The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-03-19
RIGHT TO EARN BREAD
ACCORDED THE NEGRO BY THE
 SOUTH.
Booker T. Washington Declares That All the Men of This Section Are Not Bad--Ine Mat
 ter of Suffrage.

Washington, March ls.-Booier T.. Washington was given reception to- night by the colored citizens of the Dis trict at the Metropolitan A. M. E. Church, which was filled to overfiowing. The au- dience Included a number of white peo- p:e and on the platform were seated rep- resentative white and negro citizens of the city. 1gusic was rendered by the Marine Band. H Iassiter was chaipman delivered by Blahop Arnett, Comrsis- sioner Henry n. McEarlead dsiixnEea HH address ef sNe1eo1aa <enfeself+a a ea James E. watson cf Indiana inffodpeea Washington in brief speech. The ben- edsctaon was delivered by pr. Edward Everett Hale.
 Washington spoke along the lines of race development and of the negro's re- lation with the white people of the South. He said he had the most profound belief that no race in ancient or modern his- tory has ever equaled the American negro in development In all directions.
 'I further believe he said. .that in the fullness of time we shall deuionstrate to the world that we can become po- tential and helpful part in the highest and best civilization. One of the most im- portant sourceg of protection that any race of people can have is their useful ness to the community in which they dwell. Service Is the secret of sovereign ty. the man, black or white. who has learned to do something better than his fellows, has learned to do a common thing in an uncommon manner, in time will solve all the problems that confront him. Our children everywhere should be taught that all labor whether with the head or the hand. Is honorable and all forms of likeness. disgraceful.
 Whatever faults the South may be guilty of, when 1t comes to affording an opportunity for peoile to earn living by common or skilled labor, or in the field of business or education, 1t is not to be despised. The mere earning of a living Is not all but it counts for much in the striving of life. There are bad white men in the South. All of them are not our enemies. We should do all in our power to encourage these friendly and well disposed ones to stand by us and support us."
 Further on in his speech Washington said: "On the question of the ballot do not favor the negroes giving up any thing that is fundamental and which is guaranteed by the constitution of the United States. Every law placed in the constitution of the United States was placed there to encourage and stimulate the highest citizenship. If the negro Is not stimulated and encouraged by just national and State laws to become the highest type of citizen, the result will be worse for the Southern white man than for the negro.
 Unless the negroes are encouraged by just election laws to become taxpayers and intelligent producers, the white peo- pie will have an eternal will stone about their necks. Any subterfuge. any make shift In the form of a law that gives the Ignorant white man a right to express his wants at the ballot box and with holds the same privilege from the igno- rant negro, is an injustice to both races. In most cases such laws give the negro the incentive to become voter by get ting property and intelligence, but says to the white man in so many words. re- main in ignorance and poverty and a way will be found for you to exercise the franchise.
 Regarding lynching. repeat also what I have said many times in the South, that the taking of human life without due process of law, whether in Georgia or Ohio, puts a blot on our civilization. Further that we should at all times stand ready as a race to join hands with all people to see that crime is not committed by our people. and to sec that legal punishment follows such crime.p