Woodrow Wilson Papers Microfilm Reels

PUBLIC LEDGER - PHILADELP

[column 1] ESTABLISHED 1836. PUBLIC [image: logo] LEDGER GEORGE W. CHILDS Editor and Proprietor from 1864 to 1894. _____________________ Published every morning at PUBLIC LEDGER Bldg. By PUBLIC LEDGER COMPANY: CYRUS H. K. CURTIS, President John Gribbel, Vice President; George W Ochs, Secretary and Treasurer; Chas H. Ludington, Phillip S. Collins, Directors _______________________ George W. Ochs, Editor and Publisher; Alan Cunningham, Associate Editor: G. Warfield Hobbs, Managing Editor; Milton B. Ochs, Business Manager _______________________ OFFICES: Main Office —Independence Square. CENTRL—Postal Telegraph, 1326 Chestnut St. UPTOWN—Fenner's, Broad & Columbia Ave. HARRISBURG BUREAU—The Patriot Building. WASHINGTON BUREAU—The Post Building. NEW YORK BUREAU—The Times Building. BERLIN—60 Friedrichstrasse. LONDON—2 Pall Mall East, S.W. PARIS—32 Rue Louis le Grand. ________________________________ PRICE: Daily . . . . . One Cent —│ Sunday . . . . Five Cents BY MAIL outside Philadelphia Daily, one month, 25c. One Year $3.00. Daily and Sunday, one mo., 50c. One year $5.30 _______________________________ Telephones: Bell, 3000 Walnut. Keystone, Main 3000 _________________________________ ENTERED AT THE PHILADELPHIA POSTOFFICE AS SECOND-CLASS MAIL MATTER. _________________________________ PHILADELPHIA, SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 1913. ________________________________ THE MISUSE OF THE MIND.

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patible. Some of the wisest of men have endeared themselves to their fellows by a benign, and compassionate disposition, and one can be a mathematician and a humanitarian, too. ____________________________________

BRAZEN IMPUDENCE OF COUNCILS.

It is regrettable that the machine Councilmen were given an opportunity to whack the Mayor heavily on a question where his position is by no means unassailable. The proposal of Mr. Blankenburg to levy a tax on manufactured products, however small, was not popular even among his most ardent supporters, and it afforded hostile Councils the opportunity for which they have been waiting. Their attitude in reference to vetoes of salary increases, however, is wholly indefensible and evinces a narrow spirit of political venom which will be resented by every citizen who believes in an honest administration of municipal affairs.

The introduction of a resolution carrying with it an insulting preamble requesting the City Soliciter to give an opinion as to the legal authority of the Mayor or the Director of Public Safety to employ policemen to canvass the asssessors' and registration lists was an act of amazing effrontery, even though it came from subservient political gangsters. When one remembers the saturnalia of political crimes, ballot-box stuffing, false impersonations, brutalities, intimidation and unblushing disregard of every principle of honest voting, which characterized the years of municipal domination by a corrupt political machine until it seems scarcely credible that political bosses would now dare to question the efforts of the Mayor to preserve the purity of the ballot.

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"INVESTIGATING" THE DUAL OFFICEHOLDERS.

The majority report on dual office holding at Harrisburg prepared by the estimable Charles J. Roney, Jr., of Philadelphia, is an extraordinary document. One would suppose from its perusal that those who accepted two salaries from the State conferred a positive favor on the taxpayers by so doing, instead of proving—ipso facto— one or both of the offices to be sinecures.

Harry S. McDevitt is Assistant Executive Controller and also clerk of the Board of Public Grounds and Buildings. In a frantic effort to justify his occupancy of both positions, Mr. Roney's report has him working "all day" and "each night" and "on Sundays" as well, "persistently and continously," Yet it is said that Mr. McDevitt is not in Harrisburg from Friday until Monday.

The Executive Controller's own statement is accepted as his subordinate's complete exculpation. "Mr. Todd, in his testimony, made it very plain his capability and efficiency." County Clerk Meyers is dubbed "very valuable, desirable, advantageous and economical." and another of the Auditor General's assistants is described as "peculiarly fitted with rare and extensive knowledge."

Such an investigation is a farce. It starts out with the deliberate intention of find nothing out—at least, nothing out of the way. The evil, in two-score cases at Harrisburg as in more than a dozen cases in Philadelphia's Councils, is dual office holding. The evidence is perfectly available even to a sodden gangster to prove or disprove the charge. The findings of Mr. Roney and his committee consist of impassioned rhetoric, fatuous eulogy, whitewash and buncombe.

Yet Mr. Roney, secretary and guiding genius of this ridiculous investigating committee, is the man who proposes to tell Philadelphia how to spend

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cerns the question of just recognition of negro labor, in the belief that, while the matter of employment does not cover every need of every grievance of the negro, given a fair chance to work and then conforming to high civil and political standards, every other adjustable difference between the races will be settled with more celerity, more mutual forebearance and more universal satisfaction than by any other means that could possibly be employed. While the entire programme seems homely and simple, it is one that should appeal to the intelligent community with peculiar force, and inaugurate a movement that will be the harbinger of a new day for the negro and the nation. _____________________________________

MR. BRYAN SPEAKS OUT.

It is not usual for a Secretary of State to outline his policies to the public or to take notice of insensate rumors relative to the cordiality, or want of it, existing between him and his chief; but Mr. Bryan has been the subject of so many ridiculous stories to the effect that the President was ignoring him and his office and intimating that the foreign policy of the nation was to be one of niggardly hesitance in protecting American interests abroad, that it was altogether proper for him to take the Washington correspondent of the PUBLIC LEDGER into his confidence and, through him, to reassure the country in regard both to the sympathetic unity of the President and his Cabinet on all matters of importance and the sobriety of the foreign policy which will be pursued.

Mr. Bryan was not ignored in the matter of the Chinese loan. He has found the President "altogether fair," and he has never known a man with "a more open mind nor one who tried more sincerely to get at the meat of any question." Mr. Bryan never attempted to dictate the composition of the Cabinet. Instead of being opposed to Mr. McAdoo, he regards the Secretary of the Treasury "as one of the most competent and trustworthy men in the Cabinet, a man of conspicuous ability, of high integrity, a progressive of progressives."

Mr. Bryan has not assumed the premiership with the idea of a short tenure of office. On the contrary, he has taken a house in Washington and will stay there, performing the duties of his office "until the end of my present commission." He likes the work to which he has been assigned, which [im-?] poses the hollowness of the tale that he wished to be Secretary of the Treasury, and he has "no other wish of purpose than to be of the largest possible service of the President in working out the difficult problems of his Administration."

The foreign policy of the nation will be an application of the Golden Rule, granting to all other nations their just dues and demanding of them what in justice they should give. It is not a mollycoddle programme that is proposed, but a programme which has inherent virility becase of his open[?] and honesty.

[?] date rumors of [?] loyalty in the Cabinet should have been circulated, but the discreet, yet frank, utterance of the Secretary of State should definitely put an end to them and be effective in strengthening the confidence of the country in the moral integrity and discipline of the Administration. ______________________________________

In Pennsylvania 212 daily newspapers have organized under the name of Pennsylvania Associated Dailies. Think of that number of daily journals of enlightenment in the Commonwealth! It may soon be in order for the Keystone State to change its name to the Imposing-stone State.

The Executive Controller's own statement is accepted as his subordinate's complete exculpation. "Mr. Todd, in his testimony, made it very plain his capability and efficiency." County Clerk Meyers is dubbed "very valuable, desirable, advantageous and economical." and another of the Auditor General's assistants is described as "peculiarly fitted with rare and extensive knowledge."

Such an investigation is a farce. It starts out with the deliberate intention of find nothing out—at least, nothing out of the way. The evil, in two-score cases at Harrisburg as in more than a dozen cases in Philadelphia's Councils, is dual office holding. The evidence is perfectly available even to a sodden gangster to prove or disprove the charge. The findings of Mr. Roney and his committee consist of impassioned rhetoric, fatuous eulogy, whitewash and buncombe.

Yet Mr. Roney, secretary and guiding genius of this ridiculous investigating committee, is the man who proposes to tell Philadelphia how to spend $45,000,000 for the municipal expansion and improvement:

Save us from a gang Legislature.

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RACE ADJUSTMENT.

There is already in this city an organization, "The Joint Organization of the Association for Equalizing Industrial Opportunities of the League of Civil and Political Reform," the objects of which are to adjust certain differences between the white and negro races along the very lines which have been suggested in this publication. This organization is being promoted by some of the ripest thinkers of both races. Men like Rev. Dr. A. J. Rowland, secretary of the American Baptist Publication Society; the Rev. Dr. Frank P. Parkin, superintendent of the Central District, Philadelphia Conference, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the Rev. Dr. Alpha G. Kynett, secretary of the Board of Home Missions and Church Extension of the Methodist Episcopal Church, have been intimately connected with the organization since its inception in this city five years ago.

The active work is being largely done by a man who has devoted nearly two decades to a systematic study of these peculiar phases of the negro problem, and it must be conceded that his conclusions are founded upon logic and common sense, their culmination being in this organization. The organization proceeds on the theory that there are two sides to the negro problem; that the negro is giving the white man just cause for complaint, and that the white man is giving the negro just cause for complaint. It holds that the first step toward any righteous adjustment of these conditions is for each race to do its utmost to overcome any conditions or tendencies that the other may justly claim to be subversive of its own interests or of the highest interests of society.

Applying this principle, the League of Civic and Political Reform seeks the support of the colored church and clergy in co-operating with municipal authorities in suppressing the rowdy, ruffianly, corner lounging, dive infesting, election debauching, decency defying elements among negroes as those who are giving the white race the most serious cause for complaint. The Association for Equalizing Industrial Opportunities, backed, as far as possible, by the moral support of the churches and clergy of both races, purposes to take up jointly with the owners and employes of specified industrial con-

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The foreign policy of the nation will be an application of the Golden Rule, granting to all other nations their just dues and demanding of them what in justice they should give. It is not a mollycoddle programme that is proposed, but a programme which has inherent virility becase of his open[?] and honesty.

[?] date rumors of [?] loyalty in the Cabinet should have been circulated, but the discreet, yet frank, utterance of the Secretary of State should definitely put an end to them and be effective in strengthening the confidence of the country in the moral integrity and discipline of the Administration. ______________________________________

In Pennsylvania 212 daily newspapers have organized under the name of Pennsylvania Associated Dailies. Think of that number of daily journals of enlightenment in the Commonwealth! It may soon be in order for the Keystone State to change its name to the Imposing-stone State.

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Kansas young women have decided that the ideal husband must make a good appearance, be jolly, talk well, revere the aged, show courtesy to men and neither smoke nor drink, also measure up to a few other qualifications. A young man of that type would never get as far as Kansas _____________________________________________

If the Mayor's counsel is good the Council is bad: if the Mayor's counsel is bad the Council is good; but no matter what the Mayor counsels the Councils are against it.

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There have been almost as many peaces declared in the Balkans as there have seen deaths of Menlik.

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The progressives do not like the way the Democrats are cutting the tariff, but if it had not been for the Progressives they would not be cutting it at all.

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How can the Powers buy Scutari from Montenegro for $6,000,000 when the Powers insist that Scutari does not belong to Montenegro?

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With 5,332,000 people in town New York ought to be able to support the police force.

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Well, anyhow, Willie Moore held on to his job of weather prophet for eighteen years, and that is a lot more than the average office holder is able to do.

SUNDAY'S PUBLIC LEDGER.

James Huneker will contribute to the Illustrated Magazine tomorrow at a most interesting article on "Richard Wagner, the Man," containing some important new biographical material. Another timely feature is "The New House of J. P. Morgan & Co.," showing how the financier perfected a strong organization to take up his work. "How Hagenbeck Became the Animal King," is the subject of another entertaining story.

"What Washington Thinks of President Wilson" will make timely reading. The relation of the Associated Press to the public will also be illuminatingly presented.

Other magazine features include "Two Philadelphians in the Heart of Siberia," "Germany About to Rob Her Princely Hen Roosts" and "Famous French Duelist Defends Affairs of Honor."

"Woman's Interests." the new weekly magazine for women, issued as part of Sunday's PUBLIC LEDGER, contains 16 pages devoted to every field of woman's activity. Every week shows improvement and not woman can afford to miss it.

Many and varied are the attractions in the Copperplate Pictorial. Tomorrow's subjects include: United States Navy aviation practice at Guantanamo Bay, opening the National League baseball season in Philadelphia, Democrats assume full control of the National Government, President Wilson's "Summer White House," Philadelphia's fashionables in society entertainments, suffragettes take their cause to Congress, steeplechase of the Whitemarsh Valley Hunt, elimination contests in international polo and sisters of Pope Pius X visiting the Vatican.

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OPPORUNITY FOR NEGROES

A Member of the Police Force Indorses Editorials

To the Editor of the Public Ledger: Sir—Allow me to thank you for your editorials on the negro. They are sincere and truthful and of great interest to both races. As a policeman I come in daily contact with the true situation and am open to say that yours is a correct analysis, especially that today bearing the laziness and crime among negroes. Suppresing the negro industrially is making a criminal of him. Then there is no one to blame but those that are ignorantly driving him to the wall. When a business man refuses to employ a negro, he is simply jeopardizing his life, his home and family: because if he can't get work, if the white man refuses to give him work, then there is no work for him, ande finally driven to deseration he is forced to steal. I tell you, Mr. Editor, it is a serious state of affairs, and I sincerely trust that God may help you in your effort to open the eyes of the American white man to this grave wrong. CHARLES BELGROVE Philadelphia, April 18, 1913.

A LINE O' CHEER THE WORLD

BY JOHN KENDRICK BANGS. (Copyright, 1913.)

Someimes the world's a dreary place, And were inclined to doubt it, And then the question we must face— What would we do without it? Upon the whole, despite its drear, We should be happy to be here, And maybe when it seems most sad It's up to us to make it glad.

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152 File [STAMP] ACK'D MAY 9 1913 W.F.J.

May 6, 1913,

Hon. Joseph F. Tumulty Secretary to the President White House, Washington, D. C.

My dear Tumulty:-

Regarding the matter of the appointment of certain colored men to Public Office, and which you and I discussed when I was in Washington last, and which I was to write you more fully about for the information of the President, would say.

There are several factions of negroes in the county; most needed by earnest and sincere men, others by schemers and office seekers.

The one man I have come in contact with during the last two National Campaigns, and who I found to be absolutely single minded and sincere in his purposes, is Bishop Alexander Walters. He has been the main stay of the National Colored Democratic League, having prominent colored men in various parts of the country affiliated therewith.

During the Bryan Campaign, and the last campaign, Bishop Walters and his League took

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a very active part as Democrats, and during the last campaign particularly, the services performed and results achieved were of great importance and magnitide.

The National Independent Political League is an Association of which Rev. J. M. Waldron, a Baptist Clergyman in Washington, is the moving spirit. This League is a non-political league, and is, confidentially, in my judgment, a "personal" organization. However, various members of this League have performed services during the last two campaigns, the money being provided by the National Committee.

In New York, there is a strong local colored organization, while having headquarters in New York, practically dominates the State. This Organization is headed by Robert N. Wood, who professes allegiance to Tammany Hall. Wood and his League worked with the Walters League during the last campaign, and performed very effective work.

Out West, while there are some factions,

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yet I do not understand that they are organized as the Associations in the East I have called your attention to.

Now, before I speak of individuals in connection with appointments, I want to again impress upon you the fact, that Bishop Walters is the man who should be recognized as the leading spirit in the organized movement, on the part of the negroes, in this country, who have espoused the Democratic Party and who ought to be sustained in his position.

I have had several conferences with a number of colored men with whom I came in contact during the last two campaigns, regarding appointments, and at a conference lately had with Bishop Walters, the following names were suggested in connection with appointment to office, and the particular office which it is desired they should be appointed to fill, viz:

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E. A. Patterson, a prominent colored lawyer in Oklahoma, who performed valuable services on the stump - last campaign, paying his own expenses. Senator [Gore?] is a strong backer of Mr. Patterson's. In fact, confidentially, he is making this a personal matter. Mr. Patterson is, with the following names, also backed by Bishop Walters and his Organization. He is a candidate for Register of the Treasury, now held by a colored man.

Peter J. Smith, Boston, Mass., a doctor and graduate of Harvard, and a man of influence. Smith is a very prominent colored man in Boston. He is a candidate for Assistant Register of the Treasury.

A. B. Cosey, Newark, N.J. - He is a well known educated man, a member of the bar of New Jersey, and enjoys quite a lucrative practice. Mr. Cosey as the head of the New Jersey Colored Organization during the last campaign, and was in the harness during the entire campaign. He is practically the choice of the colored democratic voters in New Jersey. He is a candidate for the Recorder

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in Philadelphia; has been a democrat for a great many years; is probably one of the most prominent colored men in the country. I understand he will be vouched for by Congressman Palmer and former State Treasurer Berry of Pennsylvania. He is a candidate for Supervisor of Indian Schools.

Dr. J. L. Johnson, of Rendville, O.- is a practicing physician and a man of great ability. Dr. Johnson is a college graduate and possesses great influence among the colored people in Ohio. He is a candidate for the office of Special Agent - Forestry Department, and as I understand, fully qualified for this office.

William M. Trotter, Editor of the "Guardian", a prominent newspaper circulating amongst the colored people in the East - published in Boston. He is a graduate of Harvard, and I understand, a fine lawyer. He was one of the most active workers we had in the East during the campaign four years ago and last fall. He has great influence in the eastern states. In fact I,

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of Deeds in the District of Columbia, now held by a colored man.

J. L. Curtis - Graduate of Lincoln University of Illinois, a lawyer, practicing his profession in New York City. Dr. Curtis is a very talented young colored man, and has built up quite a practice for himself in New York. He was one of the men I relied upon during the last campaign, in the colored movement. He is a candidate for Minister to Hayti, and is peculierly qualified for that position.

R. N. Wood, of Harlem, New York City, is a leading organization colored democrat in New York City and County, and practically one of the leading democratic colored men in the State of New York. He has a very strong organization in the City, and recognized as a leader. He was a very faithful and effectual worker during the last campaign. He is a well educated man and a good speaker. He is a candidate for Collector - Second District - of the

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C. C. Clements - is the Editor of Star of Zion, the Official Church of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. He comes from the state of North Carolina, and will be vouched for, as I understand, by Secretary Daniels and Senator Overman. Recognition is sought for Mr. Clements because of his high standing amongst the colored people and his identification with the newspaper in question. He was a strong advocate of President Wilson during the last campaign. He is a candidate for Minister to Liberia.

Frank Wheaton, of New York City. Mr. Wheaton is a college graduate and practices law in New York. He occupies a prominent position as a colored lawyer and is very influential amongst the colored people. He is a candidate for Consul to Sierra Leone.

James A. Howard, of Harrisburg, Pa. - is editor of New Era, a paper circulating amongst the colored people - is a graduate of a Quaker School

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Port of New York, now held by a colored man by the name of Charles Anderson. (I understand Charles Anderson has been quite a prominent Republican worker for years past in New York.)

J. A. Ross - is Editor of the "Informer", a newspaper published in Detroit, Mich., and also circulating in Illinois amongst the colored people. He has been a prominent colored democrat for many years and active in campaign work. He had charge of the Colored Headquarters at Chicago, under Judge Wade. Judge Wade was very earnest in his support for Mr. Ross. Ross is a candidate for Collector of Internal Revenue at Honolulu, Hawaii.

S. W. Watkins, Chicago, Ill. He is a graduate of the University of Illinois, and connected with the Corporation Counsel's Office in Chicago. I understand he has a splendid record. He is a candidate for Assistant U.S. District Attorney at Chicago, Ill.

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