The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1909-10-28
FRACTIONAL DIFFERENCES IN
WASHINGTON BRANCH CON
TIME TO APPEAR.
TheLedderS Area
Administration Forces Seek to Dis
credit the Founder OF the Orxani-
zntion, Presumably On Account Of
Envy Of His Success.
(HOrace D. Slatter.)

ltiOnal differences among the members
of the Washington Business League
THAT in spite of the efforts on the
part Of some of the leaders, would
crop out at the recent session of the
National League go on apace. In
spite of the insistent efforts Of the
members and friends Of The Pitman
faction, it does seen that after all
Architect John A. Langford is going
to get Justice at the hands Of his busl
ness and professional associates n the
IEistricu rf Columbia.
! One n~oninent business man a.ii
recently: ~ can see no reasol Why
Mr.. I.;n!fc:d should not have been
continued as the Representative #
the District of Columbia on the Off
ciary. No man has done more to
place the local organization on a firm
| footing, and no one has been more
active in stimulating and encourag-
ing young enterprises. While I re-
gard the whole thing as having been
exceedingly unfortunate and out of
place. l am firmly of the opinion that
! Mr.. Landlord acted clearly within his
rights il taking steps to protect the
results Of the wonderful efforts he has
made here in the District The whole
| fight OF Mr.. Landlord is petty and
childish"
All sensible men agree that Mir
Landlord has rights that even w. Sid
ney Pitman is bound to respect. and
one Of these rights is to be first
class architect, if he prefers. He has
other rights, rs sacred and as inviol-
able. the opinions of the President of
the local League to the contrary. not
TithstandinC. Unbiased people can
Tot see why Mr.. Landlord should not
be allowed to go on in the even tenor
# his way, doing all the good he can.
and if such be the national sequence
making all the money he can. Tn
biased people assume the same things
with reference to Mr. Pittman and are
hardly bothered about the young man,
so long as he is minding his own
business and permitting them to do
likewise.
Mr.. Landlord, as the one man who
forged the way for others to follow.
as the pioneer in the field Of ARCHITECT
tural science. and as man whose
work will compare favorably with that
Of other men in the calling, deserves
some recognition. What he has ac-
complished. he has Accomplished on
sheer merit, the result Of years of
hard study and work. There is 10
argument that there arc not other
ARCHITECTS. Mr.. LankfD l. however,
ne far as we have been able to as-
certain, is the first Negro to open an
office and to enter active competition
with other men in the profession.
BENJAMIN BanHeEer wa at archi-
| tectural craftsman. ana there arc: sew
| eral in the government seryice in this
city, but Mr.. Landlord is the first
Negro to open an oHica and D-, re20g.
nlZed as a first class architect If
then, such petty jealousy is the root
of the persecution which has been di-
lTected at Mr.. Landlord, the real worth
| OF the men attempting it can be easily
determined. Allowing, ample ground
for any difference Of opinion thai ma
exist between individuals in anv com
munity. there is no sane anil lcgicll
treason for such petit exhibitions e
malice ard envy as ave been made N
tbs case.
The locu Leagr2 rf the D;ytitc; IF
iColrmbia was organized by John \.
La' ktord in 1895, end for sevc. al
|y"ars he served rs President. he
was the first life member of the Ma
tlonal Negro Business League ant
served two years as one Of the vice
presidents. The sum of Mr.. Lang
ford 8 ofense to the Pittman tactic,
IS explained in the fact that he or
posed the Lincoln Memorial Associa
ton, which Is an organization o
whit men unsing the names Of thes
Negroes to secure money from gu]
nDlc men OF the race for the erectiC
OF theatre. What the Negroes O
washington would do with a $500
900 theatre If they had it passes tn
understanding Of the wisest indivit
ual Theatres are luxuries. The tim
and effort Of the Negro people 70
several years must be spent In pro
viding necessities, and certainly no
in providing luxury Of such impos
ing magnificenee as called for in tn
plans Of the Lincoln Memorial Assc
citation.
Just for example, the Chase Thea
II" in Washington, and the adjacen
buildings were condemned seyera
weeks ago BY the government. Fo
the good will Of the establishment
, and the cost and worth Of the build
ing, the Chase Theatre property wa