Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-04-16
Talks with the trustees.

A Tribune reporter called on the New
York trustees of the proposed fund to edu-
cate the colored people of the South to get
their views in Re gard to Mr.. Skaters plan.
JOHN A. STEWART,
president OF the United States Trust Com
pany, said in reply 10 the inquiries which
were made OF him:
'If you have seen the bill I hardly think
anything additional can be said on the sub
j.ct, for that covers the ground pretty fec
tualy. 1 will say, however, that l believe
great good will be accomplished by this fund.
We owe a great deal to the black race in this
country. We've emancipated them and given
them the rights OF citizenship, and we GER
tainly ought to be willing TO educate them"
"Do you think there will be difficulty in
getting the fund exempt from taxa,ion?" in
quired the reporter.
at seems to me-" said Mr.. Stewart, "that
the Legislature can do no better thing than
to second such magnificent gift by exemp-
ting it from taxation. 7 think it's Mr.. Sla-
ter's aim to do for the black race what Mr..
Peabody has endeavored to do for both
races"
when did you FIRST know OF it?"
"Mr. Slater first spoke to me about it
year ago."
"Wby is it that the charter is taken out
in New York State?"
swell, don't suppose it was done for any
particular reason, unless it be that this is
the great financial center, and that three of
the trustees are New York residents. It's
MORRIS X. JEsUP.
Morris K. Jesup, the well-known banker,
who is member of the Board OF Trustees,
was called upon BY the reporter.
81 consider this act of Mr.. Slater" said
IT. IF ha IL -
can be done. 1t is destined to make thor
ough revolution in public charities. have
known Mr.. Slater for twenty years, and in
the course of that time we have talked to-
gether great deal on the subject of charities.
This is certainly one of the grandest of the
age. For my part 1 consider it a great
honor TO the State of New York that Con-
necticut man should bring this into our
State and before our Legislature. The fund
will be of inestimable service in the educd-
tion of the negro, thing greatly to be de-
sired now that he has been made a citizen
with full Fights. And it strikes me that this
il Just as important TO the blacks as the Pea
BODY fund is to the whites. There is no
doubt that if the money Is judiciously man.
aged great results will follow. l should be
very sorry if the bill met with any opposi-
ton at Albany, though there have been in
timations TO that effect on the part OF officials
there. 1t does 5sem 10 me tnat the great
Slate Of New York cannot afford to carp al
any such thing as this"
WILLIAM E. DODGE.
William E. Dodge, who is also one of the
trustees, remarked: Il have just returned
from a i've weeks trip in the South, where
I've had occasion to see the practical effect
of education on The Southern negro. and it's
wonderful. In regard to this plan of Mr..
Skaters, I've known about b for two years,
during which time we've had several talks
on the subject. There's really nothing so
important as that which he proposes TO do.
Under this plan fifty to seventy five teachers
and ministers will be placed yearly IN posi-
tions and pulpits. l hope they'll get the
bill through the Legislature. Ny visit in
the South has still further convinced me
that there's nothing 50 important as the edu-
cation of the colored people"
EDWARD ATKINSON.
Mr.. Atkinson, of Boston, with whom Mr..
Slater has talked in reference to his pro-
posed gift and in regard to the general con-
dition Of the South, was in the city day or
two ago and was called upon at the Fifth
Avenue hotel by Tribune reporter. 81 osn
only express a general Conviction said Mr.
Atkinson. sthst Mr.. Slater will use his
money in such way as to bring about The