The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-01-14
NEGROES PLEAD
FOR SCHOOLS
ASK Not to Be Condemned to
Ignorance.
SOME OPEN CONFESSIONS
NOT so MUCH TROUBLED OVER
RIGHT TO VOTE.
SAY POLITICS HAS BEEN THEIR CURSE
key. Leaks Statement of the Condition of the
Negro at the North and at the South.
Mere Mechanical Training
is Needed.

Sututioudi AIHeuullltulS, III tue supreme
court library yesterday afternoon, was
most interesting one.
The feature of the meeting was the APP
pearance before it of three representative
colored men-Smith, Crosby and Leak
to ask the committee not to recommend
favorably the proposed amendment in re-,
gard to dividing school taxes according
to the amount paid by each race
Isaac Smith, the member of the House
from Craven, was the first speaker He
said he was speaking for half a million
people.
From the shoulders up my race is
exceedingly weak. As to the proposition
to give the negro only the school taxes
that he pays, don't think the white
people can afford to do this from the
standpoint of their own interest. How
ever, just it may be, it's not expedient.
1T was never intended that a penny
value should rule the 100 cents value.
The white people have more at stake in
this country than has the colored man.
Laws that will protect his dollars will
protect my penny. Settle it so that
the penny will rule and it will not stay
settled long. 1t was settled that way
III w WlIUeSS tlle result.
Referring. to the caucus that read him
out of his party, Smith said he had
claimed at home he was in favor of good
government and since he had been here
he had been trying to live up to the
contract. The members of that caucus,
though, he said. claimed to be in favor
of good government, but daily proved
the tasty of the claim.
SIN thic canpaotion If Uould no val IN
remember that Annanias and Sapphire
were struck dead for lying.
politics has not helped my race. On
the contrary" he said, "for the past
thirty-four years politics had been posi-
tive curse to the negro. And yet the
right to vote is the dearest privilege
the colored man to-day possesses. He
seems to think somehow or other it goes
along with his freedom.
ssFrom financial standpoint you will
gain by continuing to give us school
.lneney. In so doing you tax yourselves
to try to make good men and women.
Otherwise you will be taxed to prosecute
and punish criminals among us. 1t is
costly business making good men and wo-
men. but it's cheapest in the long run.
It's easy to promote ignorance and make
criminals. but it's hard to control them"
smith said the past experience of his
race as to schools was very discouraging.
He had long been teacher, and he knew
what he was talking about. As for him he
was in favor of compulsory education.
He thought they ought to be made good
blacksmiths and farmers and carpenters,
but the only way to do it is compel them
to learn.
Smith, what's your idea about suf-
frage?"
you don't want to disfranchise the
whole race. You ought to leave few of
the good men of our race-enough to
keep sending me back"
sHow did you get the nomination.
.sWhy, God gave it to me. 1t is nearly
marvellous, miraculous that I'm here"
'sWhat sort of election law do you
want?"
what we want is something to save
us negroes from the politcans-the Re-
publican politicians--white men who use
us and then tell us to go to Hades,
Fiddler's Green or anywhere else"
but You keep getting worse?'
Yes, they have for the last few years
got pretty bad, but they are changing
mighty fast
That's because they are scareuF
II never get scared. / never do any
thing to get scared about"
What is Hour plan!
"To keep the thing like you've got it if
you can hold it,
.sWould your race be satisfied with a
small property qualifications
ssWell, they'd like that better than
what they think they're going to get"
.sWhat do they think they are going
to getY
..They think they are going to be re-
duced to such small number that
those that are left had as well be like the
rest"
.'Do you favor a continuation of the
shotgun policy"
"Them things amt got no place; they
amt in order"
The next speaker was Rev. r. II. w.
Leak, of Raleigh, presiding elder in
the Methodist church. Leak said he came
to discuss the educational amendment.
AS it had been intimated that this would
not be passed, he did not think it ne
cessary for him to consume the time of
the committee. As TO the suffrage
amendment he was not interested in that.
Whatever might be done as to suffrage,
he would be content; but he hoped the
white people would not cut the negro
off in ignorance and darkness.
1--WE simply ask that you'll help us to
educate and civilize ourselves. In the
South we are allowed to make our
money together, but not to spend it to-
gether. In the North we are allowed
to spend our money together, but not to
make it together.
He preferred the conditions existing in
the South.
Leak said it mattered not with him
what was done as to suffrage. lie felt
sure the Legislature was going to try to
do right, and what was right he was
willing TO submit to.
Don't you think there ought to be less
literary education and more mechanical
training?"
II do. / favor the education Of heart,
hand and head together. / like Booker