Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1908-10-23
TO MAKE THE NEGRO
WORK AND PROGRESS
Woman Would Solve Problem
By Drafting LAZY Ones Into
Industrial Army.

The great problem of what to do
with the Negro is one of the most
serious the United States has to deal
with. Mrs. Charlotte Perkins Gilman
of Chicago offers as suggestion that;
"The whole body of negros who do
not progress, who are not self sup
porting who are degenerating into a
increasing percentage Of social bur-
dens or actual criminals, should be
taken hold of by The State.
"This proposed organization is not
enslav ement, but enlistment. The
new army should have its uniforms,
its decorations, its titles, its careful
system of grading, its music and ban
ners, and impressive cermonies.
1t is no dishonor, but an honorable
employment from the first and the
rapid means OF advancement. Men
women and children all should belong
to it-all that is, below the grade OF
efficiency which needs no care For
the children this is the vital base of
the mstter-s system of education the
best we have should guarantee the
fullest development possible to each
from the carefully appointed nursery
and kindergarten up to the trade
school fitting the boy or girl for life;
or if special capacity be shown for
higher education.
This at once stops the lowering
process it leaves the state only the ex.
listing crop Of low efficients to handle
aud insures the higher efficiency of
the next generation. Those old enough
to work should be employed as fol-
lows: enough should be placed on
farms to provide for this entire body.
These farms should be model farms
under the best management furnishing
experiment stations and bases for
agricultural instruction as well ss the
food for the whole army and all it's
officials; and where cotton and such
pIoducts were rsised they would be
a further source of income. As large
percentage Of the negro population is
best suited to agricultural labor this
would prove very important working
base for the institution. By modern
methods Of advanced agriculture the
land would be improved the best re-
suits obtained from 1t and the laborers
continually taught their business.
The surrounding country would be
benefit by these stations.
"Another large number In mills and
shops belonging to the undertaking
would make clothing uniforms etc.
for them all and another detachment
would assist in the necessary building.
"All these are but the internal
- functions of the new body; its direct
service to society would be in meeting
the crying need of the whole Soutf
for better roads. harbors river bank
and the general development Of thu
country. Construction trains carry
10 ing bands Of the new workmen officer
&c and men with their families with worl
for the women and teaching for tn
7s children would carry the laborer alonl
r the road he made and improve tn
=, country at tremendous speed.
III with proper food suitable hours o
work rest and Amusement withou
the strain of personal initiative an
+, responsibility to which 80 many hsv
proved unequal, a great amount G
= productive labor would be thu
-, brought to the service Of the CON
munity. AS fast as any individual
proved themselves capable of workin
on their own initiative they would
graduated with honor. This institt
tion should be compulsory at the bo
tom, perfectly free at the top.
Each company would have 4
clerk, each individual would have b
separate account as soon a. his lab
passed the amount necessary for Il
support Of the institution, and, whe
above that amount, q wage for
should accumulate credited. to esc
1urulhnluR tuidil Oopis"i w os<'
with when graduated. Many wi
would mot perhaps prove capable
entire personal responsibility. cou
be organized in small post grsdus
groups Of farms or shops. and SO T
main until they went on to high
efforts or perhaps came back into t
army.
"What this amounts TO Is simp
State organization Of the negro, und
conditions wholly to his sdvantae
and therefore 10 ours.
"The unorgsnized negro does
seem capable in many instances
utilizing his own force. This orgsl
zation provides the machinery best
elicit and apply the working force
this great mas of people, and wor
do so at no loss whatever. "