The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1906-11-22
"a OUR OWN COUNTRY.

The first Negro State Fair ever held
was opened az Macon. Ca, on the 18Th.
An opening address was made by Mr..
Booker I. Washington. A good dis
play OF agricultural products, Negro
inventions. women's work, fine arts,
slavery relies and handiwork OF the
crafts Is reported.
A short time ago a number OF ne
goes belonging to negro companies
IN the United States Army. shot up
the town OF Brownsville. Tex. killing
and woundlng people OF that place.
Every effort was made to find out
who the guilty men were. but with
out success. No one 81 the soldiers
would give any Information 10 help
point ont the criminals. On this nc
count President Roosevelt ordered the
dishonorabie discharge of the entire
battalion Of negro troops. A storm
OF protest has come up against this
action and Secretary Taft has stop
ped the discharge OF the soldiers until
the President returns next Sunday
or Monday. For our part q seems
that the action OF the president was
right II Is not a pleasant thing 90
tell" on a comrade. but when muir
der Is committed Il is too serious
a crime 20 be defended even by sill
ence. The whole battalion became
partners I'm the crime. 1T was no long
er safe 10 have such soldiers In the
army. President Roosevelt would
have discharged them Just as quick
or quicker II they had been white
men instead OF colored.
Ferdinand L. Barnett. a negro law
yer OF Chicago who has been assist
ant State Attornty for several years,
was nominated by the republicans
for the office OF Judge in the city
court. This nomination was made 90
hold the negro vote. but with the
expectation that he would not be cleo ,
ed. He was elected. however, and no '
the republican newspapers are de-
handing that he resign because he
IL negro. Shame on them.
Governor Hoke Smith OF Georgia
will make his name one TO be hated
and Kissed at. by ali colored men and
all white men who believe I'm Justice
and fair play, II he keeps on in his
present course. Former Congressman
Fleming OF that state, charges that
In one OF his recent campaign speech
es he used words practically like
these: Il declare TO you, gentlemen,
II one OF the precincts In your county
should have seventy-five negro votes
and fifty white, and should II become
necessary. | would be favorable to
plan to reduce the population to nine
ty-nine." That Is good simple of
your "imperious and magnanimous
Anglo Saxon"
The New York Tribune Weekly Re
view OF November 18th prints an ar
ticle on the public school situation In
Chicago, which Is at the best foolish
and partly untrue. II quotes some OF
Chicago's newspapers In their clamor
against the present school board and
its plans and seems to believe their
lies. The truth is a little nearer this:
The newspapers which are opposing
the school board are doing so because
they are In danger OF losing somybig
graft money they have been getting
from II In the past. Wit a number of
honest and wise people In Il the Chi
cago Board OF Education has had a
FOUL history of corruption, bossism,
intrigues and graft, under the lead
ership OF Honest Tom Brennan"
who died a few years ago. The re-
lations between the CITY Superinten-
dent OF Schools. Edwin G. Cooley. and
the teachers, have been those OF gar
and subject. The Tribune takes the
position that he Onoht TO know more
about what sh~'' dona In the
schools than the thousands of teachers
under him all together. The positions
OF the teachers have been practically
In hts hands. They have been mark |
ed. by secret system bv him and the |
assistant superintendents. School
books were recommended IN tho |