The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1909-11-04


judgement Of the gentlemen DR..
washington has called around him,
and knowing as they do the forces
all over the country, we can rest as
tsured that no stone will be left un-
turned to enlist the aid Of all whose
training will be helpful to the work
In hand. The press will be kept con-
stantly advised Of the progress made
by the commission. Its first meeting
Is being held this week at Tuske-
gee.
Nothing Of a definite nature can
be learned touching the political sit
uat1on until the return of President
Tart. The new Office building is now
ready for him, and Secretary Carpen-
ter ls sitting on the lid, awaiting the
coming Of the chief. Rumors are
flying thick and fast. Confident as
sertions are made one day and are
hatly contradicted the next: nobody
knows anything. 1t is said, however,
that among the certainties is the
lspeedy recognition Of at least two
prominent cQlored men. They are
to have Offices Of national Importance
presumably at Washington-with
salary equal to the best that any
man Of the race is now getting, IL
not more. whether this means that
the present staff is to be disturbed,
or new places are to be found the
deponent sayeth not. One Of the
men said to be on the sure list is Mr..
j. G. Napier, Of Tennessee, one of the
best, cleanest and most popular race
leaders in the country He has serv-
ed his party faithfully, and has wait
ed long for the reward that should
now be his.
| President Taft could make no ap-
'polntment that would give larger
degree of satisfaction than that Of
Mr. sNap1eE. The second =, selection
said to be on the booka Is that of Mr..
Albert S. White, Kentucky's favorite
son. Like Mr.. Napier, Mr.. White
has rendered yoemen service for his
party, and up to this time has been
meagerly recognized. 1t is conceded
that mis- psychological moment has
arrived, and it Is probable that his
fellow citizens, ambitious as thew NAV
be, will give him a clear field for the
plum that is to go, by general con-
sent, to the Blue Grass State. Or
the southern commonwealth seeking
federal "pie,' there is a feeling that
tennessee and Kentucky will have
seats at the first table. Because of
th1s, the argus eye Of the race is
1ocussed on Messrs. Napier and
White.
When the slate Is made up, India
ma must not be overlooked; and the
same is true Of Ohio, Illinois, Missou-
ri, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New
York and perhaps other states. Most
Of these states have something to
their credit In an official way, but
they have not enough. They have
an abundance Of excellent timber
and the fellows who have borne the
burden in the heat Of the day want
a chance to bask in the limelight and
draw a salary that will repay them
for tho time and money spent 10
these many years. Space will not
permit personal discussion Of the
merits Of the various candidates. 1t
must be safely said that none Of them
IS over-modest. At the proper time
they Will be heard from, either In
person or through their political
packers. We shall have more to say
or them as they appear above the sur
race. The indications point to a
lively winter season hereabouts. The
travel toward Washington bids fair
to be heavy.
The public schools Of Washington
are in splendid condition. In branch
es taught, in capability of instructors
and in management, they rank with
the very best in the country. They
have fine buildings and elaborate
equipment for the, lines Of education
onered. This is true of both the
white and colored schools There Is
harmony and sympathetic co-opera-
ton between the white and the col
ored superintendents and between
Doth races and the board Of educa-
ton. Those who are usually making
inc russ over the co1ored schools are
usually sore because of some person.
al disappointment, or make o practice
OF complaining to keep themselves
prominently before the people, and
can find no other excuse for claiming
leadership. Assistant SuDerintend-
ent Roscoe Conkling Bruce Is a
scholar and a gentleman. He is Civ
= ing the schools a quality Of direction
: that they have never previously en-
1oyed, and the citizens are gradually
= awakening to the fact and are warm
ing up" to him in the most appre-
cldtlYe fashion. The teachers have
found that If they do their work they