The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-10-27
T. A. BRYSON,
242 BULL STREET.
BISHOP GAMBLERS VIEW.
South Can Do Better Than Go Into
Mysteries.

From the Atlanta Journal.
Bishop Warren A. Gambler was seen
by Journal reporter this morning and
talked interestingly on several subjects
that are being generally discussed at
the present time. He was first asked
for his opinion in regard to the recent
dining of Booker T. Washington at the
White House, and he answered:
Il think the President blundered. not
to state it more strongly. Booker
Washington is not helped; nobody who
ever loved President Roosevelt loves
him any more than before, while many
people like him much less; and he has
hindered work he might have done in
the South"
But it's the way of reformers," he
continued. Ito fix the eye on one idea
and lose sight of a score of other things
OF far more Importance along that way.
1 think, however, some of our people
are making more ado about the matter
than it really deserves. 1t is idle to
talk about social equality. Nature has
settled that question and it is likely
TO stay settled without regard to what
Mr.. Roosevelt or anybody else may do.
Nature has a fashion of giving little
heed to people however prominent or
influential, who fly in her face. Besides
all this, men or races, who are salts
fed with the stability of their social
status, do not fall into Mysteries when
| somebody seems to threaten their
standing. 1t is scarcely dignified for
| some OF our people to be taking on SO.
| On the other hand Mr.. Roosevelt and
| others of like mind should bear in mind
| that the negro race is injured and not
| helped by efforts that tend to impress
| negroes that their hope is not in being
| the best of negroes, but in trying to
| be white folks. 1t is not respectful
| TO the negro to try to make a white
| man of him."
But there is a more serious matter"
| said Bishop Gambler, I'VE would do
well to lay to heart, and it is a matter
that is being very generally overlook
ed. l mean the superiority of the me-
gro colleges over the white colleges in
point of financial support Booker
Washington can get more money by
one speech in New York or Boston
than the president of any one of our
white colleges can get for his school
by a whole years campaign among our
own people. And Booker Washington
and others like him are constantly get
ting all the money they need. The fact
that Booker Washington sits down at
the Presidents table is mostly a mat
ter of Caucasian's taste and African
stomach, but the fact that Booker
Washington secures thousands of dol
lars for his school while white COL
leges in the South receive next to
nothing affects the very vitals of our
civilization. / do not begrudge Wash
ingtons people any good thing which
comes to them; I haven't begrudged a
negro anything since the days when
/ swapped teacakes to Uncle JEFF for
'possum and taters' in the days OF
my childhood, and jeff and l both lik-
ed the trading. am glad the negroes
have such a man as Washington
among them, and I am sure Northern
people can do very much worse with
their money than to educate negroes
with it. But" said he. 81 do not be-
lieve it would be good for either the
negroes or the white people that this
superiority of the negro colleges in the
matter of equipment should continue
and constantly increase"
What is the remedy?" the Bishop
was asked.
There is but one remedy" said he.
THE Southern white people must begin
to deal literally by Southern colleges
We have delayed this help to our col
leges too long. pleading our poverty to
extenuate our stinginess. We keep up
with the North in horse shows cos
HOUSES, ana
furniture, but few among us have
learned how to give good gifts to our
educational institutions. Some of our
wealthiest people are still debating that
old chestnut of a question as TO
whether colleges and education are
very necessary after all. They are be-
lated because they are benighted. The
ignorance which will discusses such
question reveals how much we need
better colleges.
Are there any signs Of better day
coming in the near future in this par
ticular?" he was asked.
Yes" said he. Just now there are
pending in Georgia two propositions on
behalf of two of the best colleges in
the state. which show, I hope, the
dawning of a better day. Some months
go Mr.. Rockefeller proposed to give
$4,000 to Mercer University If the
friends of the institution in Georgia
would raise $4,000 more, and I under
stand the $50, 900 is very nearly secured.
More recently Capt. j. p. Williams of
Savannah proposed TO give $4,000 for
a new and much-needed building at
Emory College II the friends of the in
stitution would raise $4,000 more.
think about s., 900 has already been Sc
cured on this proposition. Both OF
these proposals ought 10 be generously
and promptly met, and II we are not
willing to meet them we ought 10 quit
talking about the little af-
fair Of Washington's dinner
with the President. That is a very
small matter compared with our own
neglect OF colleges for the whites. Pres
ident Roosevelt has made a blunder.
but II we continue as we have been
doing 50 long 20 neglect our colleges
we will commit a crime. Abusing the
President H. cheap. but endOwing our
colleges costs something II We are
sincere about our concern for the
proper relations between the races let
us see that We DO our duty and All the
rest viii take care 81 Itself ~ on the
other hand we refuse 70 90 our duty
We viii invite conditions that Will %