question, no matter how unpopular it is. He is strictly temperate, having signed a pledge in his youth against the use of intoxicating drinks and tobacco, and has kept it to this day. He is always on the side of temperance, and an advocate of prohibition, local option, or anything that aims at the destruction of the rum traffic.
He has used the columns of his paper against the practice of Sunday excursions, and the holding of camp-meetings and festivals, and endeavors to impress upon his people the importance of improving their morals, educating their children, and of the ownership of land.
Mr. Smith is a member of the Methodist church, and while not much of a society man, he has held prominent offices in the State Grand Lodge of Odd Fellows and Good Templars. He took an active part in politics in 1888, and represented his county in the district and state Republican conventions. He was elected by acclamation in the state convention as alternate delegate-at-large to the Republican National Convention at Chicago, in 1888.
For several years Mr. Smith was the only negro printer in the state, during which time he started many colored boys in the trade he was following. In 1880, he adopted Charlotte, N. C., as his home, after having spent a few years in traveling.
At the beginning of 1890 he gave up The Charlotte Messenger he was then publishing, and accepted a position in the government printing-office at Washington, where he is now employed.
Mr. Smith may be regarded as a pioneer journalist of the "Tar Heel" state, and is certain to do credit to himself and to his race in any position he may assume, for, once taken, he will work conscientiously and diligently to discharge acceptably the duties of his office. He is a man to be depended on, at all times and in all places.
