The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-06-21
puhlieang Of Alabama in the St. Loui:

publicans OF Alabama in the st. Louis
convention, and selected to make one
If tie nominating speeches.
| had known him we'll for several
years and was curious TO SIC what ef-
feet his success would have. upon him.
For / was aware that colored folks
were not less capable that we in a crop
of vanity; but he was all unchanged.
The truth is that he is too much of
man to be spoiled by success or fat
terry. His ability, l think, is that of
abundant common sense rather than
any flashing brillfancy, and common
sense is vanitys best antidote.
1 asked Mr.. Washington to relate
some of his experiences with white peo-
pie and to tell me whether colored
men were treated any better in the
north than IN the south. He said
II find that a colored man who pos
sesses education and property and
character is treated with about as
much respect by the southern white
people as white man under similar
circumstances. A good and forceful
illustration of this occurred a few days
ago in the city Of Montgomery, Ala,
where the butchers of the city organ
ICED themselves into a club for the
furthering Of their interests. While a
majority of the butchers are white
southern men, still two of the mem
bers are coiored men, both former
slaves In the organization it is in
teresting to note that one sof these cod
orpd men was made chairman of the
committee on rules and another on an
important committee. This recogni-
ton of these colored men came about
from the fact that by their energy and
industry. coupled with common sense,
they had secured such a large proper
ton Of the trade Of the city Of Mont
gomery that If. was not possible for
them to be left out Of this organiza-
ton. and its purpose carried out: so
colored people all through the south
will receive such recognition in proper
ton as they make themselves felt in
the business world man IS not go
ing to be invited to join a business
organization unless he has business
that makes him of value in the COM
merciai world. OF course, a colored
man is not taken into the families in a
Strictly social way in the same way
that white man is, but such social
intercourse is a matter that will take
care of itself and no sensible man
worries about that There are many
things in connection with public travel
and other public conveniences that are
very annoying at present to the colored
people, but I believe all of these will
pass away in proportion as fhe colored
people become educated and refined. ]
believe that the forcing of the color
ed people to ride in a Jim Crow car
that is far inferior to that used by
the white people is a matter that can
not stand much longer against the in
creasing intelligence and prosperity OF
the colored people
You ask me for some of my per-
aaHsrs,
my travels. My main work of course
is on the grounds at Tuskegee. While
this is true, especially within the last
twelve months, I have been kept away
from school work a good deal by in
rftafions TO speak in various parts OF
the country. While speaking of these
invitations, I might add that invita-
lions to speak literally pour in upon
me from all parts Of the country. evere
to accept one-half of the invitations
receive | would not remain on the
school grounds a single day, but I tel
all that Tuskegee and its work must
be first with me, and / only speak al
places where can have an opportu-
nifty Of serving the cause Of the COL
ored people in some way. / have re.
ceived recently very tempting offers
from the various lecture bureaus to put
myself at their disposition for public
lectures. but these / have refused
Speaking of travelling in the south
while in most Of the southern states
there is a separation made in the cars
&c far as white and colored people are
concerned, have found no trouble in
securing accommodations in the Pull.
man palace cars. and what IS a cur
tcus and interesting fact in connection
with this is that while for the ter
years that I have ridden in the Pull.
man palace cars with southern white
people / have not in the slightest man
ner been insulted or been treated il
y an ungentiemanly way by them Thi.
] think grows out of the fact that onl,
She most refined southern men and wo
men patronize the Pullman palacs
cars.
A great deal OF stress is often lai5
Upon the importance Of educating ths
masses of the coloied people in order
10 solve the problem in the south