Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-12-12
CLEVELAND PREsIDEs.
Assists, At Benefit for colored Folks
Manual Training School.

PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 12.-Former Pres
ident Cleveland presided last night at
Public meeting in aid of the Berean
manual training school, an institution
which aims to give members OF the ne
gro race the benefit of an industrial
education. The meeting was attended
by prominent jurists, educators ana
business men. Mr.. Cleveland was the
principal speaker, and Booker L. WASH
ington. president OF the Tuskegee Insti-
tute. also made an address. The insti-
tuition was established less than two
years ago, and has an enrolment of 200
students.
Mr.. Cleveland is personally interested
in the school. and in accepting the invl-
tation to attend the meeting, he said
II regard the object which the meet
ing is called to promote so beneficient
and SO important to the advancement
Of a mass of our citizenship greatly in
need of Improvement and care, that |
have considered 1t my duty to comply
with the request to preside at the meet
i,,s-t'e
The colored population of the city Is
so, 900, increasing at the rate of 10000
year, and last nights meeting was held
for the purpose of interesting the peo-
rle of Philadelphia particularly, and OF
the country generally, in their educa-
rion.
Mr.. Cleveland's address was in part
as follows:
.It has often occurred to me that ever
since we have become nation the
American people have almost constant
ly been confronted with large problems,
more or less perplexing, and directly
affecting the political, industrial and
social phases of our national welfare.
We seem to have contented notion
that, whatever dangers press upon us,
and whatever obstacles are to be sur
mounted. we are able, because we seem
to be able and that because we have
thus far escaped threatening perils and
happy -go-lucky reliance on continued
good fortune will avail us to the end of
the chapter.
I am impressed with the Importance
of this occasion 1t is absolutely GER
tain that everywhere in this broad land
good people should be keenly alive to
their duty and interest as related to the
colored man, woman, youth and chill
dren. who constitute factor, large or
small. in the population of every COM
munity. 1t is foolish for us to blind
our eyes to the fact that more should
be done to improve the condition of
our negro population; and it should be
entirely plain to all of us that the
sooner this is undertaken the sooner
will serious duty be discharged and
~, w W. r.
selves against future trouble and dan
ger.
No one who has given the subject de-
liberate thought can doubt that. IT we
are to be just and fair towards our
colored fellow citizens, and il they
are to be more and safe members of
our body polite they must be taught
to do something more than to hew
wood and draw water. The way must
be opened for them to engage in some
thing better than mental service, and
their interests must be aroused to re
wards of intelligent occupation and
careful thrift.
l believe that the exigency can only
be adequately met thru the instrumen
tality OF well equipped manual train
ing and industrial schools, conducted
either independently OF in connection
with ordinary educational institutions.
I am convinced that good citizenship,
an orderly contented life. and proper
conception of civic virtue and obli-
cations is almost certain to develop
out of fair chance to earn an honest
hopeful livelihood and satisfied sense
of secure protection and considerate
treatment.
Tho still young, the Rerean Manual
Training and Industrial school has
abundantly justified its existence and
demonstrated it's power. Tor good 1t
has passed so far beyond an expert
mental stage that it's usefulness is seri-
ously cramped by a lack of means and
the want of necessary accommodations.
Surely if the liberal citizens of Phila-
delphia are once satisfied that their
duty to their less fortunate colored
neighbors demands the increased sue
cess of this institution. it should not
be difficult to induce them to extend
to it a helping hand.
g.-ss-S gS. ,:S'-r--.'s.' -. -1.F.-s.,sR
Big Fire at Scranton.
Scranton, Pa, Dec. f2.-The large
five-story structure occupied by J. l..
fSo,,al ord Cp,,rany, Ia trrD-