The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-10-28
CREATE GOOD SENTIMENT.
Negro Leader Pleads With Race Fo
 Laws Observance.


 Negro Leader Pleads With Race For
 Laws Observance.
 Booker Washington was introduced by Nathan Alexander of Montgomery He talked for nearly an hour, subscriD- ing heartily to the views expressed py Governor Jelks. and assuring the CO., operation of the negro race Tn secur- ing a strict observance of tho laws o1 the State. In part he said:
 "The negroes of Alabama are most grateful to Governor Jelks for con- senting to be present and speak 10 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 .o all classes of citizens or Ala bama.
 T wish to express the thanks of my, race to MT. Vandiver. the President, ana the officials of the Stato Fair. for the opportunity which they have extended to us to show to the people or the state our progress as g. people. We nave quite sure that if there is opportunity afforded us that the negro exhibit will be even more creditable in the future than 1t has been during the present year.
 T am quite sure that all sensible and conservative people of both races have made up their minds that the two races are to dwell here in Alabama. siIe by side. Tor all time to come. Since this IS Il fact. it naturally follows that the only sensible and wise course for any one to advocate Is the policy which VIII keep the two races living together ln harmony. friendship and peace, ana everything. such as this Fair. that tends tc encourage :he best element of ne- groes and to show them that the white people of Alabama are willing to give them a chance to make progress and to show their progress to their fellows. goes long ways in the direction of Keeping our people happy. satisfied and encouraged.
 T very much wish that those who doubt the tive races living here to- gether in peace and harmony and prosperity. might have the opportunity to come on these Fair grounds for the week, as I have done, and witnessed the sincere interest of thousands of white people in the negro race; l wish they might have seen the thousands or CT. without a sin"le Instance Of hos tility CT unkindness I wish they might have heard the sincere express made by the negroes of Alabama in n,oral. material and educational direc- tions.
 Two Clnsses of Negroes.
 '-Ther. are two classes Of negroes. as every white han knows. The great majority of negroes in Alabama are peaceful, law-abiding citizens Every one knows hundreds of negroes in his r,'unt,. who, in the matter Of indus trusted to the limit. and I often think that a mistake is made when people speak broadly of the negro race as be- ing lazy and immoral. What they really do mean in most cases is, that there is an element of the race that is lazy and immoral.
 'I hope, wherever 1t Is possible. that in speaking of rhe race the worthy VII L-t., 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 face frankly the fact that the criminal element, however small. is working great damage to our race. and however difficult the task may be, we must in and see to 1t that they cease to dis turb our peace and bring trouble upol our communities. Those for the main part. who are guilty of crime are the those who carry concealed weapons. and those who are in the habit of ln- gering about dens In every way pos sible. we must create a public senti- ment In every community that will os- tracise such characters and make them feel the weight of our condemnation to such a degree that these characters cannSt exist n shond an aef be understood that we condemn ahy man who lays unholy hands upon a woman. We want to make progress 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 communities. We must let the municipal and county and state officials understand that no man guilty of crime will be concealed or encourag- ed by us, that we are just as ready to perform our duty in exposing those guilty of crime as any other member