk In congress,
clerk Of the Minnesota Legislature
ard deputy clerk OF the municipal
court In Minneapolis.
Mr.. Wheaton came to Minnesota
in 1890 and at the age Of 80 was
elected the first and only Negro
legislator In tho history Of this
state.
In the general election of No
'vember 8, 1898. Mr.. Wheaton was
elected 10 represent the AND
Legislative district The district
was then composed Of the It'll,
18th and 18th wards Of Minneapo-
Lis, Edna and Excelsior villages,
and the towns Of Riehfield. Bloom
ington and Eden Prairie.
The late Honorable s. A. Stock
well was that same year elected
Senator from that district by q
vote Of 2.932. Mr.. Wheaton ex-
ceeded even that vote, being cleo
ted representative by q vote Of
aces II il stated that there was
believed TO be less than n dozen
Negro voters In the district.
Representative Wheaton served
one term In the Legislature. He
was q member Of the judiciary.
Labor, Public Accounts and Ex-
penditures. Local Bills and Mill
tary Affairs committees. Billy
Williams describes Representative
Wheaton n one Of the most bril-
liant orators the state has ever
known.
To him must 20 mach Of the
credit for the enAetment Of our
present Equal Rights statute.
In recent years there have been
two other Negroes who have
entered the race for seats In the
state legislature. They are Harry
l. Scott. Minneapolis attorney,
and James Griffin Of 81. Paul Mr..
Griffin who last year sought the
nomination from the Rondo dis
trict lost by the very narrow mar
gin Of only seven votes.
There are many jobs available
In the state legislature (I5e In the
House in the present session: 100
In the Senate) such m committee
clerks. stenographsrs. sergeants-
alarms. doorkeepers. pages and
Janitors. Negroes have usually
held one or more Of these jobs.
Some Of those who have held leg
ialAtiye jobs are BuTie CarmIchel.
Jr. Mrs. Ethel Ray Nance. Bert
Shannon. Mrs Annette Hatton
Robinson, cy Bockinstoi and the
Rev. Simmons Of Duluth. In the
current session there In only one
Negro employee. 3. Edward Han
Of 81 Paul, . sergeant In the Sen
ate gallery.
The writer Of this column held
the important position Of House
Index Clerk during the 1897 ses-
sion This is one Of the elective
Executive Officers positions In the
House Of Representatives. The In
dsx Clark has the responsibility Of
keeping the Official record Of
every bill presented from the
Speakers Desk He records any
action on the bdIl. its progress and
final disposition His official re-
cord In available 10 the members
IL the house, the press and the
general pubic.
The Rsapportionmcnt BIN. un-
DER consideration In the current
session would give Minneapolis
atx and 81 Paul two additional
ssatS In the House Of Rspresenta-
tfveA UndOubtsdly, these ad4itioa-
al seats win prove Of interest 10
Nevrrs Nr.g~~m