The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-01-01
WASHINGTON TALKS
ON RACE PROBLEM
Jefferson Theatre is Packed
With People
MANY WHITES PRESENT
Principal of Tuskeoee Institute Is In
troduced to the Audience BY Col.
T. c. Bush-His Address
Is Well Received.
MANY WHITES PRESENT

Booker T. Washington, principal of Tus-
kegee institute, lectured at the Jefferson
theatre last night, under the auspices of
the Colored Citizens club, to an audience
of about 100 people. His theme was the
Race Problem"
The entire lower floor of the theatre
was reserved for white people, and was
filled to its full capacity. Several hun
dred white persons were turned away
at tn" door. 1t is estimated that nearly
1000 white and black, We're refused adj
mittance for lack of room.
Principal Washington's address was re-
ceived with careful attention by the en-
tire audience and was frequently ap-
plauded.
The speaker was introduced by Col. 7.
G. Bush, who said in part:
Ladies and Gentlemen and Fellow
Citizens:-I am glad to be here and to
lend a hand in the effort to better the
condition between the races in the south
There is hardly another man in the south
who is better acquainted with the colored
race than myself. have known and have
studied the characters tics of the race
from my infancy and believe that 1 am
In a position to speak on the conditions
that confront us. 1 have very fond recol-
lections of the old black nanny who
nursed me in my childhood and so often
stood between me and danger. have and
always shall have a kindly feeling for
her and the race as a whole.
81 believe that every white man in
the south who considered the matter
fairly and impartially was opposed to
slavery as it existed and would be OPP
posed to its reinstatement. But the feel
ing during slavery between master and
slave was one of kindness and conf
dence.
Wants Feeling Restored.
"I want to see is kindly feeling re-
stored and it will be if tie two races
will give due consideration to the rights
of the other and remain in their proper
attitude to each other. The negro is not
responsible for his being here The north
ern man approved of slavery as long as
it was profitable to them. We wanted the
negro as long as he was profitable to
us and since he is here a ainst his will
we should make the best of conditions
and live together in peace
81 regret, as every other reasonable
man does, the racial feeling that exists
and that has been increasing ever since
the war. The only way I see to bnhak
down this prejudice is for the races to
come to better understanding of each
other, but this cannot be done through
the politician. I have no sympathy with
the idea that one man has recently set
forth in Birmingham to the effect that
the race problem is ID be settled in maxi
ing the ground red with blood.
1.-THE colored man is here and he is not
responsible for it. he places himself
in the proper position relative to the
white race 1 want him to stay. To place
himself in the proper position he must
first rid himself of race prejudice and not
harbor impossible ambitions. He must
learn the beauty and truth of service
that service which is not always slavery
but which is honorable and honest. The
white man is also bound by the moral
duty of service The daughter and the
son serve the parent. We must all serve
in a way to fill our proper station In
life.
Must Serve Willingly.
my coored friends, you must learn to
serve and to serve willingly. Thereby
YOU will win the respect and honor OF
all Just white people and can live in
peace in the south, the country that
you love- Every avenue of honorable en-
deayor is open to the negroes of the
south. By honest and faithful perform
ance of their duties the negroes OF Biz
mingham can increase their wages from
% to so per cent
''There is another way in which you
can gain the confidence of the white
people That is thorough cooperation In
enforcing laws and in suppressing crime
While relatives will naturally shield white
criminals the white people generally as
sist in the capture and punishment OF
their lawbreakers. But it seems to be
general failing among the colored peo-
pie to conceal and shield their race from
punishment Since white criminals are
turned loose by our courts and negroes
are punished as a general rule, the ne
gro naturally thinks, perhaps, that we
are shielding our race, but the race is
NOT responsible for this. BY our own
efforts we are able to secure competent
legal defense, while che poor negro Is
without this means or intellectual skill
nc the case may be. believe that by
oo-oneration of the races in the matter
of furnishing crime and in the protection
of the innocent of both races, we can
materially better our conditions in the
south. I believe that the majority Of
the white and colored people of the south
are peace-loving.
Moral Development.
another means Of elevating your race
in the estimation of the white people is
through moral and Intellectual develop
ment. In my experience as an employer
of labor have always found that l can
get along best with men who are intelli-
gent. The ignorant man is narrow and
prejudicial.
I'VE want in the colored race more
intelligent teachers and more pious
preachers As a rule 1 am afraid the
colored man has more religion than he
has piety. There is a vast difference be-
tween religion and piety- There is only
one kind of piety and that is the kind
you want 1t is that principle that makes
you moral and honest. You want to Gull
tivate integrity among members OF your
own race and members of the white