The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-12-19
GIVE WHITE BOYS
 AN EQUAL CHANCE Judge RouIhac Talks on Sur
 preme Need of South AN INDUSTRIAL EDUCATION Training Schools for White Youths in All Southern states-south Owes
 Duty to the Whites as We'll
 as to the Blacks.
AN INDUSTRIAL EDUCATION

1 The supreme need or the southern states at this time is the establishment and endowment of institutions, situated at geographically strategic points, for the industrial education of the whites of both sexes'
 That is what Judge Thomas R. Roul- hac,. United States district attorney. said yesterday in commenting on social, econ omie and industrial conditions in this section of the union.
 Not Given to Superlatives.
 Ordinarily l am, not inclined to use superlatives," continued Judge Roulaac. Tt Is so easy to talk about the supreme need of community, a state or sec tion In this case, however, I feel strong ly that my words are well within the limits of restrained statement
 "The great economic factor in the equa- ton of our life in this southern eoun- try is the presence here of large num- Der of persons of African deseent-per- sons who belong to what is essentially an inferior race. Side by side with these negroes live a slightly larger number or persons of Caucasian descent, temper ament. character anG aspiration. "The problem with which we are con- fronted here is: How shall we improve the conditions of both these peoples diff fering as they do in mental and moral endowments?
 What Experience Teaches.
 Experience teaches that when two such peoples live side by side with one another, the superior race must direct the development of the lower group, and di- rect 1t first by safeguarding and strengthening it's own position and at the same time uplift by counsel, encourage men and material assistance the less for tunate people with whom. as in the south, 1t is thrown in contact. If in it's zeal to help the lower group, the higher group fails to do it's duty by itself, it will defeat the purpose it seeks to ac- complish.
 Thirty years ago the late Senator Hill of Georgia" continued Judge Roul- hac, fin a notable speech made in the United States senate said that the south would do justice to the negro. The black man is in our power said Senator Hill, and cowardice takes no meaner shape than when strength expresses weakness.
 "The promise then given by Senator Hill in behalf of the southern people has been kept. No where else on earth does the negro enjoy greater opportunities for improvement than he does in what were once the slave states of the union. It is here, as the negro's wisest leaders know, that the black mans margin of real op- portunity is widest.
 Expended in Education. "The southern people have taxed them- selves to educate the negro. Since the war they have expended s1OO.OO0OOO in the effort to improve the mental and moral condition of the blacks. This, in itself, Is no mean tribute to the generous temper of the white race in the south. | "Our people have done this work at tremendous personal sacrifice and in the face of manifold discouragements. They will continue to carry forward the work. They may wish that the results accom- plished had been more satisfactory. In some sections appeals to race prejudice may tend to reverse the policy pursued | by the whites in the last thirty years. In the end, however, the solid sense of the white population will insist that the good work go on.
 "The southern whites rejoice that in- l dustrial schools for the education of the blacks have been founded and success fully operated. But the success of these l schools has its peril--unless the white youth of the south enjoy similar op- l portunities for industrial training That is a fact which mo thinking person in this country should permit himself to l ignore.
 "The south's white population Is only | 2s per cent of the total population of | the United States and yet it contributes 50 per cent of the illiterate population of the Union. We must recognize that fact promptly and reckon with it wisely
 'aThe remedy is the school-the primary school. the secondary school. the col lege, the university and especially, at this time. the school for industrial train | ing.
 | "The negro is now given equal, if sep arate, opportunity with the whites In | the public schools He is given better opportunities in industrial training. What | does that mean? It means ttat in the | near future the blacks will enter upon | life thoroughly equipped to engage in | the industrial work of the south, and | that the white youth who grows up by l the negro's side will be handicapped by | the lack of proper industrial training. | In Order to Avert.
 ITO reflect upon such a condition is
 enough to make sensible men of both
 races shudder. In order to avert this evil in the south. our people here, and | our friends, must -ake steps to provide schools for the industrial training of the | whites.
 Contribution of Wealthy Persons. Last year s17.000.000 was given by men
 and women of large means to the cause | of education in the United States Of | that amount only s500, ,0O0-about 3 per | cent-came south of the Potomac and | Ohio rivers. What does that mean? It | means simply that the life of the Amer | ican people cannot be homogeneous so | long as such conditions obtain. It will | not do to let the netting sag at our end of the line.
 | 'I have hopes that persons of large | wealth at the north, as well as at the | south will see the situation as 1t Is and