The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-10-14
RACE PROBLEM
It Is Discussed at the Southern Industrial
Convention.

yesterday by delegates to the Southern
Industrial Convention, now In session
here.
President O. W Dabney. Of the Uni
versity Of Tennessee, was the cher
speaker of the day lie discussed the
improvement Of agriculture in the
South, urging higher education Of the
farmer. %
Prof Booker 7 Washington, prlnci-
pal of the Industrial College at Tuske'
gee, Ala was given an enthusiastic
reception In his address before the
convention he said in part
q" la all discussion and legislation
bearing upon the presence of the negro
in America It should be borne In mind
that we are dealing with people who
were forced 10 come here without their
consent and In the face Of most earnest
protest The negro has earned his
right 20 the title Of American citizen
by obedience to law, by patriotism and
fidelity and by the millions which his
brawny arm and willing hands have
added to the wealth Of this country.
" IL is u sign Of new era when We
can 50 far forget the past that con
vention freed from political influence
and selfish motive, composed Of the
most progressive and intelligent white
citizens If our Southern States. Is wise
and brave enough to devote day to the
negro and his relation to the economic
progress II the South.
Before we can make much progress
we must decide whether or not the
negro IL 20 be permanent part Of the
South With the light that is before
us we have no hesitation in declaring
that the great bulk Of the negro popu-
lAtiun will permanently abide IN the
Southern States.
''Th3 negro in all parts Of this coun.
try is beginning 10 appreciate the adyan-
tages which the South affords him for
earning living. and in proportion as
this il realized it will constitute the
basis Of the settlement II other diff
culties The colored man is beginning
to learn that the bedrock upon which
every individual rests his chances for
success IN life is securing in every
manly wly-never at the sacrifice Of
principle friendship. the cond
dsuce the respect Of his neXt-d00r
neighbor IN the little community in
which he lives. Almost the whole
problem # the negro in the South rests
self upon the question as to whether
the negro make himself Cf such indis-
pansable service to his neighb)r and to
the community that no one can fiji his
place better in the body poltic There
il no other safe course for the negro to
pursue
Pr,f W II Council pre-idsnt Of
the College for Negroes at Normal,
Ala. delivered an address entitled
The Industrial Negro in the Industrial
South " lie said In part
This is an occasion Of supreme i'm
portance and special privilege 20 the
negro Of the South There can be no
better prof Of your friendly feeling and
interest In my race than your cordial
invitation TO participate in this most
important gathering IN the South since
the war II 1861.
." | do not ask for the negro the su
preme right to rule. but the God given
privilege TO do an honest days labor.
The man who counts me ont at the bal.
lot-box may defeat the evil schemes Of
selfish politicians But the man who
counts me out OF an equal chance to
earn dollar robs me Of my birthright,
sends the wolf to my door, and digs a
grave for my wife and children. The
negro Of the South enjoys blessings un-
known o. his brethren in any other
par, Of our American Union. To him
there are no Panas, TO Rockfords, 20
Oartersvilles
&" The gus which in 1861 were claim
ed to be fired for my freedom today,
when as a freeman, seek work, pour
their deadly yolleys into my body AS
observe the labor troubles of the
North. as | see the terrible opposition
to negro labor in the North, East and
West. as | note the stubborn prejudice
which Northern workmen are bringing
into the South, | am more and more
thoroughly established in my conclu-
sion that the negro's best friend is the
South
Ex.Gov. w. a. MacOorkle, Of West
Virginia, discussed THE Race Cues
ton " lie said in part
1.-The best men in the North and in
the South who have considered this
subject believe that it is not right that
the American nation should turn the
negro race over to itself at this period
O. its evolution. 1t is the duty OF the
people who brought him here to stand
by him and 20 TO help him in the evo-
luton Of this great problem.
How will you get the consent OF
the American negro to his deportation
to foreign land? 1t would at the
| west estimate cost in mere trans
portation more than $500, 600, 900,
with at least similar amount
to prepare him to go and to sus-
tain him for time when there. 1t
would take at least 30 years to half a
century in time In addition to the
crime Of removal, the negro sent back
into Africa in his present state OF evo-
luton would simply mean relapse in
his status Of civilization.
III 81 ha