Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-06-13
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DIXON ON OGDEN.
Inquiry Into the Motive OF Movement
Ear anukharn Edunakinn

Inquiry Into the Motive Of Movement
For Southern Education.
In a recent letter to the editor Of the
News and Courier, Rev. Thomas Dix
on, spoke Of Robert c. Ogden. the lead
er Of the so-called Southern Education
movement, as a negro lover, and his
remarks brought forth defense from
the Columbia State. Mr.. Dixon has
replied, and his reply which was fur
nished the News and Courier as well
as the State, appeared In both papers
last Friday. This Is what he says:
To the Editor Of the State:
Thanks for your kind offer Of your
columns for a reply. I am sorry my
letter to the News and Courier was
printed in the raw. 1t was very hur-
riedly written and very clumsily ex-
pressed. The truth Of my statements
however. cannot be questioned.
The quotation In the States editorial
from Mr.. Ogden's private letter, as fol-
lows, Is very vague:
1.-The statements contained In the
article have no foundation In fact. In
general and In particular.
I have never uttered a word In the
introduction of Booker T. Washington
to a public meeting that you and all
my reasonable friends in the south
would not cordially approve.
1.-The allegations concerning my re-
lations with cclored persons In my
place of business are too contemplate
for notice and 80 absolutely absurd as
to make denial or explanation purely
ridiculous"
These lines were evidently not writ
ten for publication and fear Mr.. Og-
den Will be far more distressed over
their appearance than am.
He simply declares that his reason
able" friends will cordially approve and
that my allegations are too contempt
ible for notice." I do not understand
him to deny them. He will not deny
them over his signature, for Mr.. Og-
den, apart from his crazy notions
about the negro, Is q truthful and love-
able old gentleman. a very estimable
citizen.
repeat my allegations with renewed
emphasis and challenge Mr.. Ogden or
any other man to deny them.
know that his introduction OF
Booker T. Washington to a Cooper
Union audience was loathsome and
disgusting performance, because I was
present and witnessed It. The lady
with whom went was anything but an
enemy to the negro or to Mr.. Ogden, a
woman of well poised mind and sound
common sense. When Mr.. Ogden fin
ished his remarkable speech Of intro
ductIon, she turned to me. with look
Of contempt, and said:
well, I have heard Of such things.
but never in my life before did / see
a white man get down In the dirt and
kiss a negro's feet! I've enough, let's
go!"
said. mo, 1t isn't the negro's
fault. He can't help 1t. He would
crawl under the table II he could, but
he can't escape. The negro is good,
let's hear him. We stayed. and she
liked the negro much better.
Among other things he said in that
introduction, I recall one sentence In
substance: Men tell me sometimes
that I have made q success In life.
Ladies' and gentlemen, count all my
achievements and all my honors as
trash compared to the glorious priv
ilege of standing here tonight and
truthfully saying to you that I am the
personal friend of the illustrious man
whom 1 have the honor Of introducing
to you"
This Is only sample.
I repeat the allegation that Mr.. Og-
den walked through the Wanamaker
store in New York with his arm
around this negro. because l saw him
do It, How long he kept 1t there on
that occasion, I can't say. He may
have done 1t unconsciously; II so, all
the worse, as a revelation Of his char
acter.
I might prolong this controversy at
great length and have much fun with
the venerable president of the South
ern" Educational board. but have no
time at present, being under contract
to furnish three articles to great north
alo
allied ones In the near future.
/ allow myself a single statement,
however, "to make the tale simple and
unvarnished; straight to the point;
without tatters Of passion or thunder of
invective," following the admonition
Of the editor Of the State. I think 1t
will be sufficient to convince the editor
and all his southern readers.
l repeat with emphasis my assertion
that Mr. Ogden Is a negro worshipper,
pure and simple" because he teaches
a school six days in the week on
Broadway where negro equality Is
taught in the most direct and power
full manner possible by personal exam
pie.
Mr.. Ogden Is the head Of the John
Wanamaker store In New York. and
he conducts there the only first-class
restaurant in the metropolis where a
big buck negro Is allowed to enter and
seat himself at the same table with a
white mans wife and daughter. So far
as I know, this Is the only restaurant
where such disgusting spectacle can
be seen in New York, and so far as
know, Mr. Ogden is the originator OF
the idea in this town.
am inclined tC think that our peo-
pie Of the south were a little unfair to
President Roosevelt about his famous
lunch with Bot&e T. Washington. II
was purely an accident Of the presi-
dents busy life. Booker happened to
be there at the lunch hour, the presi-
dent wished to talk with him and ac-
cordingly lunch was served in an in
formal manner. Mr.. Roosevelt did moi
mean to preach social equality with
negroes-he does not believe in 1t. In
the heat of politics we Of the south
didn't tote fair with our dashing young
president.
But in Mr.. Ogden's case. we have the
real thing; an honest. earnest, we'll