St. Paul's Pioneering Lawyers—Page 4

The African-American Community and the Cuba Pageant of 1898

Page 15 Winter, 1999 Volume 33, Number 4

Timber, Steel, Law, Politics St. Paul’s Pioneering Lawyers—Page 4

The signing of the Briand-Kellogg Pact in Paris on August 27, 1928. Frank B. Kellogg is seated at the table. This copy of a painting of the historic event is from the Minnesota Historical Society. See article beginning on page 4. RAMSEY COUNTY HISTORY Executive Director ■W" "W" RAMSEY COUNTY Priscilla Famham Editor Virginia Brainard Kunz History RAMSEY COUNTY Volume 33, Number 4 Winter, 1999 HISTORICAL SOCIETY BOARD OF DIRECTORS Laurie A. Zenner CONTENTS Chair Howard M. Guthmann 3 Letters President James Russell 4 Timber, Steel, Law, and Politics First Vice President Anne Cowie Wilson St. Paul’s Pioneering Attorneys and Second Vice President Their More Interesting Cases Richard A. Wilhoit Secretary Samuel H. Morgan Ron Zweber Treasurer 1 4 More About the Life and Times of Frank B. Kellogg W. Andrew Boss, Peter K. Butler, Charlotte H. John M. Lindley Drake, Mark G. Eisenschenk, Joanne A. Eng- lund, Robert F. Garland, John M. Lindley, Ju­ 1 5 ‘300 Afro-American Performers’ dith Frost Lewis, George A. Mairs, Marlene Marschall, Richard T. Murphy, Sr., Bob Olsen, The Great Cuba Pageant of 1898 Linda Owen, Fred Perez, Marvin J. Pertzik, And the Struggle for Civil Rights Vicenta D. Scarlett, Glenn Wiessner, Charles H. Wilhams, Jr.. Dave Riehle EDITORIAL BOARD 21 Growing Up in St. Paul John M. Lindley, chair; Thomas H. Boyd, Thomas C. Buckley, Pat Hart, Virginia Brainard Eleanor Joins the Family at the Fish Hatchery Kunz, Thomas J. Kelley, Tom Mega, Laurie Murphy, G. Richard Slade, Vicenta Scarlett, Muriel Mix Hawkins Laurie Zenner. 23 Books HONORARY ADVISORY BOARD Elmer L. Andersen, Olivia I. Dodge, Charlton Dietz, William Finney, Otis Godfrey, Jr., Publication of Ramsey County History is supported in part by a gift from Robert S. Hess, Fred T. Lanners, Jr., D. W. Clara M. Claussen and Frieda H. Claussen in memory of Henry H.Cowie, Jr. “Don” Larson, George Latimer, Frank and by a contribution from the late Reuel D. Harmon Marzitelli, Joseph S. Micallef, Robert Mirick, Samuel Morgan, Marvin J. Pertzik, J. Jerome Plunkett, James Reagan, Solly Robins. Ros­ A Message from the Editorial Board alie E. Wahl, Donald D. Wozniak. he winter issue of Ramsey County History opens with a fascinating account RAMSEY COUNTY COMMISIONERS of how some pioneering lawyers who were involved in cases relating to the Commissioner Rafael Ortega, chairman T Commissioner Susan Haigh timber and steel industries helped shape and change the practice of law and pol­ Commissioner Tony Bennett itics in Minnesota. Written by Samuel H. Morgan, a retired St. Paul attorney, Commissioner Dino Guerin Commissioner Victoria Reinhardt this article ranges from President Theodore Roosevelt persuading Frank B. Kel­ Commissioner Janice Rettman logg and Cordenio A. Severance to represent the government in key anti-trust Commissioner Jan Wiessner cases in the first decade of this century to the great 1962 election recount in­ Terry Schütten, manager, Ramsey County volving incumbent governor Elmer L. Anderson and his challenger, lieutenant Ramsey County History is published quar­ governor Karl F. Rolvaag. terly by the Ramsey County Historical David Riehle’s article examining the reaction of the African-American com­ Society, 323 Landmark Center, 75 W. Fifth Street, St. Paul, Minn. 55102 (651-222- munity in St. Paul to the fighting in Cuba in 1898 reminds us that the struggle of 0701). Printed in U.S.A. Copyright, 1999, African-Americans in Minnesota to obtain full civil rights didn’t begin in the Ramsey County Historical Society. ISSN 1960s. By using information culled from the pages of St. Paul’s articulate and Number 0485-9758. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reprinted influential African-American newspaper, The Appeal, Riehle demonstrates that or otherwise reproduced without written the decision to go to war with Spain in 1898 brought out complex reactions permission from the publisher. The Soci­ from the local African-American community. What Riehle finds in the cover­ ety assumes no responsibility for statements made by contributors. Fax 651-223-8539; age of the pageant in The Appeal is clear-cut ambivalence as to the meaning of e-mail address [email protected].; web site the war for the civil rights of African-Americans in St. Paul. address www.rchs.com John M. Lindley, Chair, Editorial Board

2 RAMSEY COUNTY HISTORY ‘300 Afro-American Performers’ The Great Cuba Pageant of 1898: St. Paul’s Citizens Support the Struggle for Civil Rights

Dave Riehle

ore than 100 years ago the African-Americans. Cuban patriots had United States went to war with begun a renewed struggle for indepen­ Spain after the battleship USS dence from Spain several years prior to M the declaration of war. To see the United Maine sank in Havana harbor. What ac­ tually caused the explosion that scuttled States ostensibly intervening on the side the Maine has been intermittently de­ of the predominantly Afro-Cuban popu­ bated, but never resolved. The four- lation in their battle for democracy and month-long official war quickly receded independence implied to some, and not to a blip in American memory, along only to blacks, that the American govern­ with the brutal pacification of the Philip­ ment might again champion the cause of pines by American soldiers that followed American citizens of African descent. in 1899. Mark Twain’s searing denuncia­ However, some white supremacists, such tion of U.S. “pirate-raids in . . . the as the widow of Confederate President Philippines”1 was not reprinted for Jefferson Davis, condemned the war as decades. an expedition on behalf of the “miserable While the complex forces that con­ mulatto race” of revolutionary Cubans.5 tended in and around the war were African-American hopes for change quickly forgotten in the United States, and progress were extinguished over they remained a smoldering memory for General Antonio Maceo, the “Afro-Ameri­ time, as invading Americans brought many Cubans and Filipinos in the century can” revolutionary known as the “Bronze their white racism along with them to the that followed. Left in American popular Titan” and still revered in Cuba as a national relatively integrated society of Cuba, and consciousness are Teddy Roosevelt and hero. From the June 18, 1898, edition of The U.S. armed forces crushed the indepen­ Appeal. This and other illustrations with this dence movement in the Philippine Is­ the Rough Riders charging up San Juan article are from the Minnesota Historical So­ lands.6 But at first there was almost eu­ Hill, Admiral Dewey’s squadron, the ciety’s collections. legacy of soldiers’ statues standing si­ phoria as African-Americans in St. Paul lently in countless city parks and village and elsewhere embraced all things Cuban squares throughout this country, and not with great enthusiasm, expressed in a va­ much else. Perhaps one benefit of the ob­ guson upholding segregated schools in riety of ways in almost every issue of The servation of the centennial of the Span­ Louisiana, it was clear to many observers Appeal. ish-American War will be a renewed of racial politics that inequality was or­ • Mrs. J.Q. Adams hosted a “Cuban tea” awareness of the many elements that in­ dained as national policy. at her home with 75 present.7 tersected so intensely a century ago. Each setback was chronicled with • The “Santiago Glee club” presented a At the end of the nineteenth century, burning indignation by St. Paul’s out­ concert program by talented African political and social forces in the United standing African-American newspaper, Americans at St. Paul’s Mozart Hall.8 States seemed to have combined to re­ The Appeal.3 As African-Americans all • An advertisement asked “Will We lentlessly drive back the advances across the country sought ways to resist C-U-B-A- Masquer at the Party?”9 African-Americans had made following and reverse this counter-revolution, the African-Americans focused great en­ the Civil War in personal and political active and well-educated leadership of thusiasm and admiration on the figure of freedoms. Two decades after the federal the St. Paul African-American commu­ the great Afro-Cuban revolutionary, An­ government’s abandonment of Recon­ nity collaborated in efforts to develop tonio Maceo.10 Known as the “Bronze struction in 1876, Jim Crow legislation new national civil rights organizations Titan,” Maceo, still revered in Cuba codified segregation in nearly all spheres and created their own locally based ini­ today as a national hero, as he has been of life. Legislation and extra-legal terror­ tiatives.4 for this entire century, was the second-in- ism2 were the means for disenfranching The United States’ declaration of war command of the Cuban army of indepen­ many southern blacks. With the Supreme against Spain in April, 1898, initially of­ dence. The image and example of Maceo Court’s 1896 decision in Plessy vs Fer- fered a glimmer of hope to beleaguered sank deep roots into the African-Ameri-

RAMSEY COUNTY HISTORY 15 condemned the crimes committed in the mounting assault on African-Americans. Attorney Frederick McGhee chaired a large community protest meeting held at St. Paul’s Pilgrim Baptist Church shortly after in response to this assault.15 Those in attendance passed resolutions de­ nouncing the murders and calling upon the federal government to identify and prosecute the perpetrators. The meeting bitterly condemned the government’s failure to intervene against lynching, even when, as here, a federal institution was directly assaulted.16 The Repeal re­ ported on March 26: Since the 4th day of March, 1897,149 Afro- American17 citizens have suffered cruel deaths at the hands of Southern mobs, [and] not one of the participants as been appre­ hended or punished by the government. . . Frazier B. Baker died bravely at his post in the performance of his duty as a man and an officer of the government he served, which was duty bound to protect him. The protest meeting condemned the “temporizing and subservient policy of UNCLE SAM—I CAN'T LET SPAIN LOAD THE LITTLE FELLOW DOWN LIKE THA1V the administration” in refusing to act and The Cubans’ plight, as seen by The Appeal in its October 22, 1898, edition. called upon President McKinley to seek legislation giving “colored citizens and colored officials of the United States the can community. Looking at a front-page American pronunciation: May-see-oh. fair and equal protection of the laws.” To portrait of “General Antonio Maceo,” This was a secret pleasure and today that end, The Appeal reported, a call was with his clearly African features, in the there are American blacks who do not adopted for a “state-wide convention of June 18, 1898 issue of The Appeal, one know how they came to be named Afro-Americans” in the near future. can almost feel an electric current. Maceo.”13 The resulting American Law Enforce­ From that time forward “Maceo” has While elected African-American of­ ment League of Minnesota proclaimed been a familiar given name for African- fice holders in the South were being that “we are tens of millions of people American males, although entirely ab­ steadily eliminated through disenfran­ with heart enough, with brain enough, sent from the non-Hispanic white com­ chisement of African-American voters, and with arms long and strong enough— munity.11 For example, two outstanding others who held office by federal ap­ if the forces they represent be com­ St. Paul union leaders, Maceo Finney and pointment were removed by lynching bined—to move the world.”18 Maceo Littlejohn, were both bom at the and mob violence. In February, 1898, a “We have resolved,” the League said tum-of-the-century. Even the female white mob assaulted and burned the U.S. in a statement distributed to the delegates “Maceola” made an appearance.12 For post office at Lake City, South Carolina. of a national Baptist convention in years, advertisements appeared in Twin Postmaster Frazier Baker and his infant Kansas City that year, “that Jim Crow Cities African-American newspapers for child were burned alive in the fire and his must go, that inferior accommodations the “Maceo Club” in Minneapolis. wife and daughter were shot and maimed with first class fare [are] unjust and dis­ According to Cuban-American writer by the attackers.14 African-American criminating; that the recent revision of its Jose Yglesias, “Maceo was not and is not postmasters, appointed by Republican Constitution by the Legislature of Mis­ known by Americans, but he was known administrations, were particular targets sissippi, disenfranchising Negroes; that by blacks in the terrible Reconstruction for white retaliation, not only as holders the 14th and 15 th Amendments be en­ years, particularly by Southern blacks of important positions in the community, forced both in letter and in spirit. . . ” who had few safe opportunities to ex­ but also because the post offices served The officers of the organization whose press their pride in themselves. They as the distribution points for Northern names were attached to the statement in­ named their boys Maceo and gave it the black newspapers, which exposed and cluded African-American attorney W. R.

16 RAMSEY COUNTY HISTORY Morris, J. Q. Adams, Frank Wheaton Cuban plantation, along with revolution­ (who would be elected to the Minnesota ary generals Maceo and Gomez. What Legislature in November), and thirty- were presumed to be the liberating power two-year old recording secretary Charles and benign intentions of the U.S. expedi­ James (who a year later would begin a tionary force stood alongside McGhee’s long and remarkable career as a Min­ pointed speech about the righteous ven­ nesota union leader). geance of the oppressed.22 In November of 1898 African-Ameri­ The tensions inherent in this melange o cans in St. Paul carried out an astonish­ of disparate artistic, cultural, and political ingly ambitious project designed to raise themes emerged soon after in a prolonged funds for the League which identified debate over the producers’ decision to in­ their cause with the war in Cuba, and, sert the “cakewalk” into the program. more subtly, with its subtext, the struggle Journalist J.C. Reid was the primary of a people of African descent for their critic. In 1899 Reid became the editor of freedom and independence.19 Written another Twin Cities African-American and managed by Mrs. Cora Pope, the newspaper, the Minneapolis Afro-Ameri­ wife of an African-American U.S. Army can Advance, formed out of the merger of veteran, the production placed hundreds two other African-American newspapers, of talented African-Americans on stage and he forcefully expressed views similar Frederick McGhee. Photo from The Appeal. to sing, act, dance, cakewalk and declaim to those he articulated in this debate.23 in a pageant of solidarity with Cuba “... the public naturally expected ‘in­ and freedom. At its climax Frederick tellectual brilliancy’ to shine as it did McGhee delivered a speech in the char­ evening of November 10. Advertised as never before in the Northwest,” Reid acter of General Maceo who “recounted “Cuba—A Drama of Freedom... benefit wrote. “And the performers did credit to the wrongs of his country, and called of the American League of Minnesota... themselves from the above point of view, upon his followers to avenge them.”20 with Music, Art, Drama, Comedy— with one exception, which caused the To achieve the widest support and ac­ 300 Afro-American performers—Grand, whole to pass into history as an unpol­ ceptance within the entire community, Beautiful, Patriotic,” it included a cake ished affair.”24 and no doubt to enhance the success of walk and the “M arseilles,“Der Wacht That exception, Reid said, was the the fund-raising goals, the organizers am Rhine” sung in German; Liberty and “cakewalk.”25 sought broad endorsement from wealthy her maids, and a depiction of a battle in “There is no need for outlining the families in both Minneapolis and St. Paul, Cuba, among other tilings. moral, social and intellectual value the as well as even broader support and par­ The program consisted of four acts: public places upon the ‘cakewalker’ ” he ticipation from the African-American the first, a pageant in which Liberty and said. “While it enjoys it, its innermost community. The organizers chose to her maidens carried compassion to Cuba, thoughts are: ‘all coons are alike.’” make the supporters of record entirely along with flower girls and women in Reid argued that “frivolity”such as the women. armor, then sailed to Spain to plead for cakewalk only reinforced stereotypes of Supporters were divided into two the island’s oppressed subjects. Then, in all African-Americans as an improvident groups: “Honorary Patronesses” (white) successive acts, came a depiction of life people “who live only to amuse and to be and “Active Patronesses” (African-Amer­ in Cuba, with scenes of life in the sugar amused.” Situating his argument in the ican) and both, in the usage of the time, fields, singing and dancing “by Cubans recent savage mob assaults on Southern were identified by their husbands’ names. and Negroes” coming home from the blacks, Reid expressed both a sense that The two groups composed the elite of plantation fields, the formation of revolu­ African-Americans had to demonstrate to their respective communities. The names tionary conspiracy in the hills led by the dominant white society that his liter­ listed are familiar to those acquainted Maceo, and then the battle of Santiago ate and cultured social group—“All of us with the early history of the African- and the American victory. Finally, dele­ who are regarded to be lights among American community: Hilyard, Hickman, gations of the nations of the world gath­ us”—deserved to be accepted as equals, Adams, McGhee, and Francis, as well as ered for a celebration of freedom in the and at the same time a bitter frustration at many others. The white honorary pa­ new Republic of Cuba. The response to the unanswered murders in the South. In tronesses included members of the Pills- the pageant was so positive that the orga­ an unmistakable reference to another re­ bury, Northrup, Peavey, Lowry, and nizers held several encore performances cent Southern atrocity, Reid’s anger Weyerhaeuser families.21 later in the month. boiled over: The program was performed first at Clearly the production represented an “The memory of our brothers who are the Lyceum Theater in Minneapolis on intersection of many levels of conscious­ being butchered daily in the South should November 3 and 4, and then at the Metro­ ness. Somehow, “Uncle Rasmus” and ever be green, for the deadly odor of the politan Opera House in St Paul on the “Sambo” made an appearance on the so-called justified crimes committed in

RAMSEY COUNTY HISTORY 17 the South is slowly but surely setting the The Santiago Glee Club whites of the North against us . . . When the Afro-Americans in the south learns the power of individuality they will not submit to being tied up in bunches and lONGEIt PROGRAMME, shot to death as they did recently without taking a few white ‘friends’ along with Thursday Eva., Sept. 15, 1808. them to the next world.”26 Two writers, both women who had a t iv io za rt Sh a l l , participated in the pageant, answered Reid’s criticism the following week. Al­ ■ Cor. Sixth and Franklin Streets, St. Paul. though it could be “vulgarized just as any —— I* Honor *f——— other form of amusement may be,” the cakewalk was described as a “brilliant, grace-displaying art form,” and one Mr.C. Herbert Browne, Jr. which white society had adopted at their own social functions. In fact, according OPENING—F irst Part. to one of the letter writers, Mrs. Freder­ ick McGhee, “refined and cultured” 1. Song- Recital.»...... „».»»».»». ..»»»...».».....S&ntUffo Club Quartette Messrs. Louis White, Isaac Jenkins, W a, E. Harris, Cyrus W. Wilson. African-Americans had only undertaken X Testimonial Addreu»»».».»..»»...»..»...»»»».>»....H 0it. J. Trank Wheaton to cakewalk after “society people” X Soprano Solo—Selected...... Miss Marie Louise Harwell Piano Accompanist—Mrs. Titos. R. King. (whites) with centuries of “morals, edu­ A Recitation—Selected »...... Master Ralph G. Galloway cation, property and refinement” had X Cornet Solo...... Master Edward English 6. Soprano Solo—“Only Me” ...... Little Mias Beatrice Galloway done so. “We are all aware that the cake­ 7 . Recitation—‘‘The Polish Boy”...... Mrs. I. Norman Jenkins walk has its associations (but) the writer 8. Piano Recital—Selected...... »...... — ...... Mr. La Payette Mason 9. Address— Selected.»...»...... ».....„.»».Hon. Fredrick L- McGhee of this article never knew of its coming 10. Tenor Solo...»...... ».»»..Mr, Bradley Walher into prominence until Mr. W. K. Vander­ Mr. L. Mason, Accompanist. U . TVio.,rr -.,n-i -,TT ...... From Grand Opera bilt gave a ‘cakewalk’ at his home in Misa Hattie Shephard and Messrs. CUaude Jackson and Allen French, Jr. New York City.”27 “The cakewalk,” Mattie McGhee ar­ lutenutaakm"—Teii.MhmtOT— Orcheatra Numbers. gued, “has been placed on a standard SECOND PART. with other dances, and now that it has, if 1. ReciUtion—Selected...... Mr. C. Herbert Browne, Jr it is proving such a ‘calamity’ to the race X French Recitation.».»;__ ».»..»»»------...» ------.Mr. Harry Bryant, Jr with which it will forever be identified, X Sketch—1 Act.»».»».»...... Laughing Content a la Comique Lord Byron Tyler, Mr. Herbert Browne and Mr. Claude Jackaon. we would suggest that a few attacks be made on Mr. Vanderbilt for leading us The Club requests and cordially in-rites all to come if convenient in fail into temptation.” dress. Each lady will receive a souvenir. Admission cards may te had of Besides, she reminded Reid, the any above represented or at Golden Rule and the Appeal office in Sfc Psnl and Minneapolis. Half price for those under IS years. 'The concert will whole production was created to “add to positively begin at 8 p. m. Chartered car for Minneapolis people. the prosperity of the American Law En­ forcement League.” THE SANTIAGO GLEE OLUB. “I would add,” she concluded, “that M x. Claudi* J ackson...... Musical Director, and Secretary the production of ‘Cuba’ has done more M i, H bxbext Brow ns...... »...... President and Maiutger M ax T . R odney K in g and Mx. L . Mason...... »...... »...... »».»»..»..Pianists to elevate the colored people in the esti­ mation of the whites in the Northwest RECEPTION COMMITTEE. than all the combined efforts of the race- loving people of the Twin Cities, for the Mr. Herbert Browne, Dr. Val Do Turner, Mr. Clande Jackaon, Dh Thomas 8. Cook, Mr. Delbert Lae, Mr. Philip Hale. participants didn’t meet, elect officers and resolve, and then dissolve, but then Promenade Concert Until 1:30 a. m. After Regular Program. went to work and by their combined ef­ MUSIC BY SANTIAGO ORCHESTRA. forts gave a performance that has ex­ celled by far any of its kind ever given by those who acknowledge themselves our Ttokits, 50 Gte. - - GhlMreH, 25 6ts. superior race.” The Santiago Glee Club’s concert program presented by African-American singers at St. The debate did not end here. Reid Paul’s Mozart Hall on September 15, 1898. From The Appeal for September 10, 1898. replied in the next issue of The Appeal

18 RAMSEY COUNTY HISTORY that he was surprised that Mattie McGhee more able manner and awarded the con­ The fate of others in the African dias­ did not agree with him. Even though the test to him.31 pora was never far away from the con­ participants were “the moral and intellec­ No further public debate seems to sciousness of African-Americans, and an tual lights among local Afro-Ameri­ have occurred. The underlying issue, of awareness of the centuries-old legacy of cans,” Reid said he did not see any differ­ course, was not and could not be re­ struggle had deep roots. Consequently, ence between a cakewalk by “the colored solved. Whether to accommodate to the from the middle of the nineteenth century 400” and those of less prominence. The dominant white society or to organize in­ into at least the late 1930s, the anniver­ problem, he said, was that “no white man dependently could be stated, abstractly, sary of the 1837 emancipation of African ever looked at a cakewalk unless he as clear alternatives. In life, such a differ­ slaves in the British West Indies was thought of its origin. Our unfortunate an­ entiation was infinitely more compli­ commemorated every August in St. Paul, cestors amused their masters in the hated cated. Reid’s and McGhee’s arguments and undoubtedly elsewhere, as well. ante-bellum days with the cakewalk... It each palpably contained elements of Similarly it is hardly necessary to men­ is reasonable to think that when the negro both. In a microcosm they expressed the tion the numerous acknowledgements of amuses our enlightened peers that every­ same dilemma personified in the two the revolutionary self-emancipation of thing connected with ante-bellum days African-American poles of attraction and Haiti.32 darts like lightning through their heart opposition of that time, W. E. B. Du Bois Not for the first or last time, develop­ and brain. What we want to do is put and Booker T. Washington. Frederick ments from beyond the borders of the down everything that was ever connected McGhee himself was far from being an United States gave African-Americans in with slavery. We want to forget those accommodationist of the Washington Minnesota new hope, and showed them days and not forever parade them before type, and in fact was a key collaborator of the possibility of hitherto unconsidered the public.” No progress will come from DuBois’s in organizing the Niagara allies. Just as the colonial revolutions fol­ “imitating the white man” Reid argued, movement, the forerunner to the National lowing World War II gave renewed im­ or by “grinning, joking and closed eyes. Association for the Advancement of Col­ petus to the civil rights movement of the We will have to create our own examples ored People. 1950s and 1960s, the struggle of a pre­ if we expect to be an honored and re­ It would be presumptuous in the ex­ dominantly African people in the spected race.”28 treme to attempt to pass judgment on the Caribbean in the 1890s aroused new con­ Reid then closed by suggesting that it choices made by these African-American fidence, energy, and determination in was “imprudent” of him to continue his leaders a hundred years ago. Under re­ African-Americans in the United States debate with women, and that further dis­ lentless political, economic, social and at perhaps the nadir of their existence fol­ cussion should be among males. His sug­ psychological pressures, they sought to lowing the Civil War. The inspiration of gestion was answered, promptly in The survive and find a way forward within the the Afro-Cuban revolutionary struggle Appeal's next issue by Mattie McGhee, circumstances in which they found them­ had unmistakenly galvanized the unprece­ who told him that she felt “able to hold selves. The people who organized and dented effort that was the Cuba pageant. her own” in the discussion, and was quite participated in the Great Cuba pageant by At a time when the entire African-Ameri­ willing to carry on with the debate on. and large accepted the values of the dom­ can population of St. Paul was probably However, in view of Reid’s expressed re­ inant society as legitimate, with the ex­ less than 2,000, organizing and rehears­ luctance, Frederick McGhee volunteered ception of the sea of irrational race preju­ ing more than 300 performers on stage, to participate in a public debate.29 dice in which they always were and hundreds or thousands more in the The heated debate went on in subse­ immersed. Stripped of political rights and audiences, was an amazingly successful quent issues. Reid’s other opponent in reduced to virtual peonage in the South, accomplishment.33 It seems evident that die original exchange, a high school stu­ isolated from a hostile or indifferent the activities of the American Law En­ dent named Marie Armstrong, upbraided labor movement, and existing only in rel­ forcement League, and the earlier Min­ him for dismissing her as a mere school­ atively small numbers in northern cities, nesota Afro-American League, founded girl. Even though she was “simply a stu­ it often must have been hard for many in 1892, especially as expressed in the dent,” there was no doubt on her part that African-Americans to see any possible person of Frederick McGhee, must have she also could “hold her own without ap­ amelioration of their status other than to contributed to the body of experience pealing to the legislature.”30 seek grudging acceptance from the white drawn on in the formation of the National Finally, in early February Reid and elite. Even so, the veins of another tradi­ Association for the Advancement of Col­ McGhee agreed to argue the question “Is tion of racial independence always ran ored People in 1910, and its predecessor, the Cakewalk Detrimental to the Afro- through this pattern of conciliation and the Niagara Movement, in which American?” before a large crowd at accommodation. Thus the existence of McGhee played a large part.34 Bethesda church in Minneapolis. After St. Paul organizations such as Nat Turner The Cuba pageant has been forgotten both men had spoken, the nine judges ap­ Lodge No. 2 of the Knights of Pythias, for a century.35 Even though it is ulti­ pointed for the occasion decided that the John Brown Memorial Association mately only an episode in the history of a McGhee had presented his view in a and the Toussaint L’Overture Dramatic people and a city, the story is a tribute to Club all testified to another awareness. the creativity and tenacity of those who

RAMSEY COUNTY HISTORY 19 saw the opportunity to intervene in a new Tempe: ASU Center for Latin American 26. A white riot in Wilmington, N.C. in situation in order to advance their own Studies, Arizona State University, 1995. November, 1898 killed eleven African- interests and who had the audacity and 14. Appeal, March 26,1898, p. 1. Americans and wounded twenty-five. Similar ability to carry it out. 15. McGhee, described by W.E.B. Du sentiments were expressed by the militant Bois as “brilliant,” was a key participant in African-American journalist T. Thomas For­ the formation of the Niagara Movement, the tune. An infuriated Fortune told a Washing­ NOTES predecessor to the National Association of ton, D.C., meeting he wished that “for the 30 Colored People. David Levering Lewis, colored men who were murdered in Wilm­ 1. Philip S Foner, Mark Twain Social W.E.B. DuBois, Biography o f a Race, ington 30 white assassins would fill their Critic. New York: International Publishers, 1868-1919. New York: Henry Holt & Co., graves.” Cleveland Gazette, December 24, 1975, p. 344. 1993. 1898, p.l 2. John Hope Franklin, From Slavery to 16. Here and two paragraphs below, Ap­ 27. Here and three paragraphs below, Ap­ Freedom, a History o f Negro Americans, 3rd peal, March 26,1898, p. 1. peal December 10,1898, p. 4. ed., New York: Alfred A Knopf, 1968, pp. 17. From the mid-1880s Adams and The 28. Appeal, December 17,1898, p. 4 324-343. Appeal used the term “Afro-American” in 29. Appeal, December 24,1998, p. 3 3. The Appeal, published from 1885— lieu of “Negro” or “colored.” Others did as 30. Appeal, December 31,1898, p. 4 1923, also published editions for Chicago and well. See: Appeal, March 28, 1914, p. 2, 31. Appeal, February 9,1899, p. 4 Louisville, Ky. From 1887-1922, it was “Afro-American Right Word.” 32. See St Paul Recorder, July 22, 1938, edited by John Q. Adams. See David V. Tay­ 18. Here and three paragraphs below, Ap­ urging attendance at an August 4 Emancipa­ lor, “John Adams and the Western Appeal: peal, September 17, 1898, pp 3-4. For tion Day picnic hosted by African-American Advocates of the Protest Tradition,” unpub­ Charles James, see David Riehle, “When Elks lodges. Such celebrations were reported lished master’s thesis, U. of Nebraska, 1971. Labor Knew a Man named Charles James— on annually in the St. Paul press after the end 4. Earl Spangler, The Negro in Minnesota. The Lost Story of an African-American Who of the Civil War. Minneapolis: T.S. Denison & Co., 1961, pp. Lead the St. Paul labor movement,” Union 33. African-Americans in St. Paul num­ 78-79. Advocate, December 22,1997, pp. 9-13. bered 1,492 in 1895 and 2,263 in 1900. See 5. Appeal, April 23,1898, p. 2. 19. A front page cartoon in the October David V. Taylor, “Pilgrim’s Progress: Black 6. Adams editorialized later that “There 22, 1898, Appeal depicts “Cuba” as a small, St. Paul and the Making of An Urban Ghetto, was no color barrier in Cuba until the Ameri­ ragged, dark-skinned figure clearly intended 1870-1930,” (Ph.D. diss.), University of cans came. With them they brought their hell­ to suggest African heritage. “Cuba” is being Minnesota, 1977, pp 22-23. ish color-prejudice and there has been trouble loaded down with a huge bundle labeled 34. McGhee died in 1912 in St Paul at the ever since.” Appeal, July 12,1902, p. 2. “debt” by Spain. The caption reads, “Uncle age of fifty-one. He had been legal director of 7. Appeal, September 3,1898, p. 3. Sam—I can’t let Spain load the little fellow the National Afro-American Council, a pre- 8. Appeal, September 10,1898, p. 3. down like that.” decesor of the NAACP. See Spangler, pp. 68, 9. Appeal, February 2,1899, p 4. 20. Pioneer Press, November 11, 1898, 86. 10. Antonio Maceo Grajales, bom in 1845 p. 8. 35. The only published reference to the to a Venezuelan mulatto and an Afro-Cuban 21. Appeal, November 12,1898, p. 3. Cuba pageant, other than contemporary woman, fought for Cuban independence from 22. See .Appeal, November 5, 10, 12, newspaper accounts, seems to be one para­ Spain and abolition of slavery beginning in 1898, Pioneer Press, November 6, 10, 1898 graph in a short pamphlet published by the 1868. After landing in Cuba with a liberation and Globe, November 9, 1898 for descrip­ Minneapolis Urban League in the 1920s. See force primarily composed of Afro-Cubans, tions of the program. Abraham L. Harris, Negro Population in Maceo was killed in battle with Spanish 23. See holdings of the Afro-American Minneapolis. Minneapolis: Minneapolis troops on December 7,1896. Advance, May 27,1899-November 17,1900, Urban League and Phyllis Wheatley Settle­ 11. A black political organization in Dal­ at the Minnesota Historical Society. ment House, ca 1927, p. 8. las, Texas, the Progressive Voters League, 24. Reid’s argument here and below was was led in the 1930s by Antonio Maceo made in a letter titled “A ‘Cuba’ Criticism”, Dave Riehle is a locomotive engineer who Smith. See Quintard Taylor, In Search o f the Appeal, December 3,1898, p. 4. has written frequently on Minnesota labor Racial Frontier, African Americans in the 25. The “cakewalk” played a major part in history for the St. Paul Union Advocate and American West 1528-1990. New York: introducing syncopation and other elements other publications. His article on Charles W.W. Norton & Co., 1998, p. 232. of African-American music and dance to James, an early African-American union 12. For “Maceola” see The Helper, St white audiences. But, presented primarily leader in St. Paul, was chosen as Best Human James AME Church Bulletin, July 9, 1916 through the medium of blackface performers Interest Story in 1997 by the International (Eva Bell Neal papers,Minnesota Historical in minstrel shows, it became a demeaning Labor Communications Association. Society). For an example of the white peo­ and humiliating spectacle in the eyes of many ple’s unfamiliarity with the given name educated African-Americans, for whom as­ “Maceo,” see St. Paul Pioneer Press July 30, similation into the dominant culture did not 1945, where Mr. Littlejohn is recorded as appear totally unrealistic. John Fordham, “Macy. O. Littlejohn” (“Negro Group Hears Jazz. London, New York, Stuttgart: Dorling, Report”). Kindersley, 1993 pp. 13-142. Langston 13. “Marti in Ybor City,” by Jose Ygle- Hughes and Milton Metzger, A Pictorial His­ sias, in Jose Marti in the United States: The tory of the Negro in America. New York: Florida Experience, ed Louis A Perez. Crown Publishers, Inc. 1963, pp. 252-253.

20 RAMSEY COUNTY HISTORY •f

99 - A Drama of Freedom....

BENEFIT OF

M y n League ot Minnesota.

TO REPRESENTED AT

WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY, LYCEUM THEATER. NOVEMBER 2d and 3d. Hennepin Are., near 7Mb* 'Minneapolis.

' « ' i ....WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY.. »•••* NOVEMBER 9th and lOtii- Cor. Tth *nd tVAbasha Sts., St. Paul.

MUSIC, AIT, ■ Dll AM A, COMEDT. p r iReserveO Seats. Galleru, Boxes and Looes, 41.00. 756, 506. 256, $8 and SIO.

The four-act pageant presented as a benefit for the American League of Min­ Secure Reserved Seats at‘the METKQPOWTAN MUSIC CO., Minneapolis, or CONOVER MUSIC CO., nesota in November, 1898. See Dave 8i.i*anl. £11 who^ifccure EXCHANGE TICKETS of Patronesses, Riehle’s article about St. Paul’s African- Performers or at Music, Book and Drug Stores can reserve, their seats American community and the Spanish- ON* DAY IN ADVANCE OF PEGUI.AR SALE. American War beginning on page 15■

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