736

[column 1]

The pupils are encouraged to becom
members of the Public Library, becau
reading not only is the basis of ment
and intellectual progress, but it mak
the master of daily school lesso
much easier to the pupil. Their libra
cards are constantly in use, and a go
grade of literature is imbibed.

Mr. Thelluson has established t
system of Merit List, whereon t
names of all the boys who are regul
in attendence and orderly in behavi
are enrolled monthly. This is an i
centive to the boys, and its good re
is plainly apparent. In addition to t

[column 2]

those who favored the adoption of the
resolution. Not only are the colored
Democrats of Brooklyn aroused over
the dismissal of Langston and Robin-
son, but in New York the colored Tam-
manyites and Wilson men do not hesi-
tate to criticize Wood's actions. A
lively political war is threatened.

83415

[column 3]

The subject of this editorial
is Mr. Ralph E. Langston, the son
of the late John Mercer Langston,
who has been associated with the
Democratic party of the State of
New York; a young man of ability
and influence among his people.
He is respected by the most influ-
ential and prominent white Demo-
crats in the State of New York, and
highly commended by those under
whom he has served in the many of-
ficial positions in his State. It is
said that every position he has held,
in the city of New York has been
conducted in a highly commenda-
ble manner; so much so that the so-
called leader of the colored Democ-
racy, Robert N. Wood, became en-
vious and jealous of his power
among the Negro Democracy in the
State. For many years Mr. Lang-
ston, although a citizen and prop-
erty owner in this city, has affiliated
and worked with the Democracy of
his State. He was far-sighted
enough to be the first Negro in the
city of New York to organize a
Wilson and Marshall Democrat-
ic Club. This was the cause of
Robert N. Wood to misrepresent
him to the Tammany chief, Mr.
Murphy, for whom Mr. Langston
has the greatest respect. It was
Mr. Murphy who has done so much
for Negro Democracy in the city
and State of New York, and to
whom Mr. Langston is loyal and
grateful. The Bee, of course doesn't
believe in the Democracy of Mr.
Langston. The Bee is a simon
pure Republican journal, but since
it is a fact that Negro Democrats
will be given consideration by the
incoming administration, there is
no man the Negroes of this coun-
try would like to see recognized
than Ralph E. Langston, the son
of one of the greatest Negroes in
the United States. Mr. Langston
is not only a leading and represen-
tative Negro, but he is a man of
ability and integrity and would not
only reflect credit upon the colored
race, but the Democratic adminis-
tration. Among his people no man
is more respected. He is respected
because he comes from a family
whose ancestors have a place in his-
tory, and whose father especially,
was a man of learning and no doubt
the greatest orator and Negro dip-
lomat in this country. John Mercer
Langston endeared himself with the
Negro because he was a devoted
friend of the young man and the
struggling students. No man ever
came to Mr. Langston for help that
he failed to receive it. He never
was too great to recognize and as-
sist the most humble citizen. Mr.
Langston was not vindictive. He
never had a friend to reward or an
enemy to punish. Every needy
American looked the same to him
Mr. Ralph E. Langston, the subject
of this article, possesses his father's
traits. Dignity and refinement per-
meate the very atmosphere of this
distinguished family, the mother no
exception. She is the personifica-
tion of refinement. When she was
at the Haytian court no lady was
more respected and none were more
honored than the distinguished
father and mother of young Lang-
ston, who has all the attributes of
his father and mother, but who has
seen fit to ally himself with a dif-
ferent political party. There is no
Negro Democrat, as The Bee sta-
ted before, more influential with
the Negroes in this country than
Mr. Langston, who was recently
made a victim by a narrow, contrac-
ted Negro Democrat whose politi-
cal doom is weighed in the balance.
There is everything in a name