Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-09-26
THE RACE PROBLEM.
Booker Washington on the Subject
Gov. Gambler Commends Him.

ATLANTA. GA, September 25-Five
hundred negroes heard Booker T. Wash
ington, president of the Tuskegee Nor
NAL and Industrial College for Negroes,
at Tuskegee, deliver an address here to-
night on the Race Problem IN the Light
Of European Travel" He has recently
returned from a trip TO Europe, and 1t
was largely upon his observations on this
trip that he spoke. Among the other
speakers was Governor Gambler, who well
coined Washington on behalf of the
state. The Governor said he was aston
ished when he contemplated the progress
made by the negroes during thirty years
Of freedom. The cause Of the negroes
plight, Governor Gambler said, was the
politicians He advised the negroes 10
listen TO Washington. and he could lead
them to attain a position no politician
could ever attain.
Concluding. he said: "Your work will
aid me in putting down the mob in the
South"
W. A. Pledger, a local negro politician
and editor Of a negro paper. welcomed
the guest on behalf Of tho negro people.
He believed that the parting OF the ways
had come. He spoke on equal rights for
the negroes. and said some Of them had
as good white blood I'm them as there
was i'm the South, but with this they
could not buy railroad ticket and ride
in a decent coach. State School Commits
siOner Glenn and J. NJ Henderson, presi-
dent Of the Morris Brown College, also
spoke.
Washington took occasion to thank the
Governor Of Georgia, in the name of the
negro race, and al good people through
out the country, for the manly and cOur-
ageous manner in which he is having the
law for the protection Of human life en-
forced I'm this State The speaker believed
the Governor had the aid and sympathy
Of every man. white and black, in the
State.
with the cleanest and strongest mem
bcrs Of both races standing shoulder to
shoulder in favor Of blOtting out crime"
said Washington. there can be no doubt
as to the future prosperity and happiness
Of each race"
The speaker denied that he had re-
turned from Europe discouraged and dis
heartened as TO the prospects Of his race
in this country. So far from this being
true. he never felt more hopeful about
the future of the race than he does at
present.
4 have unwaverlng faith in the provi-
dence Of God" continued Washington.
who knows but that events within the
last year have been Gods way Of teach
ing the race that II must make friends
I'm every manly way with the people
among whom it lives. and upon whom
in a large measure 1t depends for daily
subsistence.
"Our problem is not 10 be solved by
looking to Congress or TO the North
alone. but by the reputation that each
individual creates for himself in his own
community and county.
$50 long as the negro is permitted I'M
molested 10 secure education, property
and employment and is given the pro-
lection of the law, / shall have great
faith In our being able to work out our
own destiny The South has been guilty
of a great many crimes. but i believe
that It has rarely, If ever been guilty Of
numbering men simply because they
sought honest employment There Is lit
tie difference between the slavery that
oOmpels a man TO work without pay and
that which forces him to refrain from
working for paw"