Franklin's paper the statesman., 1912-03-23
SOCIAL SEASON
IN WASHINGTON
Many Timely Topics Discussed.
Race Stands by Lewis.
THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

Elite Society Preparing For the Annual
Assembly of tho Monican cIub-Taft
and Wiekersham Being Praised For
Their Loyalty to Assistant Attorney
General w. II. Lewis.
Washington. city in the world
has such a cultured and intelligent
population as this city, and in no city
has colored society attained point so
nearly approaching the best society Of
other races as is true of this city.
Washington abounds in beautiful maid
ems and handsome matrons. and their
social entertainments approximate
those given by the society devotees in
the exclusive aristocratic white cir
cles. The homes of the colored people
in Washington-thati is. many of them
are large. commodious and elegantly
furnished, and with the large number
of high colored federal officials now
in Washington an impetus is given to
the social side of life. Just now the
ladies are on the tiptoe of feminine
expectation and anticipation in view
of the approaching Monican club as
crate affair in Washington society. The
after Lenten assembly of the Monican
club is always a perfect riot of beau
tiful women. elegant gowns ard fine
looking gentlemen. the very cream of
Washington's society always being
present. There are few of Washing
tons colored Four Hundred-that is,
the women-who are not now discuss
ing and arranging for the gowns they
will wear on this particular occasion.
And these assemblies are usually at
gers, ladies and gentlemen coming
from distance to be present at the
after Lenten assembly Of the Monican
club The invitation list to a Monican
club affair is usually limited to $50.
and the result is there is always a
veritable scramble to secure one Of the
much coveted invitations. The new
president of the Monican club is Mr..
Walter Pinchback, a son Of ex-Gover-
nor Pinchback. The membership of
the club itself is limited to twenty-five
gentlemen. The regular monthly meet
ing is always followed by the serving
nary Washington banquet.
The stand that Attorney General
Wickersham took in defense Of Mr..
William 81. Lewis, the colored assist
ant attorney general, has caused him
to be fairly flooded with letters of ap-
proval and commendation from colored
men in every section and state of the
country. and hundreds of white men
are also writing the attorney general
indorsing his courageous stand for
colored man. President Taft is also
being praised in the most earnest man.
ner by colored men. for it is well
known here in Washington that Presi-
dent Taft was not only consulted by
Attorney General Wickersham in the
matter, but he gave unqualified ap-
proval of Mr. Wickersham's course.
The 100000 colored population in
Washington, men and women in every
walk of life. have done nothing for the
past few weeks but discuss the defense
of Mr.. Lewis made by the attorney
general Through it all Mr.. Lewis has
borne himself with becoming modesty
and dignity. Many man, it is said,
might have been swept off his feet by
the favorable and commendable press
reports received by Mr.. Lewis, but not
SO with the brainy Boston man, who
SO acceptably fills the highest position
ever given Negro by any Republican
administration.
Capable Mon In the Federal Service.
Recorder Of Deeds Henry Lincoln
johnson, who is just back after
month spent in his native state, Geor-
gia, is so full Of political news that
you have only to mention politics to
start the genial colonel from Atlanta
in discoursing on the splendid qualities
of his chief, President TAFT. Mr.. John
son, it is said, is the man who swung
Georgia in line for the president An
encouraging sign of the times is that
Mr.. johnson is working Loyalty with
the other distinguished colored federal
officials here in looking after the best
interests of the race.
A distinguished member of congress
the other day in referring to colored
federal oficials-and, by the way, he
was Democrat, too-said: 1.-The class
of colored men now holding office is
big improvement over those who held
Office some years ago, taken as
whole. And no president ever was sur
rounded with as many bright. brainy
and really efficient Negroes as Presi-
dent Taft has surrounded himself
with. 1t used to be that the average
colored federal official simply drew his
monthly stipend and permitted the
white men Of the Office to do the work
The bunch Of colored federal officials
in Washington, and it is the largest
number ever assembled at the capitol,
are all workers, every man of them
knowing his duties and performing
them 18th signal ability. The fact