The Washington bee., 1908-01-11
PROF. BOOKER T WASHINGTON
WILL HE STAND THE CRIT
ICAL TEST?
Cnmberland. Va. LanuarY 3. 1oos

AC DEC - ICdu u llIC Win TN~SAA /
interest, especially the editorials on race
issues and topics of national interest.
For the past quarter of a century IS !
has held its place in the forum as an
outspoken, able, fearless, tried and trust
ed defender Of the races best inter-
ests. But it is not my purpose, Mr., Ed
itor, to give you a honeyed preface,
with sasar-coatct words of praise and
commentator. as a sort OF pretext to
enter your, good graces, to procure a |
medium hy which 1 may palm off my
little say for self-gratfcation and the
satisfaction Of seeing something over my
signature in print
Some people are narrow in view and
purpose This is true of both black
and white. Mr.. Tillman is sometimes
outcl2ssed by black Vardaman, and
vice versa. Though handicapped by un-
Just laws and discrimination which con
stantly burn on the altar of Southern
prejudice fed by race hatred and color
phobio We shall by united and progress
i've effort finally break down these bar
riers and stand forth in the light of
American life free alike from caste and
prejudice.
But, it IS of the suggestion that
national testimonial be rendered Prof.
Booker T. Washington some time IN
May of this year that l desire to write.
We believe in giving honor where
honor is due And certainly every hon
est, fair-minded American will sanction
and second the proposition you make
to give Mr.. Washington a public tes-
timonial of national character in recog-
milton of his services and worth as a
great and good man, industrial leader
and pacifcator.
To the proposition | readily and heart
lily agree, But when you state that this
testimonial is due DIR. Washington for
| having given the Negro a new eman-
cipation, it is here that We balk-and
would be glad for the erudite editor of
this widely circulated paper to be more
explicit and tell us-the other 100000
Negroes OF flle eountry-just what is
meant by this new emancipation" and
cf what does it consist?
Mr.. Washington's heart is all right
we believe. He is a diplomat in the
industrial world Ills field is indeed
a large one. In his realm he IS king
and to remain the honored lord he must
not overstep the domains of his king
dom, which is now known as Indus
triaism for the Negro
The Negro has long been taught to
work. He had had several hundred
ears of hard training before Mr.Wash-
ington saw the blue hills of West Vir'
ginia, or began his long and tedious
journey on foot, as a pennies lad, tC
enter Hampton Institute, there to b.
trained to become the industrial Moses
of once enslaved people. But lessons
Of saving, investing and judicious spend
ing needed to be taught And in thl
{ sphere Mr. Washington is the undis
/ puted master of the field.
I But, sir, giving Mr.. Washington tuI
credit for strong will noble aims, an
, lofty purposes, we tremble for his great
, ness and namesakeS good when he at
D tempts to play the role of politics an
: essays to become the godfather to tn
2 race in the entire educational and bus
mess world.
'Tis true we have made rapid progre'
since freedom. Some of our peopl
= possess fortuntes, the foundations c
= which were laid even before Mr.. Wash
ington was out of knee breeches-
$ And I notice, too, this strong state
ment: The cdlored Amerlrar's Is ar
4 now becoming factors in business, ,whic
i. is due to the efforts of Mr. Washing
-. ton" To this I assent in part. Nj
d Washington has played an importar
part. in fact he has taken a leading han
n in bringing before the public gaze, b
e the force of his genius and organizin
f powers, the various business men an
d organizations throughout the country =
= thus giving new life and impetus
le business everywhere. But to give M
l. credit for being the handspring and II
IF backbone of all business activity, GENT
and enterprise among the AfTo-Amer
IN leans OF this country, which has lor
IN been known as a factor in the busine;
Is world, is, we think, going to the e.
d treme and giving him an overdose
d praise.
T. For instance: The Bee, twenty-s
wears old. Its able editor. a mere fl
h. wheel in its machinery. Its becomir
n a factor due TO Mr.. Washington? Tai
The True Reformer; one of the stron
est organizations among colored peop
r. in the world. It is a factor in Il
-