The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-09-22
WHAT OTHER PEOPLE THINK
Industrial Training for Negroes.
the Editor of The Journal

To the Editor of The Journal. !.
Rumor has it that a secret organization
is IN existence for no other purpose than
that OF stirring up. sentiment against the
idea OF Industrial education and it's great
apostle, BookerFE Washington. Some Of
the best educated men of the negro race
have taken serious issue with him on this
subject Professor William Dubois in his
book, The Souls'<of Black Folks claims
that Mr. Washington stands for the OPP
posite of that for which Frederick Douglas
stood; and that, growing out of this fact,
there is a two-fold result: first, sys-
tematic effort is being made to limit the
education OF the negro to industrial train
ing; and, second, he has been disfran-
chised6in the, majority Of all the southern
states. . l
Another writer, editor of the Voice of
Missouri, official organ of the African M.
g. church, says that it is an established
fact that cannot be disproved, that Book
erS Z. Washington is the author and pro-.
mulgator Of the doctrine that the negro is
inferior and unfit for any other than in
dustrial training. A convention was held
in Chicago recently behind closed doors
and as result the Chicago Conserva tor
was turned over to{a half dozen or more
of the leading citizens Of that city that
they might denounce the policy of Mrs
Washington, which they did and in strong
terms, however illogical and inconsistent
their argument appeared.
The beauty of Mr.. Washington's idea is
seen, in his claim that Industrial education
is not designed to benefit class but to
benefit the masses, andsinstead of standing
up IN opposition to what some may have
as a class benefit, he gladly welcomes the
same. No healthiNr sign can be seen
that Mr.. Washington's idea is a great
benefit than the birth Of industrial schools
and social settlements, the intention Of
both are not greatly dissimilar /. e., max
ing for the redemptio n-ef the race. They
dot the map from the gulf coast to Mime
sofa. for in Minneapolis we have the st.
James settlement, organized and directed
by a southern gentleman, the Rev. D. E. i
Butler. Mr.. Butler Has opposed Mr..
Washington, in measure, largely be-
cause the white. people made him wash
ington) the leader of the negro race.
Mr.. Buffers institution began a little
more than year ago with only a kinder
garten; it has continued to grow until now
the following activities are being directed
in connection with the Kindergarten: night
school, instrumental music, circulating
library day nursery, plain sewing, boot
and shoes making hiss activity organized
at the instigation of w. D. Washburn, and
he is arranging to Install the Syllable
are are t to be found Il II i faco4sin Illinois.
Michigan, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Mis-
sissippt. satsSrtda Georgia.,
Virginia, North Carolina, Alabama, Ken
lucky and in many other states that could
be mentioned, all of which are doing much
toward the moral social and intellectual
uplift of the race.
! If the prevailing sentiment Of the coun-
try is industrial training for the negro it
must, judging from the converts it is,
making in the different states in the union
in the north as well as south, be .senti-
ment''' of superior virtue:
IS :. ''s..@ sf5 amilton Holmes
The Early Days.
To the Editor Of The journal.
must suppose that your paper is an
exponent Of the wonderful development of
the northwest, sincegI first saw the Falls
of st. Anthony, in 1853. 1 had the honor
Of being called there to build the first
bridge across the Mississippi, and I spent
alittle time there after twas completed.
I saw the land of the military reserva-
the actual settlers, and other things Incl
dent to the beginning ofthe cities of Min
neapolis and St. Paul. 80
Your account Of the state fair reminds
me of the first state fair, which was held
at Fort Smelling I attended that. OF
course it was a meager affair There
was, I think, some live stock there, and
there were vegetables Of large size. The
feature Of the fair which impressed itself
most wildly upon my mind was an ex
hibition Of some sorghum raolasses which
was made. by some farmer not far from
Minneapolis. I happened to fall in with
a Mr.. Hoag, who was one of the first
residents Of the entered city. This was
in the evening" and as we strolled by the
little chapel inside the fort, we concluded
to go into it. It was feebly lighted by
lard oil lamps and the benches were thinly
occupied by an audience of farmers. The
molasses and it's. exhibitor, armed with
a spoon, were on a high box near the
chancel. And the apparent devotees were
invited, one by one, to approach and taste
from the filled spoon in order to be able
to test its merits. We could have easily
inferred that this might be some religious
ceremony, Judging from the solemnity% of
all Of the participants. Neither Mr.. Hoag
nor myself took sufficient interest in the
of the state Cor territory 1t was then) to
become tasters, and@we left the chapel
to hunt up some spot where we could
bunk for the night. .
y There was a horse race the following
day on the prairie, near the fort, and
Governor Ramsey made a short address
from small stand, which was received
with much enthusiasm.
Thinking of that first fair and this last
one, about a. half century apart. only goes
to show the great good which can be ac-
;complished by a good beginning. When
look over your@ paper, and by it judge
Of what Minneapolis and st. Paul must
be, you may imagine that have some
regrets that I could. not have remained
there and participated in the results It
is not often that I recognize names which
were familiar to me when I was a resi-
dent Of Minneapolis, because it is SO long
since I was there. 81 had a visit from
Mr.. f. Skinner last winter. He and my
sons grew up together. His father and
myself were friends in town in the
western part of this state. Since Mr..
SINNERS visit lost one of my sons. He
was instructor in an institute here. The
building took fire and he had to jump to
escape, and was SO injured that in a few
days he died, I had this son with me
then. 81
built the second suspension bridge.
Thomas M. Griffith.
Cherry Lane, West New Brighton, Staten
Island, N. z, Sept 8, 1903.
Didn't See the 9Hunnor, Of 1t.
To the Editor of The Journal.
noticed the article you republished
from the Chicago Post purporting to be
a resume Of one of the lectures Of Profess
sor McVey before the economic class, and
was struck by the malicious misconstruc-
ton put upon a fine and convincing adj
have distorted and twisted its remarks for
mere sensationalism and succeeded in tell
ing some half truths that sswere worse
than his because they have thrown a very