The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1909-10-07

Washington, d. G., October s.
The Hiawatha Theatre had it's
premier last night, and gave three
splendid shows to capacity audienc-
es, representing the best society Of
the capital. The house seats three
hundred, but when the last perfor-
mance was announced. several hun
dred eager men, women" and children
were left outside. A new set Of mo-
ton pictures was exhibited, the
Lyric Orchestra gave number Of
catchy selections, T.. Spencer Finley.
comedian par excellence, presented
budget Of up-to-date witticisms and
was compelled to respond to encore
after encore In: his topical songs.
George E. Battle presided with great
erect at the piano and will be g. fea-
ture OF the Hiawatha stock for some
time. The theatre will be a success,
and bids fair to revolutionize all
time honored traditions in Negro
theatr1cals. The decorations are dis
t1nctively Indian. Two fine paintings
representing =. "Hiawatha's" wooing
or "Minnehaha,' by w. Raphael
Winston, a noted Negro artist, adorn
the lobby, and the proscenium is or
namented with typical canoe and
feast-day scenes, together with In
dian busts and statutettes Mana
gers Murray, Reyes and Easley are
delighted with the outlook.
The Brownsville Board of Inquiry,
having in charge the investigation Of
the shooting.up Of the celebrated
Texas town, held an important ses-
sion last week. 1T is expected that
the examination Of witnesses will be-
GIN shorty. Attorneys Gilchrist
stewart and N. B. Marshall say they
nave located all but three or four
Of the members of the DISCHARGED ba-
talon. -.
The local Negro Business League
Will hold It's monthly meeting &C the
, x. M, g. ~ next Mon.
day evening. Much =. dissatisfaction
was engendered by the attempt to
GUST Architect John A. Langford
from membership in the body, and it
Is claimed that the action Of the body
eliminating him was taken without
the presence Of quorum. An eff
tort VIII BE made Monday evening
TO right the wrong done Mr.. Langford
who founded the organization and
gave 1T national prominence. In all
probability the irregular action of the
last meeting will be rescinded by the
vote Of quorum, The local league
mas fine opportunity for usefulness
II conducted along the line Of fair
play and the refusal to be swayed by
Tact1onal narrowness. President
Plttman ts young man Of high
ideals and his friends will sustain
him in any policy looking to the sup
preston Of the reactionary Influences
which seek the destruction of the or
ganization.
by direction Of President Taft and
upon application Of First Sergeant
Charles Daniels, Seminole Negro In.
olan Scouts, that soldier will he plac-
ed on the retired list. Paragraph IT
special order No. 1879, June IT,,
1909, issued by the War Department,
Is amended to read as follows: Mai
John r. Lynch, paymaster, will re-
port to Col. Edward B. Pratt, Thir-
tieth Infantry, president Of the army
retiring board. at San Francisco, at
such time as may be designated by
him TORI examinati on.
Major Lynch is one Of the few coll
ored officers of the United States
Army, and has been on leave of abb
sence for several weeks. He served
long tour or duty In the Philippines
and was subsequently stationed at
san francisco. He has been attach
ed to the pay department since 1898,
beginning at the outbreak Of the
Spantsh-American war, leaving a lu-
cratiYe law practice in Washington.
Before that he had served az auditor
for the Navy Department under Pres
1oent Harrison, and had represented
the 'shoestring district" Of Missis-
slppt In Congress for a number of
years. He was temporary chairman
of the Republican national conven.
zion IN l884~-the body that nominal
ed Blaine for president-beine the
first and only eolored man to be 80
honored. He was named for the
place through the influence of Theo-
dore Roosevelt.
Major Lynch is sixty-two years of
age, and ordinarily would have two
more years Of service before retire
ment. His record in the army se
without blemish.
II. Paulus aannon, Haitian minis