Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-24
TUSKEGEE METHODS
How the Negro Race is Inn
proving Itself.
LEARNING SELF-HELP
THE WONDERFUL WORK OF
BOOKER WASHINGTON.
Southern Blacks Not Seeking Social
but Business and Industrial Equal
ity-Character Building.
LEARNING SELF-HELF

ity-Character Building.
Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.
TUSKDGEE February 18. 1903.
"Ah had a little puppy dog. bout 50 big,
an I TUX him an traded him with nah
brother for little pig, bout 20 big. II
was a colored woman who was speaking,
woman as black as could be. but whose
clothing was neat, whose eyes were prlgnt
and who had a certain air OF independence
which inspired respect. She was very much
In earnest, and as she spoke Of the size OF
the pig and the puppy dog she stopped over
to the floor and Indicated the height OF
two exceedingly small animals with move
ment so spontaneous and 80 expressive that
her listeners looked, fairly expecting to see
the little animals there at her feet. And
this was not a comedy, nor q theatrical ex-
hfbition Of any sort; 1t was a little para
graph In the life and death struggle OF
race and the listeners, over 1900 OF them.
were drinking every word and every action
with an intensity of interest that was posi-
lively thrilling. For this was the annual
negro conference at Tuskegee. and Booker
T. washington was drawing out Of the au-
dience, with infinite patience and wonderful
skill. significant Incidents, episodes, and
even whole life histories, told In a few
words. For five long hours the conference
lasted, and there was not moment OF the
time that the interest Jagged, or that the
expression of keen wakefulness left those
upturned black faces.
This particular woman owns her place on
forty acres and she does not owe a cent in
the world. She and her daughter work the
land; they raise everything that they eat
they are proud of their vegetable garden
and their flowers, and some years they
lay up 500. Last year they bought fine
all this out OF her by skillful questions, and
she was about to sit down. when. with sud-
den animation, she began the history OF the
pig.
land by and by 1t was 50 big; and then u
grew I'D and I turned 1t out and prayed the
Lord that have meat. And that pig done
come back to me with eight little pigs, and
All been Twin on meat I'm that puppy dog
ever since
Booker Washington's Work.
There is no name better known in Amer
lea today than that Of Booker T. Washing
ton, yet 1t Is impossible to understand all
that the name stands for without coming
down here to see not only the buildings and
the various schools which have sprung up
here, but the almost fevertsh interest and
unf1agging enthusiasm of the students.
The man must be very blind indeed who
can leave Tuskegee without having learned
that the negro has at last walked up. In
this great and really wonderful school there
Is not one single white teacher, nor one per-
son Of white blood In command. They are
turning out young men here who can build
houses, make wagons, harness, clothing,
steam engines. bricks, books, sugar. furni-
ture, butter, cheese-almost what you Will.
The fine buildings here were put up by
Students and the electric plant Is run by
the school If the town desires electricity
for any purpose, as the other evening Tor
street Illumination, they must apply to the
negro institute. There Is no k1nk In the
BRAIN down here.
/ attended a recitation in algebra, where
some difficult problems In division were be-
Ing discussed. and though 1 have been
school principal, 1 was aStonished at the
proficiency of these students. 1t was
large class, and there was not dull pupil
in it; they are not only bright, but very
bright / went to the evening school and
heard a recitation In English history, and
was astonished to see that every pupil had
prepared that lesson with care. / could
hardly believe 1t when I was told afterward
that the boys and girls who attend the
night school must work ten hours day In
the shops or on the farm and get their les
sons when they can. Many Of the students
come to this school from long distances,
and not few start out without cent In
their pockets and walk here, working their
their way through.
If Booker T. Washington lives for twenty
years more his race will have become q
power in the land such as no man dreams
Of today. And even If he should die there
are doubtless others who could carry on the
great work which he has begun. For many
Of the brightest negroes, after leaving here
or other schools, give themselves up to the
work of spreading Tuskegee methods.
Young Roscoe Conkling Bruce, who was
class orator at Harvard last year, is here
now as head Of the academic department.
He is youth of great promise and Of the
deepest devotion to the cause which Wash
ingtOn represents. Robert L. Smith, presi-
dent of the Farmers Improvement Society
OF Texas, Is an organizer Of exceptional
ability and real orator.
The Farmers Conferences.
The farmers conference" is a sort OF
experience meeting. at which the negro
farmers get together. some of them coming
from as far az thirty miles They all gather
In a large hall built for the purpose. and
Mr.. Washington presides over them, ques-
lions them as to the condition of the race
in their respective neighborhoods and gives
them advice. This year the special feature
was the testimony Of those who owned their
own homes and description OF the strug-
giles by which those homes were acquired.
The questions which Washington asked OF
every speaker were:
How many negroes In your neighborhood
own their own farms?"
us there a general effort to acquire land
on the part OF the negroes?'
do you notice any lessening Of the crop
mortgage evA?''
Are your morals improvingf
Are your school teacher and your
preacher moral menT'
How many months school do you have
every yearr
Cant you manage to get more school,
mgr"
Much OF the testimony showed that pre-
vious conferences had borne fruit. In sew
eral instances where the state provided for
only three months school, the negroes them
selves contributed a sufficient sum to keep
the school or schools open a month and q
half or two months longer.
Not Seeking Social Equality.
1--WE don't seek for social equality" said
one speaker. but for business equality.
Know that when you have money and
property and knowledge and moral char
acter you viii have power, and everybody