The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-10-28
WASHINGTON MAKES
SPEECH At THE FAIR
Negro Day is Feature of the
Montgomery Fair
JELKS GIVES GOOD ADVICE
Washington Thinks Mistake Is Made
When the Whole Negro Race Is
Condemned as Immoral
and Lazy,

Montgomery. October 27.-(speeial)-
Negroes of Alabama headed by Booker
T. Washington at Negro Day at the
Alabama Agricultural Fair, adopted reso-
lutions endorsing the organization of law
and order leagues throughout the state
to suppress crime among members of their
race.
The resolutions were adopted after
stirring speeches by Gov. William D.
Jelks and Booker washington. The gov
ernor was presented to an immense
throng of negro farmers and business
men by the Tuskegee educator, He called
| on the members of his race to separate
themselves from the class of vicious ne
groes that has brought discredit on the
race and improve themselves morally
educationally and industrially. He de-
| clared that under such conditions they
would have the friendship of the south
ern white people. Governor Jelks told
| the negroes that the races were living
under conditions now that could not last
The conditions must be bettered or separa-
ton was inevitable. He advised the ne
groes to treat members of their race
without regard for law, as outcasts from
| their race, and in the meantime incul-
cate in the coming generations the ideas
of good citizenship, thrift. cleanliness and
industry. At the close of his speech Presi-
dent Howard of the Selma university in
troduced a resolution for law and order
leagues, which was unanimously adopted
Washington Speaks.
| In his address at noon Booker Wash
ington said:
"The negroes of Alabama are most
grateful to Governor Jelks for consenting
| to be present and speak to us on this
occasion. We honor Governor Jelks and
| have faith in him, because ever since
| he has held his position he has stood
up for law and order and justice to all
| classes of citizens of Alabama.
Il wish to express the thanks of my
| race to Mr.. Vandiver the president. and
| the officials of the State Fair for the OPP
| portunity which they have extended to us
| to show to the people of the state our
/ progress as a people. We made a be-
| ginning this year, and [ feel quite sure
| that if there is opportunity afforded us
| the negro exhibit will be even more
creditable in future than it has been
| during the present year.
Il very much wish that those who
| doubt the two races living here together
in peace and harmony and prosperity,
| might have the opportunity to come on
| these fair grounds for the week as 1
| have done, and witness the sincere in
| terest of thousands of white people in
| the negro race; L wish that they might
| have seen the thousands of the two races
| on these grounds together without sin
| gle instance of hostility or unkindness
| / wish they might have heard the sincere
| expressions of interest In the progress
| being made by the negroes of Alabama
| in moral, material and educational direc-
| tons.
| Two Glasses of Negroes.
"There are two classes of negroes as
| every white man knows The great ma
jority of negroes in Alabama are peace
| full, law-abidng citizens Every one
! knows hundreds of negroes in his coun-
| ty, who in the matter Of industry, in the
matter of honesty, can be trusted to the
| limit, and / often think that a mistake
| is made when people speak broadly of
| the negro race as being lazy and i'm
moral. L hope wherever it is possible
! that in speaking of the race the
worthy will be encouraged, as is being
| done at this fair. The element that gives
| trouble is small as compared with the
| whole number. Nevertheless, the time has
| come when every minister teacher and
leader of every character must f.
frankly the fact that the criminal ele-
ment, however small, Is working great
| damage to our race, and however diff
| ficult the task may be, we must in some
| way reach this criminal element and see
| to it that they cease to disturb our peace
| and bring trouble upon our communities.
| Those for the main part, who are guilty
| of crime, are the loafers the gamblers,
| the drunkards, those who carry concealed
weapons, and those who are In the habit
| of lingering about dens. In every way
| possible we must create a public senti-
ment in every community that will ostra-
| cize such characters and make them feel
| the weight of our condemnation to such
a degree that these characters cannot ex-
| list in any community.
Must Condemn Crime.
| again we should let it thoroughly be
| understood that we condemn any man
| who lays unholy hands upon a woman.
| We want to make progress in this direc-
| ton until it shall be known throughout
| the world that any man of our race
| guilty of this crime can find no shelter
| or comfort in any one of our eommuni-
| ties We must let the municipal and coun-
| ty and state officials understand that no