The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1905-08-31
HENDERSON, N. c., THURSDAY, AUGUST 81, 1905.
BOOKER IS NOW ODlOUS TO
The SOUTH.

THE SOUTH.
interview With r. M. Simmons on the
Changed Negro-Once Leader OF His
Race, Bopker's Usefulness Is De.
stroyed-tis influence Weakened.
Throughout the South there has
been an universal protest against the
action of what has beencalled fool
ish negro and a fool white man, says
the News and Observer. Governors,
congressman and newspapers have
united in a general condemnation Of
Booker T. Washington for his last
exhibition of his fatal desire for So
cial equality. With one voice these
spOkesmen of the South say it has
exhausted it's patience with the black
man, and the sentiment prevails that
a more emphatic policy toward that
race has been necessitated. 1t is said
that Booker Washington's day OF
usefulness is over, and that it is high
time for the South to turn it's back
upon him.
United States Senator Furnifold NJ.
Simmons was seen yesterday by u
reporter and asked his views of the
incident which ihas precipitated an
other head. The incident referred to
is that when the negro acted as es-
cort to the daughter of John Wana-
maker.
Senator Simmons said:
"BOOker Washington is generally
regarded as the ablest representative
of the negro race in America and
probably in the world.
"He first came into public notice
as the exponent of an idea which ap-
pealed powerfully to the good sense
OF the country. He recognized the
unpreparedness and the weakness of
his race in it's contest for recognition
in the field Of responsible citizenship
under instructions and conditions
such as we have in this country: and
he taught that the first duty of the
negro was to make himself a useful
citizen by training himselfto do high
class work in the avenues of industry
open to him. He discouraged his
fondness for politics and office and
his silly ambition to control in COM
munities where tley were in the ma
jority. He let it be understood that
he had a just conception Of the social
laws, customs and traditions OF the
South, and that he neither expected,
nor sought social equality for him
self nor encouraged those under his
leadership or his race in the delusiOn
that such a thing was possible or de-
sirable for them.
"With this understanding OF Wash
Iington and his teachings, and pur-
poses the South encouraged, sup
ported and even applauded him
Though some doubted, it was the
general opinion, that the basic prin
ciple of his idea was sound, and that
he represented and led movement
which promised much for his race anG
the country ofwhich they constituted
a considerable part.
''There are not many white mel
and far fewer white women in th'
North who believe in social equality
with the negro, even in theory, ant
still fewer who are willing to practice
it to even so limited an extent ever
with a negro Booker Washington
class. But still there are some ant
, there always will be some, and a few
of these moved by a moral senti
mentalism, have tempted Booker
and he has fallen. His Judgment ha
, been declouded and unbalanced-hi
, old ideas, based uncommon sense az
piled to actual and unchangeabl
! conditions, have been shattered an
!, new hopes and aspirations for himse
! and his race have taken their place
: in his heart and mind
"'The result is that Booker Wasl
, ington is a changed and ruined mar
= In thought and aspiration he is di
. ferent man. The things he no.
y stands for and represents are diffel
!. ent. The things that the Booke
8 Washington, which the white peopl
q of the South encouraged and SUI
ported with approval and sympath
:. and money, stood for, made for til
welfare OF his race and the countr.
. The thought that the new Booke
- Washington stands for, especially
l. the minds of his own race, is not onl
% odious to all whitepeople in the Sout
~ and nearly all in the balance OF IL
3 country and utterly impossible I
- realization, but it can result in notl
- ing but mischief and injury to h
- own race and the country. His us
q fulness in the South has undoubted
a reached it's end. He can no longer
n Io helpful to us in solving the negI
" problem. He now represents in I'll
- negro mind an idea and hope, ,whit
a silly as it is, more than everythir
~ - else combined, makes difficult Il
s. ; adjustment, upon a satisfactol
e working bases, of the relations
-. these two races in the South.
r "While Booker's social equali
ambition has destroyed his own Us
fulness in the South and put vain al
mischievous notions in the heads
re-, his race which can only eventuate
OF harm to them and injury to his cou
* try, he has not by the little seemi
An success he has had, advanced o
Ter with the hopeless cause ola negro {
nd cial equality. There are still a +
re- devotees of that idea in the North b
comparatively speaking, only a fe
These numbers despite surface in
gs cations are not increasing and Y
an not increase. The average VIII
all man in the North as in the Sou
les abhors the thought and this is as
Iey should be for the best interest OF be