The Washington herald., 1908-04-11
NEGRO CAN SOLVE PROBLEM
Prof. Hawkins Believes Race Could
Take Care Of Itself.
Social EquaIify Not at Issae-SOt
willing To Trust Cause to Pres
ident Alderman.

At the session Of the A. NJ E. Con-
ference last night in Metropolitan A. NJ.
E. Church, the question Of education was
discussed. Prof. John r. Hawkins, of
KittreH, n c., commissioner Of eduea-
ton for the A n. E Church, was the
speaker.
Prof Hawkins said that no race or class
of people will ever amount to much that
will allow itself to be forever carried in
the arms of other people.
NO race will be respected and given
a place as a potent factor in the affairs
Of the nation" said Prof Hawkins, "that
allows itself to be regarded as an object
OF charity and sits down expecting others
to feed, clothe. and educate it,
What We want is to act so as to prove
that We stand as citizens fully aware
Of our citizenship and willing TO do all
/ In our power tc make our citizenship
/ helpful IN making ours the best and
strongest government. We can. live under
any law that the white man makes for
himself. All we ask IN civic affairs IS
/ that he viii not force on Us class legis-
! latiOn and attempt 10 humiliate Us by
subjecting as to the indignities OF unjust
/ Determinations TO which he would not
submit for a minute.
This nation is face 70 face with grave
/ problems, and among these great prob
/ lens or questions is the question as TO
what to do with the negro. Speaking as
a humble representative of the negro, !
want to say that if the obstructionist will
simply get out of the way the negro VIII
! remove the peTplexities of this question
and take care of himself
Mr. Alderman, president Of the Uni
versity Of Virgieia, need not wOTry about
/ laying down the tenets and outlines OF
the policy Of the South as it relates 10
the negro and bis education. We are not
/ going 70 leave that question 10 him. be-
cause he has shown that he is biased and
narrow IN his views. We see he would
/ place limitations around US in the pur-
suits of education that would ever keep
us out Of touch with the highest and
/ best So We are going 10 continue to
( sacrifice and work fer ourselves.
ION this question ] want it clearly un-
! derst0od that 1 do not refer 10 the mat
/ ter Of so-called social equality. We are
not bothered about that al all. That
ought 10 take care Of itself among all
/ classes and races.
We are not losing any sleep about the
/ homes and privileges on the other side
/ We are too busy building our own homes
and beautifying them and making life
/ beautiful AID enjoyable among our own
people to stop to even think about that
matter"
At the afternoon session, ". T. Vernon.
/ Register Of the Treasury, spoke TO the
I conference. He urged the negroes to be
/ conservative and sane in their views. and
I not allow themselves TO be swayed by
/ the radical utterances Of a few.
/ At the session this morning, reports viii
/ be received from the different committees.
/ The Womens Mite Missionary Society
viii meet in the afternoon.
Sunday Bishop ". J. Gaines, of Atlanta
4 Ca. will preach the ordination sermon at
Metropolitan A N z. Church. Monday
/ the conference viii adjourn with the an
/ nOuncement Of appointments
The conference at the evening session
passed a resolution commencing Senator
/ Foraker for his efforts in behalf Of the
/ discharged c0l0red soldiers, and inviting
/ him to attend a session Of the conference.