Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-04-25
FATE OF NEGRO.
Education to White Mans Plane Only
Cure for Social inequality.

SuTt IUE JVifuI
In an interview last night, Wal
lace A. Battle, president Of the Oko-
Iona Industrial college, for colored
young men and women in Mississip-
pi. who arrived in Springfield Mon
day afternoon, freely expressed him
self regarding the race question and
social equality Of the white and negro
races.
This is Mr. Battles second visit to
Springfield in the interest of the col
lege. With the funds contributed by
Springfield people last year, new
dormitory for boys, known as the
Springfield building, has been erect
ed and will shortly be dedicated to
the philanthropy of the Springfield
people. About $1,000 addition is
required to complete the building
and with this In view Mr. Battle is
spending this week in Springfield IN
the hope that the required amount
will be obtained from the people VINO
furnished the funds to erect the
structure. A cellar, brick fonnda-
ton. hot air furnace and an electric
light plant are required to complete
the building. and Mr. Battle expects
to realize the required amount to
cover the expense of doing this work.
There are now six buildings on the
$50 acres of land owned by the col
lege, which is doing excellent work
in educating the negro in both ac-
addemic and Industrial courses. The
college now numbers more than 900
pupils, both men and women. After
his work of solicitation in Springfield
Mr. Battle will leave Monday for Bos-
ton to attend a meeting of the trus-
tees of the college which will take
place Wednesday.
Mr. Battle Is profuse in his express
sions of appreciation of The help
which has been given by people Of
Springfield, and the warm welcome
which has been extended 70 him by
the many friends which he has made
during his visits there.
In speaking of the existing condi-
tons and the possibilities OF the flu
ture regarding the negro question,
Mr. Battle said:
Realizing the seeming mental
and moral deficiencies of the negro
race, contend that this condition
is wholly due to the lack of oppor-
tunity of the negro to rise individual
ly to the social plane of the white
man. These opportunities. however.
are rightfully denied him because Of
the existing deficiencies, yet, be-
lieve, the white man should cooper
ate with US in eleyating the race as
a whole. | contend. however, that
God helps those who help them
selves which means that the only
way the white and negro race can
reach the same plane is for the negro !,
to help himself by educating him.
self up and even beyond the standard
of the white man. This is my mission
and / know II cannot be accomplish |
ed I'm one generation, but when it il |
there will be no pre-
JUDGES to discuss. Whea the negro !
race own their homes, when they /
have learned TO be thrifty, when they
have learned 10 live strictly moral
lives. the white race will open its
arms TO receive them into their fold 4
and no power on earth will prevent
L.
when one stops to consider Tho
strides made by the Negro
IN only one generation since its
il cannot be denied
hat we are willing to work and work
lard to elevate ourselves if given an
Cooperation OF the
white man will do more TO alleviate
present conditions than all the VIC
enee and force in the entire world
Rapid progress will be made in rse-
ratInE the negro only when the white
ace realize that il is their duty tc
lplift and not keep down the race
IS low as possible. The object Of the
lkolonz Industrial school is to teach
.2ch student trade in addition Il
raining him or her in an academic
0arse Both courses must be taken
ogefher 50 that when they have IN
she'd their wurk Of study they will
e able 10 return to their homes and
'ettsr the existing conditions Of fam
u and &c build model house. |