The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-03-13
Praises work
Or NORTH Carolina
Ray Stannarti Baker n visiror to Raj
cigif-ntsryicws Mr.. Joyncr-Dts-
cusscs Ills Impressions Hcccivcd
Hc~e-1his State ffrst I'm Educa-
tional Work

Mr. Ray Stannard Baker. OF New
York. noted as a magazine writer and
a member OF the stan OF the American
Magazine. - a visitor TO Raleigh hav-
ing come direct from the north TO thts
city, beginning here a critical study OF
the educational reconstruction, "or ro-
vivaL" he quickly substituted for tho
word with a history OF the south. Hc
believes this revival ~ very signiu-
cant and will be with a feeling ~
qualification and pride 10 the pc, 9.c
OF this state that Mr.. Bakers estina .te
of North Carolino's work makes MS
state lead the south not only In "a
cational progress and in the proc &C
ton OF educational statesmen. but -
stated that there was n higher degrCS
OF democracy in North Carolina tn. .
he had seen in other southern stars.
Mr.. Baker Is the author Of q eer1oS
OF articles appearing regularly IN The
American Magazine bearing upon tho
perp eNIng problem OF the negro both
south and north. He has dealt with
careful pen Conditions he has observed
in both sections exciting interest uni
versally. but meeting his share NJ
criticism. his stories about the negrS
in the north being more acceptable 40
the south than his stories Of tho
o.
MT Baker came to Raleigh To- SEQ
State SuperintendenS j Y. Joyner.
! who is well-known in the NORTH"
said Mr.. Baker. 'as a great educA-
tional leader He ls what I cali O. %
OF your new southern statesmen. \ ON
have n group OF very remarkable N N
lin the south doing your educatio.. q
work and he led the list with n
North Carol nian and ended t with
a native Of this state
4 Mr.. Baker in speaking OF his inter
view with State superintendent JOY
ner, said: Il was much interested In
Mr.. Joyner's talk about the south be-
fore the war. This Is one OF the few
southern states that had any sort OF
an educat onal system before the war
and / suppose that is why you have
such educational statesmen as these"
Mr.. Baker stated that one OF tho
most surprising assertions OF Mr.
Joyner was the fact that North Caro-
lima is paying more per 800 assessed
valuation for education in North Car
DINA than they are Iaying In Aasea-
chusetts: though he remarked, tho
North Caro- inian does not pay as much
per capita for education as the citizen
OF Massachusetts pays. This wns n
very interesting and surprising fact
to MIN, saId Mr.. Baker, and very en-
couraging."
interest 10 Mi. Baker was the rurs.f
high school campaign. 1856 hiEtr
schools having been esrab rshed In
this state in one year which Mr.. Ba-
ker declared was a remarkable show
ing. Wen send northern delegations
down here 60 study your southern
educational system II you keep on
this way" he remarked. He compil-
mented Mr.. Joyners plan for school
houses, which brings uniformity into
the building or these houS.s and
causes all to be constructed upon
scientific principles.
Mr.. Baker has not observed ths
negro in North Carolina, and cons>@-
quently had nothing to say relative TO
the problem IN this state. except I'D
assert that In education was the soIu-
ton OF the negro question. and that
ne believed North Carolina was soly-
ing IT, The reason why he did not
visit this state when he was studying
the problem in its home was two-folb
North Carolina having no trouble with
the black man. and Mr.. Bakers stud
les were where the black population
was most dense.
Mr.. Baker In response TO an enquiry
admitted that he believed the two
races we're getting farther aparI rnnt
as me north hal got along with the
Hebrew living by his side, withour
aTlaigamation resulting, so the south
would get along with me negro. WITH
out nj sceEenation. He thinks thnS
The mix ng OF the races g. less than It
mas been and that IL is on the decline
except in sections Ike those OF tho
Delta regions Of Mississippi, where tho
negro pouation is most dense He
| Is unwavering in his conviction thai
| edncat on is the solution OF the ques-
| ton; believing with Booker washing.
| ton that II the negro IN Kept In tho
gutter the white man must remain
with him 10 keep HIM there. The ne
| gro rises TO his greatest usefulness
on.y when educated, and he confirmed
| an interrogatory statement OF the re-
porter To the effect that the neg-S
would be most useful tn the white
man when educated
Yesterday afternoon Mr.. Baker
spent some time with James II
Young, the negro republican pollti-
! can and office holder. VINO was a co.-
onel in the Spanish american war.
Before leaving North Carolina Mr..
Baker will visit Durham and Green's
boro The other southern states ho
will visit in his compilation OF facts
regarding the educational revival In
| the south are South Carolina. Georgia
and Virginia
The North Carolina capitol attract
ed the interest OF Mr.. Baker. "You
have one OF the most beautiful capitol
buildings / have ever seen, he ex-
lclaimed in admiration. II was I'm such
excellent proportion 10 the grounds.
he said and its architecture effect was
! 80 beautiful. These could very easily
be destroyed, he said, II remodelinE
were attenpted.-News and Observer.
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