The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1916-09-09
TWENTYFIRsT EDITION OF THE BROAD AK
STILL LOOKING AND FORWARD.
FROM
CHAPTER II.
CONTINUED from page ~

SUCH SIdIciHcuIS diO % 1oi AAoA INV
truth as the bright shining sun is from
the earth.
1t can truthfully be said without the
least fear of being successfully dis
puted namely, that the very first poem
written by Fenton johnson, when he
was only eleven years old was pub
lished on the front page of this publica-
ton free of charge, February "a, 1900.
His first poem ever published was en-
titled "Absalom' Death" At that
time neither one of his parents nor
any of his wealthy relatives were
subscribers to this paper or interested
in its success in any manner, shape or
form in the slightest degree and it
was out of the question that the sales
of the paper would be increased by
the appearance of his poem in its col
umns therefore there was only one
motive that forced or compelled US to
publish it and that was that we felt
it was our solemn duty in our weak
way TO encourage and extend helping
hand to a young boy who had a sufi-
cient amount of ambition to want to
be somebody in the world of letters.
At that time or on February "a, 1900,
the following notation was made at the
bottom of the poem by the writer:
"The above poem was written by
Fenton johnson, a young Afro-Ameri-
can poet, age IL years and residing at
4s47 Armour ave. "Today Mr.. johnson
is the brilliant editor of the Champion
Magazine, one of the recent monthly
publications to make its appearance in
this city.
Three years ago Mr.. johnson pub
lished his first book of poems entitled
ga Little Dreaming" and the follow
ing inscription was written on the fly
leaf of a copy of it which found its
way to our humble abode.
"To Mr.. and Mrs. Julius F. Taylor,
in the columns of whose journal, The
Chicago Broad AK, appeared my first
contribution, written at the age of
eleven, in grateful commemoration
Fenton johnson, Chicago, July %,
1913"
AS long as we continue to breathe
the breath of life we shall always feel
very grateful indeed to Mr.. johnson
for remembering US to that extent,
which amply proves that he possesses
those highly refined or cultured quail
ties which should ever be uppermost in
the minds of all those who make the
slightest pretentions of being edu-
Gated, refined or civilized.
The following letters and telegram
sheds much light on the important part
played by this paper in connection
with the passage of the present Nation
al Bankruptcy Law.
The Shoreham Hotel,
Washington, D. c., January 18th, 1897.
Julius F. Taylor, Editor of The Broad
Ak,
Salt Lake City, Utah.
Dear SIR
There will be sent to you by this
mail copy of Senate document con-
tanning much valuable information up
on the subject of bankruptcy legisla-
ton.
The Senate has made the bankruptcy
bill a special order and no doubt will
pass a bill before adjournment.
Will you kindly consider editorially
the subject of bankruptcy legislation
and kindly send me a marked copy of
your paperi
Please observe from the printed mat
ter on this letter head that the Torrey
bill has been considered and very gen.
orally endorsed throughout the eoun-
try, and has been twice passed by the
House of Representatives.
The bill of Mr.. Bailey of Texas, as
modified, has been recommended as
substitute for ours by a majority of
the Senate Committee; it has never so
far as I know, been favorably recon-
mended for enactment by any CONNER
cial, industrial or professional body in
the country, but it, in effect, has been
condemned by number of them. Our
bill has been reported favorably by a
minority of the Committee.
Heretofore, the controversy has been
as to whether or not Congress should
enact bankruptcy law as provided by
the Constitution but the question now
is whether or not there shall be en-
acted a complete equitable voluntary
and involuntary law (the Torrey billy
or the temporary bill recommended as
above which many good people believe
would be detrimental to the best in
terests of the debtors and creditors of
the whole country