The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-25
Literary Lights and ShadOhs
BY s. MAYS BALL

N@AN~'AN
 economics and sociology, Carnegie in-
 stitute at Washington. Doubleday,
 Page & Co.)
 From his book we learn that MT. AL fred Holt Stone of Mississippi has studied for a number of years the various phe- nomena which is conveniently designated as the race problem. Mir Stone has also studied the literature which treats of this problem, and it is with the idea and hope of throwing more light on this much dis cussed and wearisome question that he has sent forth his book mentioned above.
 MT. Stone seems to think that facts are confusing about this negro problem and most difficult of comprehension, and that the literature upon the subject fails at vital point, in that it is based on either side upoE an assumed Jack of honesty and abserce of fairness oa the other. MT. Stone says that the truth of the matter is that the conflicting American attitude on the race problem is an entirely nat ural product of the sectionahsm which al- most from the beginning has saturated and becloudeo the whole subject. That it is humanely difficult foI people of diff ferent environment to look at the basic cause of their differences through the same glasses; one trouble being that we have made too little honest effort to &C., tOllDDSu ilbS ullllCulb Dul lO1CSSoiy ShNs MT. Stous explains matters insofar as difference in thought on this negro ques- ton in the north and the south by show ing that q child who was born in Boston in 1860 grew to manhood amidst sur roundings and influences which through no conscious purpose of his own shaped and determined his attitude toward the American race problem in 1890. The man of the same age in Charleston was mere- ly looking at the same problem in the light of a different environment. Each was the product of conditions entirely outside himself and in the creating of which he had no possible part. Insofar as thess two men typify the great mass of people in their respective sections, their conflicting attitudes are entirely normal. They simply accept what they find and think and feel without seeking for reason for the contrary operations of their minds It is a wholly different matter when he undertakes to shape the opin- ions of others. He then assumes duty to those whom he seeks to influence and duty to the public at large. When he ceases to play an entirely passive part and essays the role of instructor to others he assumes likewise a responsibility which he cannot shirk if he would He immediately becomes a factor in deter mining however slightly the current of popular thought He will play his part In shaping the current either toward the perpctuation of misunderstanding and error and i'll feeling or in the direction of truth and just apprehension which is the only sure foundation of lasting good will. He cannot write @ line on this much yexed question and continue to occupy a purely negative place He at once be- comes an active agent for either good or harm
 This has been the conception of MT. Stone, and the realization of his respon- sibility and duty as student of the American race problem are exhibited very plainly in his new, authoritative, valu- able book. It Is MT. Stones hope that his influence may be cast upon the side of better understanding, which shall make for mutual respect and tolerance for the American several points of view. MT. Stone endeavors to and does interest and explain neither speciously to defend on the one hand nor uncharitably condemn on the other, just what these viewpoints are and how best to get them together. Mr Stone believes, as all southerners do. that is those who count, that the chief sufferer from sectional misunderstanding among white people on this race problem has been the American negro. and he be- lieyes, does MT. Stone. that the negro would be the chief beneficiary of greater accord between the white parties to the sectonalism created by his presence. For some years MT. Stone has been working on a study, the results of which he had hoped to submit at this time in concrete form under the title, Race Reve- latons in America" The scope of that work however, has postponed it's com pletion. The book here discussed Is a by product of investigations in the broader
 field
 Mir Stones book which has an intro- duction by Walter F. Wilcox under a General Survey of the subject, discusses the contrasts and parallels of the race problem. showing northern attitude to- ward southern restrictive legislation, the influence of numerical strength of the negro in determining race discrimination, negro writers on negro opportunity, north and south contrast between northern and southern equality of the negro, and he compares Cape Colony and Mississippi in so far as their suffrage restrictions are concerned.
 Under the subject of 'Foundations of Our Differences" MT. Stone discusses the mulatto, comparative distribution of negro population, north and south; the mulatto and negro population; Massachusetts att titude toward negroes and mulattoes and insists upon and asks for knowledge of conditions necessary to the understanding of southern relations to the negro and so on.
 Under Some Economic Aspects MT. Stone tells us of the negro in the author B own state, the Yazo- Mississippi Delta, the negro population there; the relations be- tween plantation owners and the negroes share and renting systems; the crop lien; effect of negro characteristics on their economic status moral delinquencies of the negro and so on.
 The author discusses the economic fu- ture of the American negro in a chapter full of good thoughts and suggestions. Under crucial points of "Post-Bellum Racial Contact the author discusses race friction; MT. Roosevelt. the south and the negro; the negro in politics and so on. In the last part of the book there is a full discussion of the muatto factor in the race problem, particularly the per nicious influence of mulattoes on the negro masses.
 Part five of the book contains three papers by Walter F. Wilcox. CD Negro Criminality;" (2 Census Statistics of the Negro" and (3) "The Probable In crease of the Negro Race in the United States"
 The book all together is very valu- able and most readable production. Such books written in all fairness by one who knows whereof he writes, should and no doubt will assist in that mutual un- derstanding so desired by MT. Stone and the best people on both sides of Mason and Dixon's line.