Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 28 November 1908 — Page 1

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VoJ-Xll No.

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 28 ISOS

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THE COMING

First Lady of the Land

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MRS. WILLIAM H. TAFT

By JAMES A. EDGER.TON. THEN Rutherford B. Hayes was president of the United States y j there visited him at the White House Miss Ueleu Herron, the young daughter of his Cincinnati law partner. To Miss Helen the. president and Mrs. Hayes were “Uncle Rutherford” and “Aunt Lucy.” Frankly the schoolgirl was fascinated with the White House and In the years that followed frequently referred to this in Rial visit ns one of the great events of her life. Whatever others may think of the home of the presidents, in her eyes it was fairyland, the goal of all possible ambitious. "Ijicle Rutherford.” she said one evening, “I am going to marry a man who will be president.” “I hope you may." was the smiling reply, “and be sure you marry an Ohio man." She did both, for the Helen Herron of that day is now Mrs. William Howard Taft. History records that one other woman said a similar tiling and lived to

husband. Her hair is brown and jusl touched with gray, a fact which she does not try to conceal. Her eyes arc gray and clear. Her voice is contralto musical and pleasing. She has much dignity and some reserve, not giving her affection until after long acquaintance.- Her usual demeanor is serious, being free from the stereotyped smile yet her natural smile is engaging and her laugh joyous. She hates sham as much as does her husband and yet believes in a degree of form and order She is intellectual, yet her first con corn is Mr. Taft’s career, with her children and home as close seconds She believes that women should vote, but not hold office. She favors women’s clubs and higher education sc far, and only so far. as these do not in terfere with home life. She is in the best sense a womanly woman, yol keeps abreast of the thought of the day. If Mr. Taft begins the study ol any subject she takes it up also. Music Her Passion. In at least two lines she excels him— language and music. She speaks Urenct

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see the prophecy come true. This was Miss Mary Todd, afterward Mrs. Abraham Lincoln, who, although treated somewhat slightingly by the biographers, yet had much to do with placing the greatest of the presidents In the White House. Mrs. Taft has had an equal part In the advancement of her husband. It is an open secret that when he was offered a place on the supreme bench Taft was sorely tempted to accept, that having been his life ambition. It was Mrs. Taft who said no; that there was a greater office awaiting him. How much did the dream of the girl have to do with working out the fate of the woman? Often at the White House. Later when Benjamin Harrison was president and Mr. Taft solicitor general Mrs. Taft was again much In the White House, for the first Mrs. Harrison had been a blood relative, which the Hayeses were not, the “uncle” and “aunt” having been but friendship titles. Again during the administration of Theodore Roosevelt the coming “first lady of the land” was often at the executive mansion as not only the wife of one of the chief cabinet ministers, but as the close friend of Mrs. Roosevelt. Thus the wife of the new president comes to the goal of her dreams not without training and not without familiarity' with the honors and duties that await her. What manner of woman is she? It is a question of keen interest to the better half of creation and to the social set generally. The world knows Mr. Taft, or thinks it does, but what of his wife? The first thing that Impresses one in seeing Mrs. Taft is that she is gracious, frank and direct, unaffected and not given to gush. She Is slightly above the medium height and seems alender beside her gigantic

and Spanish easily and knows othei languages. Music, however, is her pas sion. She is a graduate of a music school, was at one time a teacher and was for thirteen years president of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra association. The Ohio city has long been famous as one of the chief music cen ters of the country, the May festivals having been celebrated far and wide The association of which Mrs. Taft was the head had mucli to do with giv ing Cincinnati her prominent place in the music world and with making the May festivals successes. The wife oi the next president has two handsome souvenirs, one a present from the mu sit-in ns. the other from the association itself. The last named gift is a cen terpiece for her dining table, which has appeared in Manila, in Washington and will doubtless grace the table of the White House. On it are engraved the opening strains that were played at the beginning of all the Cincinnati Symphony concerts. Feature of Her Ideals. Right here should be mentioned a feature of Mrs. Taft’s ideals and aspira tions that may be productive of great good in the future of this country. She believes with many of the rest of us that one of the chief needs of America at this time is the development of the aesthetic and artistic taste of the people. Politically and industrially we are in the forefront*of the world. We should hold the same station in poetry and painting, music and all the arts. Why not? We have laid the material foundation of our temple broad and deep. The superstructure should be in keeping. No people are wholly great until their appreciation of the beautiful and not only theirappreciatlon.but their capacity for creation, are equal to their attainments in commerce and in war. These are the ends to which war and commerce are but the means. If the

highest sii^e of life is the"spiritual, then the arts and the love- of beauty are the antechambers to the spiritual. They are the flower and fruit of clvilzation, while material progress and power are but its stock and root. It is fortunate that we are to have as first lady of the land one w-ho sees these things. Mrs. Taft does not believe in government aid to music and the arts. She believes rather that the people should take these things up for themselves. Her value will be as an influence. Her mere advocacy of higher artistic standards will call public attention to our needs in this line. The genius and spirit of the American people may be counted on to do the rest. Financier of Her Household. The Tafts have always been poor. There has never been more than the salary to live on, and Uncle Sam does not pay his officials such munificent wages that they become pampered sons of luxury. If they are honest, as some of them are, and refuse graft, as some of them do, they may possibly die with as much money as they started •with, but not more. What with social duties and calls for charity, it makes the average official salary hump to keep up with the game. It has been so with the Tafts. Both of them are inclined to charity, especially the senior member of the firm, who gives to everybody that asks as long as he has a cent in his pocket. It is probably for this reason that Mrs. Taft has been the financier of the household. She knows how to economize and yet to give to worthy purposes. She cannot afford a secretary, as do most of the Washington women, and frankly admits it. Yet so carefully has she financed her household that she has done her share of entertaining and has kept up her end of the social game, which is no simple or inexpensive thing at the capital of this land of the free and home of the trusts. Perhaps the most winning side of Mrs. Taft’s character, however, is that which she shows to her children. Of these there are three—Robert, eighteen, who is a sophomore at Yale; Helen, seventeen, a freshman at Bryn Mawr, and Charles P. Taft, Jr., who is very much at home. Charlie is the really celebrated one of the trio. He is a chum of Quentin Roosevelt, has the same steam engine activity as his father, which sometimes goes into surprising and perverse channels, and generally is a healthy, irrepressible American boy. Miss Helen, named for her mother, but resembling her father, will probably leave college at the end of the present year and become a White House debutante, as were Nellie Grant and the two daughters of President Roosevelt. It is not every girl that has a chance to have her coming out occur in the nation’s executive mansion, and it is an opportunity not to be overlooked. As for the eldest son, Robert, he is an honor man in college, as were his father and grandfather before him, and. like them, too, is going to study law. In the Taft home each of the children has his or her -own room and keeps his or her own separate account. It Is a family of wholesome enjoyment, laughter, good fellowship, common sense and individual freedom, typically American, as should lie the family of Mm who is made temporarily the symbol of Americanism, Comrade of Her Children. With each of her children Mrs. Taft is not only the mother, but the comrade. This is especially true of her young son. She is never too busy to enter Into his sports, listen to his plans and troubles, read to him or have him read to her and be his playfellow, confidant and friend. Mrs. Taft dresses richly and tastily, but quietly. She is not much given to following every whim and novelty of fashion. While always appearing well gowned, she is of the type of woman whose clothes are not the first thing noticed about her. It is her face and carriage which attract attention. She would not be termed a beauty, but has a distinguished appearance, a graciousness and a distinctive individuality that win her a popularity with all that meet her, a popularity that grow 7 s with longer acquaintance. Sweethearts of Early Days. Mr. and Mrs. Taft were childhood sweethearts, their families living In close proximity on Walnut hills, Cincinnati. They were married as soon ns Mr. Taft was out of Yale. That was over twenty years ago. Their path since that day has been one of steady advancement without reverses. There have beeri few over whom the skies of fortune have been so propitious. Both the children of judges, both receiving a college education, playmates from youth and always in accord both in tastes and ambitions, they have met no defeats and but few hardships. Seemingly there is but one point of divergence between the two—that of religious belief. Mr. Taft is a Unitarian, while his wife is a devout Episcopalian. On this point they simply agree to disagree, each claiming and granting complete liberty of opinion. In the Taft home are many gifts and priceless relics which have come from all about the earth. One is a present from the mikado, another from the Philippines, others from Cuba or Panama, Russia or their own native city of Cincinnati. They are suggestive of the globe trotting done by the man who will be the most traveled of our presidents. In all this journeying to and fro over the earth the future first lady of the land has had her part. She has conversed with statesmen and rulers in all parts of the world, sometimes in their own tongue. This has given her a cosmopolitan breadth of view, and yet she believes with Tennyson that— He in the best cosmopolite Who love? his native country best.

THE NEW BEREA I Some Race Notes. [ RUMP MASONS AFRICANS COMING

Fund of $400,000. For New

Negro College

Lexington, Ky., Selected for Site of

Frosposed Institution-

Lexington, Ky,, 'special to Recorder. The negroes of Kentucky are not to sarTer after all by the recent decision of the Supreme Court declaring that Berea College could not educate both white and black students in the same school. A certain part of the endowment fund of Berea was given on con dition that negroes should be educated there and this part will go toward a fund of $100,000 for the immediate establishment of a seoerate college for colored youth. Mrs Russell Sage has contributed $25,000 to the Cause, bring ing the amount available up to $350,000 The remaining $50,000 is being raised in Kentucky. The new college will be modeled on Tuskegee, and in the end the negro students of Kentucky may be better provided for in an

Chicago now has forty doctors, among the leading ones are Doctors D. H. Williams. George C. Hall, M. A. Majors and A. A. Wesley. James L. Saunders of Arkansas, sold recently 36 bales of cotton to the Goldman Cotton Company in Little Rock. The cotton was a long staple and sold for 9 1-4 cents per pound. It was raised on hin own farm and he re ceived for it $1,626.75.

A Y. M. C A. building, costing $100 000 is soon to be erected in Washing ton City. An interesting fact in connection with the construction of the butlding, is that every brick will be laid by a colored man and 80 per cent of the work will be done by colored labor Mr W. S Pittman, the architect of Waohington City, drew the plans and wrote the specifications.

J. B. Britts of Fulton, Mo., put up over 10 000 cans of tomatoes, baans, corn, pumpkins, sweet potatoes and .jli an fruit this season. The fruit and veg-

educational way than under the old eta ^ le8 were all raised on his farm, arrangement. feels so encouraged over the results President Roosevelt has accepted ° f hi * work in thi# line tbat beintends

conditionally an invition of President William Wooddell Frost of Berea College, to make an address and plant a tree at a site to be selected by a committee of the trustees of Berea College for the proposed school for colored people which is to be es tabiisbed in this State soon, possibley near Lexington. President Roosevelt is to visit the State and make an address on the farm in LaRue county whereAbraham Lincoln was born on the lOOib anniversary of Lincoln’s birth, next February 12, and brost while in Washington last Tuesday called on President Roosevelt and asked him if the city to be selected for the location of the school was convenient to his route would he make a speech there. President Roosevelt said be would most certainly make the speech and plant the if he could so arrange it while in Kentucy, as he was in the greatest sympathy with the new branch of Berea which would care for colored pupils.' " In furtherance of the movement two meetings will be h«.ld in this city next week, the first on Monday at St Paul’s African Methodist church, and the second at the Pleasant Green Baptist Church colored, on Tuesday night. At these meetings addrest-es will be made by Rev. A. E Thompson. D. D , and Rev. James Bond, D. D.. bothof whom are trustees of Berea College. All leaders of the various colored societies and organizations of the city as well as representatives from surround ing cities are expected to attend this meeting. Of the $400,000 necessary to build the school, a large portion has already b-enconditionally subscribed. Andrew Carnegie giving $200,000 with a stipulation that a like sum be raisea elsewhere. Four prominent men of Kentucky have given $50,000 on the same conditition and a greater portion of the latter amount has already been pledged, J. C. Jackson of Lexington; W. A. Steward of Louisville; J. E.Underwood of Frankfort, and J. E Wood Danville, influential colored men,have given substantial sums, and the Young Mens’ Commercial Club, composed of colored men of Lcxingtion have subscribed and are lending their |most hearty support to the project The matter has been forwarded to such an extent that a committee of the Trustee of Berea College has been appointed to select a site and the local people interested are conducting a vig orous campaign booming Lexington as the proper location for the new school.

putting in a larger canning plant next year and increase the acreage of his

truck gardening accordingly.

The Negroes of Richmond, Va.,own and control 4 banks, 4 clothing stores, 5 drug stores, 2 first class hotels, 4 livery stable, 5 printing establishments, 8 fraternal insurance companies and 7 meat markets. They also conduct an insurance and banking company with a surplus of over $300, 000, necessitating the employment of 80 clerks. Besides, there are 50 restau rants and many other business enterprises The Longshoremen organization, composed entirely of colored men, having a membership of 1.800, own their hall and drug store valued at $10,000. There are 75 secret organizations in a flourishing condition. The colored Knights of Pythias have nearly completed a building in the heart of the city, which is six stories high, costing $250,000. The Y. M. C. A.also has a home, valued at $12,000 to$15,000 Tusekee Institutue. Ala.

Supreme Court Enjoins the Spurious Organization Jonas Faction Cannot Use Title, Free and Accepted Kasons. Washington, D. C-,—Justice Wright of the Equity Court, No. 2, of the Dis trict of Columbia, has rendered a very important decision to the local Masonic fraternity. Some time ago suit was entered against Walter H. Gresham and others composing the officers of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia. Free and Accepted Masons, by the socalled Grand Lodge of the Ancient and Ac cepted Free Masons of the District of Columbia, which had been incorporat ed in 1906, to res f ain the former from using the title of Free aad Accepted Masons in the District of Columbia. This grand lodge was composed of a numbei of expelled Masons from the M. W. Grand Lodge, and was set up by John C. Jones, the notorious huckster of Masonic degrees, who was ex pelled from the Grand Lodge of Illinois several years ago. This socalled grand lodge because of its incorporation, sought to interfere with the rights and privileges of the Grand Lodge of the District which had been organized since 1848, and is a regular descenoant of Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Boston The defendants to this filed their cross bill, alleging that since 1848that they had been the true lodge of Masons in the District of Columbia under the name carried by them without the word ‘‘ancient,” and insist that the complainants, owing to differences in the orner, had seceded in 1906, and by incorporating and adding the word •‘ancient” to their title were under taking to run the original order. Against this an in' nndtien was asked The case was argued at length by Attorneys Ellison and Keigwin on behalf ot the complainants, and by Attorneys Wilton J. Lambert and Jamee S. Easby Smith for the defendants and complainants on cross bill. By i he terms of the decree the complainant corporation is restrained from using the name adopted by them, and from in any wav holding itself out to be or collecting any dues or contributions under the name referred to. The complainant noted an appeal from the decision, and bond was fixed at$l,000.

Leaders in the Popular Minister Contest.

Thousands Emigrate to this Country bach Year Most of them Settle in Massachusetts Come from Cape Verdi Island New York—Few persons in New York realize that negroes from Africa are coming to Massachusetts in con siderable numbers year by year. Dur. ing the five years to January 1, 1908. about 3,500 colored immigrants enteree the port of New Bedford, while the number entering that port during the past six months exceeds 1,000. These Negroes come from the Cape Verde Islands which lie about300milea off the west coast of Africa. They are more or less mixed with the Portukuese and call themselves “Portagee,” name by which the Azorean immigrants which are scatterad about Cape Cod towns, are also known. The fact that both peoples are from Portugese territory, and call themselves by the same name, gives rise to the popular notion, even in the minds of many among whom they settle, that bo*h are but slight variations of the same sadical stock. There is (however a wide difference between the immigrants from the Az ores and those from the Cape Verde Is lands.* The Cape Verde immigrants either settle in the tenement districts of New Bendford, where there are some 1,800 of them, or else go down the Cape, there to find work at the sawmills or oa the cranberry bogs. The latter work seems to be almost entirely given over to the Cape Verders, and explains their large numbers in towus like Wareham. Carver and Harwich. Some of them return to Africa in the fall in the same manner in which they came, but many become permanent residents often securing a small patch of land and building a shack in which to live. There are cases of highly resoected ape Verders, one of whom for instance, has a st' re and does a good business.—New York Eveniiig Post.

5 Weeks Remain Popular Ministers Contest Drawing to a Close Interest Has Reached Fever Heat and Resuit Yet Doubtful.

Rev. Lemuel Stokes

Rev. R. D. Leonard

Of the 90,000 colored people in ihe city of New Orlens there are 5 lawyers, 15 doctors, 4 dentists, 36 churches, 7 dmg stores. 7 unaertakers’establishments, 1 hospital owned and controlled by the members of the race first-class in every particular; 8 public schools together with New Orleans University, Straight University and Leland University for the education of the race. There are also 12 stores, 15 meat markets, 6 bakeries and 2ff'barber shods, 200 carpenters, 225 bricklayers. The very best houses that are built in New Orleans are s those built by the colored contractors and mechanics* 15 first class upholsters, 6 printing establishments. They, according to the tax books, own absut, $4,000,000 worth of property. A syndicate of colored men, with Dr R. H. Boyd as the prime mover, have established a factory for the manufacture of Negro dolls; the enterprise seemt to be meeting with success.

But five more weeks remain for the dose of the great popular ministers’ contest now being conducted by the Recorder. The voting contest has passed the 16000 mark, and is evidence of the State wide interest man! fested. The friends of the various ministers are lining up for a great finish and the final results cannot even be ventured a guess. The lead of the four highest men which has been steadily maintained is nearly conclusive that one of these four will be accorded the honor over the others. On Saturday, Jan. 2, 1909. the last and final ballot of the contest will be printed. Votes will be received at the Recorder office up until noon on Thursday, Jan. 7, 1909, after which hour no more ballots will accepted or counted. The result will be announced in the current issue, on Saturday, January 9th.

Rev. Charles Hunter

Rev. 6- William Ward

VOVES SELL AT 5c EACH Jerusalem—Elections to theTurkiKb Parliment which is to assemble this month have begun here. Feeling is pretty high and troops have been called to preserve order. The voters of the poorjpooper peasants are Jerusalem are being bought up by the party organization at 5 cents a piece.

THE MOST POPULAR MINISTER CON7ESI ONE Vote REGULAR BALLOT, NOV. 21 Name of Minister • ; “ of Church City or Town Name of Subscriber. Address..... Date 1908

The Indianapolis Recorder is conducting a voting contest to decide who is the most popular minister of the race in Indiana. Ballots will weekly and are good for one vote, if received at the Recorder Office before the first ,'ext month. Special Ballots will be given with all subscriptions as «IHt\ys; i year, 100 votes 6 months, 50 votes; 3 months, 25 votes. A 550.00 suit of ch' ^Tvill be presented to the successful minister by the Recorder. Watch the vote each w rM der.y

Standing In The Most Popular Minister Contest. Rev. Lemuel Stokes, city 395 1 Rev. R. D. Lenard, Union Tabernacle Baptist Church 3819 Rev. Chas. Hunter, Presiding Elder...3379 Rev. G. W. Ward, Mt. Zion Bap church 2584 Rev. G. H. Shaffer, Bethel A. M. E. Church 710 Rev. G. C. Sampson, Allen Chapel Church 604 Rev. H. J. Callis, Jones Tabernacle... 476 Rev. James Roberts, Antioch Baptist Church 225 Rev. Chas. Johnson, city 225 Rev. G. A. Martin, Corinthian Baptist church 177 Rev. H. L. Herod, 2d Christian church. 152 Rev. K. Warren, Olivet Baptist church 133 Rev. J.S. Bailey, Simpson Chapel ch’rch 231 Rev, H. H. Hinton, M. E. Church, Con viile '.... 125 Rev. J. C. Patton, ShilohBaptish ch’rch 125 Rev. Chas. Williams, Cavalry Baptist church. . . 75 Rev. White, Witherspoon Presbyterian 80 Rev. C. E. Hardmon, Franklin, Ind ... 75 Rev. Morris Lewis, Presiding Elder A. Rev. W. M. Winfield, Penick Chapel.. 62 M. E. Church 5° Rev. B. F. Farrell, Mt. Paron Baptist Church 5° Rev. P. Lewis, Noblesville 25 Rev. Mitchell, Metropolitan Baptist church 5° Rev. J. Francis Robinson 50 Rev. J. C. Campbell, City 50 Rev. J. P. Wallace, Terre Haute, Ind . 50 Rev. N. A, Seymour, New Bethel Baptist church . . 5° Rev. Patterson New Hope Baptist 25 Total Votes . . ' 17606

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