The Washington bee., 1911-02-18
Public Men AndThinDs
(By the Sage of the Potomac.)

l attended a whist gathering a few
evenings ago, and he name of Jerry
Johnson, otherwise known as Jerome
A. Johnson, came up. Jerry has seen
many hanpy day He belongs to
the Bob Thompson class. His name
Will be written in the book OF social
tame. There was a time when the
name of Jerry was as popular as Tom
and Jerry. He organized the Mems
Club at St. Lukes Church. 1t is
sad that his object in organizing this
club was to keep the young men
around and about him in his. declining
days. When we know that We must
die, the departing is not so hard when
you are surrounded by your old and
young friends
X "
Someone was asking for Henry Z.
Baker some time ago. He had some
funds to invest in a building associa-
tion and as he (Baker) is authority
on such corporations. concluded it
was best to consult Brother Baker
Talking about investments, there is
no one in this city who can outvest
Mn Baker. He can put your funds
NllClt bIlS " VI III Odilibl IiIIu bIlClll-
That IS investing some, don't you
think so? He has been struggling
hard to raise $IOO to place a portrait
of the late John NJ Langston in the
library of Howard University. The
committee that had this matter in
charge was composed of Lawyer
Thomas L. Jones, Chairman; my
friend Dureef, Secretary, and w, Cal
vim Chase, Chairman of the Execu-
tive Committee. The members were
Prof. George NJ. Cook, of Howard
University: Prof. Kelly Miller, and
others If the committee had been
anxious for the portrait 1t certainly
would have contributed the necessary
funds. ! understand that Fernando
Lee intends to have that portrait and
place it IN the library of Howard Uni
vcTsity.
The law students Of Howard Uni
versity are very much dissatisfied with
one of the colored professors, and
at any moment there IS liable to be
walkout 1t would be we'll for Presi-
dent Thirkield to conduct a quiet in
vestigatiOn on his own account
Speaking of the law school, / un-
derstand that there were few dis
appointed barristers when the Trustee
Board named white man to succeed
the late Mr. Woodward \ few are
divided on this appointment One col
ored professor, who seemed to doubt
his own ability, thought that IL re
qulred a teacher on real property TO
be an experienced person and one
well versed in law He doubted that
any of the colOred applicants were
competent to fill the position This
doesn't speak very well for the Ne
gro legal profession, does If? Per
haps this particular individual was
speaking for himself, and not for the
Negro legal profession. Mr.. Will
Jams. who was recommended by Dean
Layton, came along with other stu
dents. and he certainly did not show
any remarkable degree of brilliancy.
He was in the same class with Judge
Robert H. Terrell Judge Terrell was
the validictorian of his class | don
think that he succeeded IN grasping
more law on real property than Judge
Terrell, because the Judge is making
brilliant record as a Judicial officer.
1t may be that by virtue of Mr..
Williams being a white man and hav-
ing been a clerk in Dean Layton's
Office may account for the appoint
ment. If the Negro lawyer is not
given an opportunity to develop his
legal ability, how can he learn2
Auditor Ralph W. Tyler has not
been seen in and around headquar-
ters I asked Charlie Barnes for him
the other day. but Charlie didn't seem
TO know. I sauntered up to Gray's,
thinking that I would catch him at
lunch. It was about lunch time, and
| felt a bit hungry. [ left every cent
I had in my desk drawer. and. know
ing that Ralph Is never broke or short
of cash at any time, my intention was
TO have him stand for lunch. There
IS nothing short about Ralph. This
reminds me of an incident that oc-