The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1904-11-25
The Negro Educators Downfall.
The Washington Post says:

ago, that Booker Washington, Jr., son
OF the colored educator, had flied an
application as paynaster in the army
must inevitably have an injurious ef-
feet upon the Tuskegee Institute and
its head. Prof. Washington is con-
Quoting college in Alabama,
and is indebted to that state
not only for the domicile thereof and
for annual appropriations from the
public treasury for its support, but
for the popular good will and approv-
al which make the successful pros
ecution of his work possible. If he
forfeits this moral support his &C
tivities will come to an end SO tar
as concerns Alabama, Or, for that
matter, the whole south. Hence we
venture the opinion above expressed.
The Post goes on to say that its In
formation from the war department
is that "Booker Washington, Sr., has
approved and formally endorsed his
sons application" and that 1t is fair
to assume that he is personally urg-
ing it with the president, who is his
friend and admirer.' The paper
quoted therefore comes to the con-
clusion that Booker Washington
teaches one lesson with his lips and
another with his acts" and asks,
How can he, or any one else, eS-
pect that the country will longer
put faith in his sincerity Or look on
him for further usefulness?" Con-
tinuing, The Post says:
LAS it happens, the army law enact
ed by the last congress prohibits the
appointment of civilians to the staff
CORPS. The ambitions of the Booker
Washingtons, therefore, are not like
ly to find realization save through
some illegal exercise OF power-a
consumnlation not al all probable.
But if it be true. as the seml-ottlclai
announcement indicates. that young
Booker Washington has, with the
senior Booker Wastlington's APPROX
al, applied for a paynaster's place. IN
the army, it will be very difficult to
make any one believe henceforth that
the Tuskegee Institute is conducted
and inspired as its,head so noisily pre-
tends.'
The Post is right in the above, as
it is on most questions of this kind,
but it is perhaps little behind the
time as regards the likelihood OF
Washington's loss OF influence in the
south at large. The fact is, he is
largely disredited now by many
southern people who formerly looked
upon him as the hope OF his race.
Being a negro, it was perhaps only
natural that he should fall victim
to the characteristic vanity of his peo.
pie when he was ieted by the presi-
dent and dined by white people at
the north. His actions in this re-
spect, while disappointing to the
white people OF the south-those who
wish the negro we'll at all times-was
not surprising. 1t will always be so;
that is the way the. negro was Gre
ated. no matter if the one in question
does impress man OF Senator De-
pew's ability as one of the greatest
men in the world. The effort to have
his son made pa master IN the army
is on par with Washington's action
in sending his daughter to white
school and in himself accepting invi-
tations to dine with white people.
Booker Washington can never regain
the confidence southern people once
reposed in him, and his influence with
his own race is doubtless lost for the
same reason.-Charlotte Observer.
Booker Washington is not by large
odds as big a man as he was before
he dined with President Roosevelt.
Before he undertook to impress the
idea of social equality, the people OF
the south had great respect for Wash
ington and were interested IN his
work, which they believed to be for