Evening star., 1901-11-09
THE WHITE HOUSE DINNER.
Plain Statement From Booker
WashimgtOn's Alabamn Home.

FROM the luSkegee tAla.l News.
The Tuskegee News is the only paper
published by the white people in the town
of Tuskegee and in Macon county, Ala,
where the Tuskegee Normal and Industrial
Institute is located and of which Booker
T. Washington is principal. This is the
first time that this paper has referred to
the White House dinner which has created
so much discussion. We have waited pa
tiently before discussing the matter, be-
cause we did not want to speak excteoly or
hastily.
The News would say that it has no hesi-
tati6n in saying that it regrets the Incl
dent and also much of the unpleasant as
cussion that has grown out or IT, froi.
Booker T. Washington has llVed IN TINS
community now for twenty years, ana the
white people in this town and county feel
that they know him and his work pretty
we'll. There cannot be found in the Whole
south a more Intelligent, cultured ana as
eliminating set of white people than those
tI4at live in Tuskegee and vicinity, and none
who would more quickly see and resent any
social advances on the part OF the negroes
in the south.
Prof Washington's life for twenty years
has been an open book in this community
and the south, and it is hardly the part OF
fairness to judge man by one act with
which we may not agree rather than by
his twenty years of wise living.
1t is perfectly well known in this COM
munity that for fifteen years Prof. Wash
ington's business in securing the money to
carry on his work has thrown him into
contact with the northern white man, both
IN the south and the north, in way that
does not often fall to the lot of the aver
age coored man, but it is equally well un-
derstood in this community that all such
contact is in the line of business, and the
purely social aspect never enters Principal
Washington's head. We feel quite sure
that the same is true of the much-talked-
of dinner at the White House, and that it
was not studied and planned affair on the
part of President Roosevelt and Prof.
Washington to offend the south, but that
the President found that he could most
conveniently see Principal Washington on
business at his dinner hour and therefore
asked him to be present. 1t is also known
by our people that at the north the dinner
table is a place to talk over business to
greater extent than is true in the south.
We repeat that it has been known for
fifteen years IN the south that Prof. Wash
the north in way that he does not in the
south There has .een scarcely a week
during the last ten years when the Asso-
ciated Press has not told us of his speak
ing and dining at some banquet in the north
with governors, etc. We all know that it
was widely reported in the press dispatches
three years ago that he lunched with
President Mckinley and his party during
the peace jubilee in Chicago. Nothing has
been hidden from the south. Any one who
knows Prof. Washington knows that he
NOiIu De the last one 10 seek invitations
TO obtrude himself in a social way upon
any one.
one other question arises. 1t is this: So
long as Principal Washington pays due re-
gard, as he has always done and as we be-
lieve he will continue to do to the feelings
and wishes of the wnIte people while he is
IN the south, how far can we reasonably
expect to limit and circumscribe his actions
While he is in the nort.-! Are some people
not in danger of asking too much? AS to
the future, We are sure that we can trust
Principal Washington to do the wise and
sensible thing, he has done up to the
Washington incident.
Sur&y If Principal Washington were en-
gagged III preaching a propaganda of so
clal equality, We believe we should see
evidences of such teaching in this commu-
nifty, where his school of 200 students and
teachers is located. Until We do we shall
be slow to pass condemnation for one in
cident.
1t should also be remembered thatthe negro
race Is at the present time without repre-
sensation in state legislatures and in the
national Congress. and that the negro race
comprises one-eighth of our entire popu-
lation, and that a President who has sworn
to be President of all the people will once
In while want to get information about the
negro race, and 1t Will be but natural for
MN TO call upon a man like Prof WASH
inston for information and advice regard
ing his race
Prof. Washington has often said in his
addresses that he had rather have the good
VIII. respect and confidence of his neigh
bors of both races in the little town of
Tuskegee, where he has made his home for
twenty years, than be without the good
Will and confidence of his neighbors and
have the confidence of all the rest of the
outside world. We are sure that we sneak
ane trutn When We say that the town Of
Tuskegee still has the highest confidence in
him and respect for