The Savannah morning news., 1901-03-19
SPOKE FOR TUSKEGEE
BOOKER t. WASHINGTON AT MADI-
SON SQUARE.
THE INSTITUTIONS GROWTH.
AE CLAIMS RACE is PROGRESSING
IN THE SOUTH.

and Pay Taxes on &14,OOO,OO0 Oi
Property-NeGroes Not Making Sd
Much of n show in Politics, but
Making Progress in Citizenship
The Negro Taxpayer Respected by
white Citizens of the south.
New York. March 1s.-The Armstrong
Association held a meeting tonight in
the Madison Square Garden Concert Hail.
Its object was to discuss negro education
and to raise funds for the Tuskegee Nor
NAL and Industrial Institute, Tuskegee
Ala. So great was the crowd that many
were unable to gain admission, although
the hall was packed even into the aisles.
One-ffth, perhaps, of those present were
negroes.
Morris X. Jesup, president Of the
Chamber of Commerce, presided. Among
the speakers were Bishop Potter. Booker
II. Washington and William II. Baldwin.
Mr. Baldwin, who is one of the Finan-
cial Committee of the Tuskegee Institute,
paid attribute to the efficiency of the in
stitute.
Booker T. Washington outlined the
WOAh Vi NAlC ldshCSOS AhSAAAutIB oAN
make an earnest plea for money for cur
rent expenses and for an endowment of
at least $500 900; $225, eco of the endowment,
he said, had already been secured.
Mr.. Baldwin concluded by appealing for
funds for the institute, and by the an
rouncement that $4,000 had already been
promised him under certain conditions.
Booker 7. Washington said in part:
Starting with one teacher and thirty
students with no property, the institu-
ton at Tuskegee now has an average at
tendance of 1903 students and total en-
rolment OF 1891 representing twenty
seven states, Africa, Porto Rico, Cuba
and Jamaica. There are lightweight Off
GERS and teachers employed. Graduates
and undergraduates to the number of
1900 are doing most valuable work all over
the South as industrial leaders. teachers,
etc. Twenty-eight industries are in con-
slant operation, and they are industries
at which our men and women find i'm
mediate employment as soon as they leave
our institution. Since 50 per cent of our
people in the Gulf States live by agrcult-
ure in some form, we make agriculture
largely the basis of our training. Using
agriculture as a foundation we must grad
ually teach our race to do well the things
which their hands find Immediately about
them, using this as a stepping stone to
what the world calls higher and more
important things. Usefulness in the
highest degree will constitute our greatest
protection and secure our highest eleva-
tion. The property of the institution is
now valued at $500, 600, and includes 2267
acres of land and forty-two buildings,
counting large and small which have al
most wholly been built by the student la
Dor.
fark - a..
Is In two directions. First, money for
current expenses. Our annual current ex-
pense account is about $4,000. Secondly.
an endowment fund of at least S500.00O We
nave secured toward this amount 1925 100
Despite the discouraging remarks Of
ten made regarding the negro, my daily
contact with the race for twenty years
In the black belt of the South lie DIS me
to testify without hesitation that the race
is making slow but constant progress. At
the Tuskegee negro conference a few
weeks ago a careful investigation showed
that over one-third OF the nearly 1000
persons who attended that meeting now
own their homes and have ceased mort
gaging their crops In the state of Vir-
ginia, where the race has had the direct
benefit of the work of the Hampt n In
stitute for thirty years, the official rec
ords at Richmond show that the colored
people own one-twenty-sixth of the land
of Virginia; where the race has had the
direct benefit east of the Blue Ridge they
own one-tenth of the land in twenty-five
counties, one-half of the land in NJ ddle-
sex county, one-sixth of the land In Han
over county and one-third i'm Charles City
county.
I'm Georgia the official records show
that they own 1875 900 acres and are paw
ing taxes on $14,OOo,OOO worth of prope ty.
In that state they are adding to their
property at the rate of 1899 900 annually.
This. it seems to me. Is pretty good for
a race that started in complete poverty
something over thirty-five years ago.
More and more we should learn to judge
the race by its best types rather than by
fits worst types.
1--WE may not hold so many political
offices as we did in former years, but we
hold more farmers Institutes and have
organized more agricultural fairs. We
may not have so many men in the state
Legislatures, but more of us own homes
and are paying taxes. We may not have
so many men in Congress as formerly
but we have built more Industrial schools
and have organized more savings banks.
within the last two years l have beer
into all OF the Southern states except
two, and have made a careful examina-
ton into the life OF our people in city and
in country. Wherever l went asked this
question of both white and black people
How is the negro who owns property, as
a taxpayer possessing education and
man of high moral character, treated by
the white race? And most without ex
ception the answer came from both race,
that such an individual is more highly
regarded than is true of the average pow
erty stricken man. So long as this II
true shall have greater faith in the so
luton Of this problem through the meth
DDS that Tuskegee and other institution
are pursuing.
I'm my mind this is the greatest prob
lem that is before our nation. We shoul,
no longer depend for it's solution upon tn
mere receiving a few pennies by tn
passing around of the hat. Those o
wealth and influence should take hol
OF Il in a generous manner. The Whit
South in it's poverty Is not able alone t
bear the burden. There never was sucl
an opportunity for the lifting up of al
entire race through money property uset
as is presented in the case OF the nearl!
100000 black men at the South Perhap
10 single agency has done more in tn
proper guidance and stimulation of ne
gro education at the South during tn
last twenty years than the John +. Sla
ter fund which has been so used as q
emphasize the importance Of an indus
trial foundation for the race
Let me give you an example Of III
highest type OF generosity and breadth 0
action. A few days ago a black man q
Alabama who spent the greater portio
OF his life In slavery, who can ueithe
read nor write, found after he had sol