Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1907-11-29

ecutions that creates the false impress
sion that the Negro as class Is law
less, while the contrary Is true.
The remaining vital Negro political
question is that of the suffrage. The
National Constitution provides that no
state shall discriminate on account OF
color. Many Of the southern states
now require ability to read and write.
which applies to whites as well as
blacks. The best people, both north
and south, approve this educational
test. One good effect is that it gives
illiterates, both white and black, a
strong inducement to educate them
selves. One cannot fail to sympathize
with the educated element in commune
ties mostly composed of"illterates, who
outvote the intelligent. A few illiterates
in an electoral district of the north, or
here in Britain, matters little, but where
these are in the majority it is an en-
tirely different matter. The solution OF
the suffrage question probably lies
through this educational test. When
Negroes generally are able to meet
this, we may assume that their en-
trance into political life in due course
will not be kenely resented. AS Confu-
clus long since told us-"There being
education, there can be no distinction
of classes"
y
Among the Hampton graduates the
most distinguished is Booker Washing
ton, the founder of Tuskegee Institute,
Alabama, which l had the pleasure Of
visiting last year for several days upon
its squarter-centenary. was never more
deeply impressed. ! saw the students
of both sexes being taught the various
occupations. Applicants must pass ex-
aminations. The women are first shown
their rooms, and instructed for few
days how scrupulously careful they
must be to keep everything in perfect
order, and in the performance of daily
duties. Extreme attention is paid to
personal habits, dress and department.
Daily bathing and gymnastic exercises
are enforced. Each attends to her own
room, and is taught cooking, baking,
dressmaking, sewing and, generally
speaking, all that becomes young
educated woman. The young men are
governed with equal care. The result
is an assembly of students, as at Hamp-
ton, that compare not unfavorably with
white students in our northern univer-
sites.
| was escorted through the industrial
schools, where all the crafts are taught.
Asking one who was learning to be a
tinsmith how long he had been there,
he replied, "Three years, sir" chow
long have you yet to serve ?" 1.-TWO
more, sir" "You will soon be making
your four dollars per day." 81 expect
to make more than that, sir" was the
proud reply. The best tinsmiths make
| five dollars per day. He was ambiti-
Gus, and expected to be first class.
Asking the superintendent if places
could be found for all graduates in the
crafts, he said that he had FIVE applica-
tons for every graduate he could sup
ply. Coachbuilders, masons, bricklay-
ers, tinsmiths, blacksmiths and shoe
makers are. all there, soon to be earn
ing wages very much higher than in
Scotland. Plenty of work for them, for
the Tuskegee and Hampton graduation
certificate means not only competent
mechanic, seamstress or cook, but a
self-respecting man or woman. There
is no objection to Negroes being crafts
men throughout the south because un-
der slavery the clever slaves did the
larger part of such work, white crafts
men being few. Manual labor was only
, for slaves. Poor whites were above
! that degradation, They were poor, but
gentlemen-at least they were white.
A travelling agricultural school, con-
sisting OF a large covered wagon, at
tracted my attention. Such wagons
travel the region, giving Negroes need
ed lessons. Here were displayed large
Photographic specimens of the cotton
plant and of maize grown upon soils
plowed to different depths. The ad-
vantages of deep plowlng were so clear
ly shown that the most inert farmer
could not rest plowing as shallow as
before. was told that such lessons
we're promptly taken to heart, and that
the old cry "thirty acres and a mule" as
the height OF the Negroes mbition is
now "thirty acres and two mules" so
that "ploW deep" can be put inAprac-
tice. Tuskegee takes deep interest in
agriculture, and is rapidly raising stand
ards, through its experimental farm. Its
students make great numbers of all
kinds of agricultural implements and
wagons. 1t is by these and kindred
wise adaptations that Tuskegee has be-
come great educational force in many
forms outside as inside her domain.
Numerous are her offshoots throughout
the south-a fruitful brood.
Tuskegee has developed upon lines
different from Hampton in one import
ant feature. Here all is the work of
Negroes, the principal and professors,
and even the architects are colored.
Hampton employs white professors, and
has white man in charge. The total
number Of scholars at Tuskegee, in
Guiding classes outside, was last year
1,948, 1921 being students regularly
! Leusalled. Al. bit about one hundred af
the regular students board and sleep in
the grounds. TWenty-three hundred
acres Of land surrounding are owned
oy the institute and cultivated by the
students, part being an experimental
farm. sa5 In /
| The choir alone is worth travelling to
ruskegee to hear. The main hall is
large and yaulted, the stage ample,
acoustics fine. The great choir Of more
than one hundred and fifty students sat
back Of the speakers, who occupied the
front OF the stage. was not prepared
for such enchanting strains as burst
upon us from unseen singers. The n1u-
sic was sacred. and some OF the finest
gems were sung. have heard many
Of the fine choirs Of the world, in the
Crystal Paiace, St. James Hall, Rome,
iss= I and else