The Washington bee., 1909-10-16
Hot Shot

In Washington newspaper, pub
lished somewhere and somehow,
there is an editorial directed at me,
captioned ''WHY WE DIDN'T, out
OF which these supposed editors ex-I
pect great favors no doubt, the con-
tempGbleness Of which is only meas
ured by the smallness of those whom
it assumes to defend, and we all
know they need a defense of the
kind and character that is not pos
sible in this mighty journal.
I do not propose that these edi-
tors. and | use the term advisedly,
shall clothe themselves at my ex-
peuse in a garb OF Immaculate white
ness. the sweetness and fragrance
of which shall reac hto the Franklin
School Building or any other cairn
from which. of late toemarks are
drawn along which we, the living
not chosen of the gods must walk;
otherwise I would pass it by.
Now. as to why this editorial IS
contemplate: First, let me say that
I represent no faction no clique no
teacherno aspirant, but just the plain
peasant Negro, and these editors
knew that [ alone am responsible
before they wrote the editorial in
question
Some time ago while talking to
the full editorial staff Of the Wash
ington American about a book that
I have written | mentioned the fact
that [ proposed to write a series Of
letters on the public schools of this
CITY, a rough outline of which was
then on my desk. I read these notes
to the full staff and force, and the
notes received their most hearty ap-
provaI; whereupOn | was requested
by them to give their paper the mat
ter for publication. Later, I was
again reminded, by the full force
and staff that the columns of the
WashingtonAmerican were still open
for The publication of my letter; but,
however, it would cost ME between
SIX and seven dollars which amount
declined to pay. Next the PROPOSE
ton was made to me. by the Editor
in-chief that | pay one-half of the
actual cost. which amount I also de-
clined to pay. Later | cut the ar
ticle to the size that appeared in The
Bee with no cost to myself, and
the Editor-in-chief of the Washing
ton American put the cost at four
dollars. one half of which | agreed
to pay, because as the Editor-in-chief
explained the paper was young and
Door and / have a kindly feeling
always for infant home indsutries.
Well. the first week after this agree
ment passed and the article did not
appear Second week ditto. have
some knowledge of the colored bro
ther in matters of this kind, so I
took notice" My article which had
been in the hands of these publish
erS for three weeks was being huCk-
stored (0 l Immediately called it
in, asking for an explanation | was
informed by the Editor-in-chief that
the article was a little rough and it
might give offense to some of their
friends | then suggested to the full
staff and force that they were a long
time in discovering the roughness of
the article and that | considered it
a plain case of cold feet. That was
my opinion then, but | now feel that
did the staff and force a great in
justice, for the following reason:
About the time this article was to
have been published and a price was
placed on its publication (S2), it
seems that subscriptions had been
backward and collections few. Our
landlord had become impatient wait
ing for his back renty the papers for.
dispossession were filed and served:
the sheriff came, but my article ap-
pearS to have beer a savior for the
Washington American. However, our
two dollar agreement was disdaiu-
fully aborgated; the back rent was
paid, and the Washington American
now has a home for thirty days
longer; hence this editorial attack
ing me with its misnomer "Why We
Didn't" which should have been
"Why We Did.
Mr. Editor. I would advise those
vino are holding this youthful edi-
torial staff and force up between