Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-02-13
NEGRO PROBLEM.
Booker 7. Washington Presents q
Solution Thereof.
SPEAKING TO OHIO REPUBLICANS.

- y
Basiness-Abuse Of the South Of no Avail
Tho Object Lesson at Tuskegee-Indas-
trial Development the Key Of the Prob
lem-Great Enthusiasm When Hanna
and Bushnell Appear.
GAINESVILLE, O., Feb. 13.-The State Re-
and the feature Of the meeting was the
speech of Booker T. Washington at the
banquet at night. There was a lack Of
enthusiasm at the morning session of
the league, but 1t was more than made
up in the afternoon. Fully 5000 people
were present and at times the chairman
was taxed to his utmost to restrain the
enthusiasm Of the 1000 delegates and
the spectators. The most marked event
Of the afternoon occurred when Cover
nor Asa 8. Bushnell and Hon. Mark
A. Hanna, with other prominent Re-
publicans, entered the hall together.
Delegates jumped to their feet and
cheered and the audience of ladies and
gentlemen Joined in the applause until
1t was deafening. Both were introduced
to the audience and spoke briefly. The
usual resolutions were adopted, ask
ing for the legislative enactment Of the
national platform Of the party and con-
graduating Mckinley on his election.
Bushnell Presides 1t the Banquet.
1t was 1890 when the doors were
opened for the banquet. Gov. Bushnell
presided. On his right sat Mark Han
ma, next to whom was Senator John
NJ. ThurstOn. To the governors left
were State President Charles F. Leach
and National President Woodmansee.
Then in order came on either side
Sylvester T. Everett, Major Charles
Dick, Booker T. Washington, William
Allen White, Congressman s. A. North
way and other guests. The toasts were:
Abraham Lincoln" Senator John NJ.
Thurston; 1.-The American Congress-"
Hon. T. McCleary.
ITO the Chairman Of the National
Committee, To Be Drank Standing:
What's the Matter with Kansas" Will
lam Allen White; Solving the Negro
Question in the Black Belt of the
South" Booker T. Washington. The
latter's speech was brief, but as the
speeches Of this eloquent representative
Of his race always are, it was pithy.
Solution Of the Race Problem.
He said: "The negro problem is pass
ing from a question Of sentiment into
one Of Industrial amd: commercial busi.
ness. Little can be gained for the ne
gro by abuse Of the south. Little can
be gained for the white man by abuse
of the negro. The negro that loves a
white man is ten-fold greater than q
white man who hates a negro. The key
to the solution Of the race problem in the
south is in the commercial and indus
trial development Of the negro that shall
| rest upon the highest and broadest cul-
/ ture. We have $50 students at Tuskegee
from twenty-five states, thirty-one in
| structors and a colony of LOO people.
Together with literary training we train
in twenty-six different industries. OF
the thirty-seven buildings all except
| three were erected by students.
What They Have Done at Tuskegee.
| "They have sawed the lumber, made
the bricks, done the masonry, carpen-
try, plastering, painting and tinsmith-
ing. The property is now valued at
$260. 900, and is the work of the students
of the past fifteen years. We have, a
great object lesson in the civilization
In the negro. and hope to make it felt
all over the black belt. The negro was
tied to the white man in slavery through
L
himself to the white man through the
bonds Of commerce and the cultivation
Of the sympathetic good will of his
neighbors.
When Negro VIII BE Respected.
when the black man has the best
farm in his county, every white man
will respect him. A white man honors
the negro that lives in a two-story brick
house. whether he wants to or not In
all history can you find a race that Dos
sessed property, industry and intelli-
gence that has long been denied its
rights? If the possession Of these ele-
ments does not bring to the negro every
right enjoyed by other citizens, then
the Bible and the teachings Of the great
Jehovah are wrong"
Washington was loudly cheered at the
conclusion of his speech. EN
LOOKS VERY MUCH LIKE WAR.