The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-11-15
SCRAMBLE FOR ADMISSION
The Negro Educator Gave His Race Practical Advice and Pointed Out Opportunities for Thrift.
 Warmly Applauded.


 pie were turned away unable to gain ad- mission.
 Dr. Washingtons subject was Good Citizenship" He appealed to his race to strive to develop moral qualities and cleave to the line of industrial pursuits.
 Early in the evening people began crowding to the church and by 7:S0 o'clock, an half hour before the opening time, the doors had to be closed and guards placed at each of them to pre- vent any more people from entering Many white persons were turned away Joseph o. Thompson and many other re- publican leaders were unable to get in People resorted to every method to ob- tain entrance into the church. A number presented cards, purporting to be news paper men, but as there was absolutely no vacant space in the house the cards were not honored.
 When Dr. Washington arrived at o'clock he experienced considerable trouble in getting to the side door of the church. Finally when he reached the door 1t was a difficult matter for him to reach the speakers stand. It was only by Wash ington taking matters in hand that Dr. J. H. Phillips and several other promi- nent citizens were pulled through the crowd.
 Before the address an excellent mu- sical programme was rendered by the colored High school choir. Washington was introduced by E. A. Brown and was greeted with deafening applause. He spoke for about an hour and held the closest attention of his hearers He used no manuscript, but spoke in clear well measured tone, with intense earnestness. He was frequently interrupted by ap- plause.
 Booker Washington said in part;
 Not few have predicted that on ac- count of the result of the recent election many members of our race would lose their heads, would become unduly pom pous, self-assertive, and generally offen- sive. With all the earnestness that ! can command, I want to urge our people in every part of the country to disappoint those who have made such predictions by leading an increased life of useful ness, soberness and simplicity, remember ing, as I have often exhorted before, that 1 in the long run 1t is to the certain and | fundamental ideas of growth in property, intelligence and high Christian character, together with the cultivation of friendly relations with our neighbors of all races, that we must look for our ultimate sue cess.
 ''The masses of our people are to dwell for all time here in the south, and here it is that our destiny must be worked out, and we can only succeed as we have the confidence and cooperation of those | about us.
 h Last AnayIsis.
 "In all the fundamental things of life, others may assist and encourage us, but the main service we ourselves must per- | form In the last analysis, every indi- | vidual and race, regardless of color, IS measured by his ability to be of service 1 to the community in which he lives, l whether that service be of the hand, head or the heart. In my opinion, the | whole future of the race hinges largely | upon the question as to whether or not l we can succeed in making selves of | such indispensable value to the commu- | nifty in which we live, whether that ser- | vice be of the hand, head or the heart. In my opinion, the whole future of the race hinges largely upon the question as to whether or not we can succeed in making ourselves of such indispensable | value to the community in which we live | that the community will feel that 1t can- not dispense with our presence and with our service.
 The Possibilities.
 with this idea in mind I want to | speak to you tonight for a few min- utes regarding the possibilities that are before us for development right here in the south. I very often fear that in con- sidering our disadvantages we overlook | hn fran qd | about our doors. There Is no race of people that does not have to strive against difficulties, and it is only by such striving that races as well as indi- viduals are made strong.
 "Right here, for example, in the city of Birmingham and vicinity, have been surprised within the last few years to note the success which is being achievd by former students of Tuskegee institute. In almost every walk of indmsry and business I find our former students in this vicinity succeeding. being encourag- ed not only by colored but by members of the white race as we'll In one case l find a young man who learned his trade at Tuskegee earning a salary of four dollars a day at skilled labor. I doubt if there are many communities outside of the south where such an example exists. Let me add further, that we have never sent out from Tuskegee a single man or woman fully equipped with a trade who has not found ready and renumera- tive employment in some section of the south.
 ''The opportunities that are right at hand are again exemplified in the fact that you have right here in the city of Birmingham what is perhaps the best organized and most successful banking institution controlled by negroes that ex- ists anywhere in the country, and as have talked from time to time with tho officers of this bank, they tell me that white bankers and her white bushes. men in this city have sustained and en couraged them in every possible manner shall be greatly disappointed if vol this bank as well other business insti tutions in your city 1T every way possi ble.
 Better Opportunities Here.
 s'Referring again to the opportunitie, that are at hand, recently I have beer studying into the condition of the si, or eight million of our people in Soutl Africa, and I find that the opportunit, afforded the American negroes in the southern states is far beyond that exist ing in South Africa. The field for devel. opment is far beyond any that exists foI the Mexican peons. And again, if we are inclined to become discouraged, let us compare our condition with that of the Russian serfs or Russian Jews who, 1T industrial. educational and professional opportunities, are almost centuries behind the American black man.
 sIu fhis connection there is one prac-