The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1899-09-02
DID NOT SCORE WASHINGTON,
The Rev. r. G. Ransom Explains r.,
marks at.Afr efican Council,

The Rev. r. g. Ransom Explains Re.
marks Neutrality-suspicious. Council.
To- the Editor Please permit me to correct
statement made ID your excellent report Of
the National Afro-American council, pub
lished in The Sunday Inter Ocean.
1T was stated there that at the Saturday
morning session Of the council while most Of
the members were absent on committees, that
arose and made an attack upon Professor
Booker 7. Washington, calling him coward
and q trimmer Iarose at the urgent request
Of Mrs. Booker T. Washington to move that
her name be stricken from the programme Of
the National Afro-American council. I said
that 1t was unfortunate that we could not have
the benefit OF the presence Of that distin-
guished man OF our race. Booker T. Washing
ton, but that had been reliably informed
that thereason that hesremained away from
our session was because he feared that some
incorporate remarks would be made which
might injure him In his educational work If
he were identified with US!
! said that II Booker T. Washington. the
, school teacher. thought that his coming
among US might In some way jeopardize the
interest Of his school in which he is putting
the best energies of his life, 1t was right for
him to remain away; thaBhe should do moth
ing which would; harm the splendid work Of
| his heart and brain. But as Mr.. Washington
| is generally regarded by the white people
CT the nation as the foremost American negro
and the leader OF his race, i felt that he should
have been present with US.
If he is cur Moses, he ought to have been
| here to lead US. II he is our sage, he ought to
have been here to teach US wisdom If there
! was any danger cf!our going wrong, he ought
to have beea present to set US right I felt
there was no danger Of his position on any
! question being misrepresented, as the news
J papers would have fully reported any utter
| RANGES ofshis. Ill
1t may have been unwise for me to have re-
ferred to Mr. Washington at all, but certain
J ~ did not do so with any intention either ia
misrepresent him or DO him harm; but when
to the fact that the evening before 1 made
these remarks he sent for Bishop Walters,
the president and stood Nnder the lamp post
in front OF my house, which Is opposite the
church, and, talked for Quite while, was
added the fact that heshad previously sent
for him to confer with him at his hotel l felt
that II ne lad any message to convey to the
council, OF desired to exercise any control
over its deliberations, he should have come
into our midst. We had met to deliberate
upon our social, industrial, educational
financial, and civil onditions; we needed the
help Of CUT best and wlsest minds.
The convention was representative in char
acter, having among its members five bishops,
seven editors, six prominent educators OF
the colored youth, a score OF ministers, ten
or twelve lawyers and doctors, besides farm
ers, mechanics, and labcrers. 1 felt, and still
feel that neither Mr.. Washington nor hi,
school could be injured by being associated
with such men. ~. =
| think that we cannot too highly honor
MT. Washington for the splendid work he Is
Going for his race and mine in the black bell
OF Alabama, and Of the demonstration of The
negro's capacity for the management Of large
affairs, Of which he IS, such splendid ex.
ample did not call him, a traitor, or a trim,
mer, CT coward, as every one who was pres.
ent when spoke we'll knows. These words
may have been uttered from the audience:
| 30 not know; I did. not-hear them. I simnl,