Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-26
DR.. Du Bots and Booker Washington,

To the Editor OF Inc star:
In what seems to be a systematic effort
to discredit DR.. Chancellor and the present
board Of education in their efforts to give
us a harmonious and efficient school sys-
tenn, the editorial in yesterday afternoon
Star on ''Dr. Du Bots and Booker Wash
ington" goes beyond anything that has
previously appeared in your columns
While by no means share, what seems
to me, your exaggerated estimate Of Mr..
Washington. shall not here take issue
with you as to that. but confine myself to
correcting few errors into which you have
fallen, respecting DR.. Du Bois.
I notice you place his name in quotation
marks: whether to express irony, or con-
tempt, or to convey the impression that
he is not a real doctor, do not know.
But assuming that the impression sought
to be conveyed is that DR.: Blu Bots Is
using q title to which he has no right.
1t will enlighten the situation to state
that he graduated from Fisk University in
1888 and Harvard in 1880 (A.M., 1891 :
Ph.D., 1880. and studied at the University
Of Berlin.
You refer to '4vile attacks upon Booker
Washington" ETC. 1t is not true that DIR:
Dubois has ever made any vile attacks
upon Mr.. Washington; unless, In the eyes
dons, it be considered vileness and impiety
to take issue with him. You have gwen
a reasonably fair definition Of Mr. Wash
ington's program for the elevation OF mis-
people The difference between Du Bods
and Washington Is that Washington's pro-
gram is not as wide as the needs Of hui
man nature, and Du Bots is. In other
words, 1t Is the difference between narrow
ness and breadth. AS you state it, MI
WASHINGTON has a scheme for educating
the youth of his race on practical lines.
1t is therefore a social scheme OF educa-
tior. and Is limited to 'his race"
Dr. Du Bots scheme has no such limita-
tons To use his own language it is this
hot oil brown
and white, are brothers. varying through
time and opportunity. in form and gift and
feature but differing in no essential par
ticular. and ak in soul and in the posi-
bility of infinite development"
1t is rumored that the statement has
been made that Dr. Du Bots never delivers
an address. but that he attacks" Mr.
Washington. 1 have heard DR.. Du Bots
deliver six addresses within the past If
teen months and in not q single one OF
them did he SO much as mention Booker
Washington's name He has written q
number of articles for magazines within
this period. and in none of these articles
Is Mr.. Washington's name mentioned. 1t is
to be regretted that Mr.. Washington's spon-
sors and retainers INSIST that everybody
shall share their apotheosis of him, or else
be anathema.
Another error into which you seem to fall
is that DR.. Du Bots does not believe in
manual labor, morality, frugality and In
dustry. Such is not the case. Here lei
believe in service-humble. reverent service
from the blackening of boots to the whiten-
ing of souls; for work Is heaven; idleness
Is hell, and wage is the well done of the
Master who summoned all them that labor
and are heavy laden. making no distinc-
ton between the black, sweating cotton
hands of Georgia and the first families OF
Virginia, since all distinction not based on
deed is devilish. not divine" Again he
says: II believe In the training of chill
dren, black even as white; the leading out
of little souls into the green pastures and
beside the still waters. not for pelf, or
peace. but for life lit by some large vision
of beauty and goodness and truth, lest we
forget. and the sons of the fathers, like
Esau, for mere meat barter their birth
right in a mighty nation"
think know something of the purposes
and aspirations Of the colored people. the
country and of the nations capital; and
I think / do not misstate the case when
I say these people want their children edu-
Gated in our schools. not according to any
racial scheme, but upon the broad basis of
a common American citizenship. In our
public school system. at least as regards
Its curriculum, and what that curriculum
is designed to achieve let there be neither