The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-06-12
JUHNSTON TALKS ABOUT TUSKEGEE The Ex-Governor Interviewed
 in Baltimore WORK IS OVER-EST TIMATED Distinguished AIabamian Says Wash. lnston Is Clever, But Has
 Done Little for His
 Race.
WORK IS OVER-ESTIMATED

A Baltimore special to the Augusta Herald says:
 Former Governor Jospeh F. Johnston of Alabama is visiting his brother. MT. Bartlett S. Johnston, at his residence, Eutaw Place extended, on his way to New York.
 Governor Johnston talked Interestingly to a reporter of the conditions in the south and particularly in reference to the negro problem and the work that is be- ing done by Booker T. washingtons in- dustriaI school for negroes at Tuske- gee.
 According to Governor Johnston the beneficial effects of this institution and the influence of Washington for good upon his race are very greatly overes- timated and exist largely in the minds of northern philantropists, who are without practical experience with the real ne- gro.
 Visited Tuskegee.
 while governor" said Governor John ston, q visited the Tuskegee institute, and while I think that to teach the negro trade is better than teaching him Latin, Greek and higher mathematics. I do not personally believe that the work of the institute Is doing good to either the negro or the state. From my own observation I know of but one student of the school who has ever amounted to anything at all along the lines in which he was in- structed.
 .eThe trouble about educating the negro is that while you may give him little Knowledge you in no way raise his moral | k11a fo anE n Q in morals, and while sometimes you find one who has the proper ideas they are very rare
 For instance, a negro who has served a term in the penitentiary not only re- stunned his former place in society when he is released, but there is not the slight est stigma of shame attached to him in the eyes of other negroes. In fact, he is a sort of hero.
 Let Massachusetts Try It.
 "It is tremendous problem, this negro 1 question, and to my mind 1t is an indi- vidual one which the negro must work out for himself I read with interest an article advocating the colonization of 100000 cotton field negroes in the state of Massachusetts. and I want to say that I most heartily approve of the idea and wish that it could be done. We can not
 
 but believe that after brief experience those well-intentioned persons in Massa- 1 chusetts who are so fond of advising the l south how to deal with the negro ques- l tion would change their ideas on the sub l ject. The experiment would be watched | with interest throughout the south, and ] I think the people of Massachusetts would begin to look at the whole question in a new light. Let them colonize the negroes l there in sufficient numbers to make them factor in the politics of the state, and perhaps they would conclude that in some things they had been mistaken.
 Booker Washington Is Clever.
 "As for Booker Washington, he is an exceedingly clever negro, but in my Judg- ment his work In Alabama has done very little toward what is commonly called the uplifting of his race nor has he any great amount of influence, even among the negroes. They will flock to hear him speak, but as for following his advice and doing as he tells them to do, they do not do 1t. He has been success full in obtaining money for his school, and has made it a sort of a fad, but cannot see that 1t has done much good. Certainly it's work has been vastly over estimated by the people outside of the state.'
 Mir. Roosevelt's Policy.
 Governor Johnston said that the ap- pointment of negroes in the south to fed eral positions by President Roosevelt and the overythrow of the lilly whites" had had the effect of causing unrest through out the state among the negroes, who are being led to believe that they are a factor in the politics of the country and | must insist upon their rights.
 In reference to the sentiment in Ala bama concerning the democratic presi- dential candidate in 1904. Governor John- ston said that it had not centralized | about one man as yet, although he did not think the feeling in the state was strong for Cleveland. The geueral de- sire, he said, seemed to be to nominate | a good, conservative man. and avoid ex- | treme men of either faction.