The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-08-20
His Ideas Once Respect.
ed, Lie Shattered.
ODlOUS TO THE SOUTH
Interview With Senator F. M. Sim
mons on the Changed Negro,
Once Leader of His Race. Book
er's Usefulness is Des.
trOyed.


ish negro and fool white map. Gov
errors, congressman and newspaper:
have united in a general condemnation
of Booker T. Washington for his las
exhibition of his fatal desire for socia
equality. With one voice these spokes-
men of the South say it has exhausted
its patience with the black man, and the
sentiment prevails that a more EN-
phatic policy toward that race ha;
been neceSSitated. 1t is said THAI
Booker Washington day of useful
ness is over and that it is high time
tor the South to turn its back upon
him.
United States Senator F'urnifold M
Simmons was seen yesterday by re-
porter and asked his views of the incl
dent which has precipitated another
avalanche of reproach on Booker's
hard head. The incident referred to is
that when the negro acted as escort
10 the daughter of 1ohn Wannamake
Senator simmons said:
Booker Washington is generally
regarded as the ablest representative
of the negro race in America ana
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 CT
his race in it's contest for recognition
i'm the field of responsible citizenship
under Institutions and conditions such
as we have in this country; and he
taught that the first duty of the ne
= gro was to make himself a useful citi-
zen by training himself to do high
class work in the avenues of industry
open to him. He discouraged hi
mis- silly ambition to control in COM
munities where they were in the ma
jority. He let it be understood that
he had a just conception of the Soci-
nj laws. customs and traditions of
the South, and that he neither expect
ed, 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
ington and his teachings, and purpo
SEES the South encouraged, supported
and even applauded him. Though
some doubted, it was the general opin-
ion, that the basic principle of his
idea was sound, and that he repre-
scented and led a movement which
promised much for his race and the
country of which they constituted
considerable part.
There are not many white men anG
far fewer white women in the North
who believe in social equality with tn,
negro, even in theory, and still fe;Te.
who are willing to practice it to eve.
so limited an extent even with ne
gro of Booker Washington class. Blu.
still there are some and there alWays
will be some, and a few of these NOV.
Ell by a morbid sentimentalism, have
tempted Booker, and he has fallen.
His judgment has been beclouded anL
unbalanced-his old ideas, based Oh
common sense applied TO actual ana
interchangeable conditions, have beer
shattered and new hopes and aspira
tons for himself and his race have
taken their places iii his heart ana
mind.
1.-The result is that Booker Washing,
ton is a changed and ruined man. II
thought and aspiration he is q differ
ent man. The things he now stands
for and represents are different. This
things that the Booker Washington,
which the white people of the SoutL
encouraged and supported with APP
prevail and sympathy and money,
stood for, made for the welfare OF
his race and the country. The thought
that the new Booker Washington
stands for, especially in the minds CT
his own race, is not only 0diOuS to Al
white people in the South and nearly
all i'm the balance of the country ano
utterly impossible of realization, bul
il can result in nothing but mischief
and injury to his own race and the
country His usefulness in the South
has undoubtedly reached its end. He
can no longer be helpful to us in so!v-
ing the negro problem. He now repre-
sents in the negro mind and idea and
a nope, which silly as it is, more than
everything else combined, makes dit
ficult the adjustment, upon a satisfac-
tory working basis, of the relations OF
these two races in the South.
"While Booker's social equality am
bition has destroyed his own useful
ness in the South and put vain and
mischevious notions in the heads OF
his race which can only eventuate In
harm to them and injury to his coun-
try. ne has not by the little SEEM
ing success he has had. advanced one
whit the hopeless cause of negro So
cial equality. There are still a few de-
voices of that idea in the North but
comparatively speaking, only few
These numbers despite surface indica-
tons are not increasing and will not
increase. The average white man I'm
the North as i'm the South abncrs the
thought and this is as it should be
for the best interest of both races
Another View.
Another prominent citizen of this
city said yesterday:
Booker r. Washington, the mar
heretofore recognized by the Southern
whites as the leader of the negro
race. has in this last act Of his gather
ed to himself the contempt of the
South. when once there was for him
good will, sympathy and admiration.
When this negro acted as escort to the
daughter of Wannamaker. who, un.
fortunately is a white man, he set an
example for his race, which emulates
him. 1t was an exhibition of social
equality II was the revelation of the
supreme desire of his heart. He has
INSPIRED his race with a hope for the
association and companionship OF
white women and men. AS long as the
last Southerner's last drop of blood is
red there will be death before social