The Washington bee., 1902-04-19
TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION.

Llty SuDSCiOefSI mOhlilF. '.''''
In his second contribution to the
Golfers Weekly, Frederick Palm
er, in the issue of April II, 1902,
ugon The Joyous South of To-
day." comments at some length
upon the conduct and effects Of
Booker 4. Washington's school, at
Tuskegee, Ala.
The article is we'll written but is
rerIete with suggestion that the
South is notthe place for the skill
ed laborer and that The field of Ag-
riculture is the only one in which
he may be permitted to Oper te un-
tr,mmeled by the opposition Of
the whites.
The impression is being sOwn
very generally that most Of the stud
ents at Tuskegee complete their
course and are thereby equipped to
compete successfully with the white
brother Light is thrown on this
subject ley the statement of gen
tleman reputed to be in high stand
ing at the South. This is what he
says:
"The pity is that the school gradu'
ates so few, and so many students
leave it when they have only a smat-
tering instead of waiting until they are
thoroughly masters Of some one trade.
The danger is that the North will spoil
Washington and through him spoil
the school"
If this be true it would seem
that the school is doing positive
harm instead of a permanent good.
One If the most unfortunate re-
suits Of our educational systems Is
the turning loose of considera-
BILE number of half-educated boys
and girls, who possess just enough
education to make them pride
blown and unwilling to perform
labor for which they are most
equipped. These reOple parade
themselves as ex-students at this
or that educational institution and
do much to deceive their own race
as well as the whites. II were far
better for the race, if Booker L.
Washington sought fewer pupils
and insisted that each should agree
to complete the full course, rather
than soow the country for mere
numbers, the most of whom get a
smattering of trade
1t is high time that positive ben
efcial results be demanded of So
called leaders and educators, be
fore accrediting to them honor and
success. The correspondent takes
up the theme and characteriz9s the
institution as effecting but little
along proper lines.
Concerning the pupils who leave
the institution, Le gives express
ion to the following
"To make him a machnist is as near
as Tuskegee comes to preparing
student for place in the steel ills
of birmingham; to teach her 10 darn
socks as near as it comes to prepar-
ing a girl to take charge of a loom in
a cotton mill. The institution re.og-
nizes the limitations of the race which
called it into existence. In the cot
ton mill negroes are employed only in
the picking room. If one appeared in
anv other department the hands would
either quit work or put him out
promptly. Most Gotten operatives
are Southern born and bred"
This not only corroborates what
is said by the white gentleman OF
high standing above referred
to, but indicates the tenn
per of the South with respect
to the chances of colored
citizens to obtain employment. 1t
would seem that the bars are be-
ing built higher and higher. more
AMI more imprs9nabls against the
colored people at The Sputh who
desire to operate in the more re
muGcrstiVe vocations. Ali of this
talk and bluster about the mar
VellOusly good work being done at
TusksgeS would seem to be bat