Washington District of Columbia

National Republican, January 22, 1870
Furnished by : John Sharp ©

This contemporary account of Michael Shiner appeared in the National Republican, a District of Columbia, newspaper in 1870. Michael Shiner in this article seems to have been out spoken on many issues of his day. Particularly noticeable in this newspaper account is Michael Shiner's support for Sayles J. Bowen (1813-1896) who was Mayor of Washington City, District of Columbia, from1868 to 1870. Mayor Bowen was one of the most controversial mayors in the history of the city, because of his outspoken support of emancipation and racial integration.
In the 1868 election, the city's black population voted in the District for the first time, and because of Bowens famous support of civil rights, he received very limited support from most white voters and overwhelming support from black ones. His margin of victory was extremely narrow over his Democratic rival , indeed the mayoral election was so close that it required a recount by the City Councils; however, while the count was still proceeding, the Republicans on the recount committee (The City Council included the most powerful Republican politician in the District, Alexander R. Shepherd who was also a friend of Michael Shiner.) publicly declared Bowen the winner and he took office.
Once elected, however, Mayor Bowen's activism startled even the more radical Republicans contingent that then dominated Congress. Mayor Bowen agitated for complete integration of the city's public school system and when this failed, he turned instead to constructing a network of schools specifically for ’persons of color,” diverting large sums of city funds and even providing $20,000 of his own hence Shiner's support for Bowen's pragmatic solution.

National Republican
January 22, 1870

THE DISORGANIZERS
Bread and Butter Brigade Meeting of the Disturbers at City Hall - The Bread and Butter
Crowd in Force - Censure on the Reform Meeting -
The Pot Calling the Kettle Black- Michael Duffy Pledges the
Irish Vote - Wisdom from Mike Shiner - The Corporation
Employees All Endorse Mr. Bowen of Course.
                                 While the meeting in Union League Hall was in progress
the corporation attorney; W.A. Cook; Henry Himber, commissioner of the First
ward; Wm. E. Nott,. Col. Perry, Carson Maurice Murphy. Commissioner of the
Forth ward; Edward Atkinson, commissioner of the Fifth ward, and several
hundred other corporation employees resolved to hold a meeting at the City Hall
and thither a portion of the crowd wended their way.
                                 The Aldermen's chamber was thrown open, and the bread-
and - butter crowd organized at 8: 30 o'clock, by choice Mr. D. Peck as chairman,
and E. Atkinson as secretary.

A SHINING LIGHT            Mike Shiner said he had been in the city 57 years, and had seen all
kind of strategy - Mason and Dixon's line, the fugitive slave bill, and all kinds of
iniquities in the nation. Gen. Jackson threatened to free the slaves in South
Carolina in 1832 if they didn't keep down their nullification principle. The men
who would be hypocrites and traitors to the Republican principles on account of
not getting corporate offices were not worth hell room. He would not let anyone
lead him away , and should always exercise his judgment whether voting for a
black man or white man and he should stick to Bowen . He did not believe in the
latter day saints, and would hold on to Mayor Bowen forever.
           Some were mad with Bowen because they would not let them go to bed
with him - eat at the same table with him. He blamed some of the Republicans
because they promised so much and did so little. He didn't want anyone to
promise him a favor especially to elevate him to the level of the Goddess of
Liberty on the Capitol. That's the idea! Do you understand eh? If any one wanted
his vote he mustn't promise too much. Don't you see?
           Mike entertained the meeting with his reminiscences of Washington. Tyler and
Fillmore had died politically because they were traitors. If such were the fate of
great men, what would become of such men as Crane, Crossman, Hatton and
Gaines? All were subject to making mistakes, but such mistakes were not likely to
occur again in the Republican Party.
           He opposed the movement inaugurated to have mixed schools, and said it was a
trap to break up the Republican Party. Sensible colored people would not try to
force such an issue upon the people of the District. White teacher for white
children - colored teachers for colored children; that was his motto.