The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-09-16
SPEAKS TO NEGROES
TAFT FAvoBs HIGHER EDUCATION
 FOR BLACKS.
Republican Candidate For President Addresses An Audience sf Negro Ministers. Competing Ohio Con-
 ference of African
 Methodfsas.

Cincinnati, Sept. I5--The gratifica- ton of Mir. Taft on Governor Hughes nomination was expressed in a tele- gram sent to the Governor congratu- lating him on his we'll deserved nom- ination.
 He added:
 Tt not only makes the State of New Fork safe in November. but greatly strengthens the National ticket in ev- cry State in the Union"
 He expressed the hope that the Gov ernor would be able to gi;e some of his time to the campaign in the West.
 This. the 5ist anniversary of Mir. Taftss birth. proved to be the busiest day he has had since his arrival here a week. ago. He delivered an address tonight to an audience of ministers composing the Ohio Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. the first speech of his campaign to ne- groes. The address was not political, but gave a clear outline of the sympa- thetic understanding and feeling en- tertained for the struggles of the race proposed by the candidate
 Earlier in the day. Mir. Taft met A small delegation from Greenfield Ind. who passed through the city on an ex- cursion.
 Regarding this excursion. 1t had been stated that a thousand excur. slonists would present themselves There were less than two hundred. The explanation made by those who came was that a larger part of the delega- ton failed to connect en route
 The candidate was escorted from the Taft residence to Allen Temple in the evening bs a party of the clergymea. He began Lis address by commenting on his familiarity with the Temple. He was there. he said. for the purpose of expressing his sympathy with the negro race in it's struggle for better things.
 "A sympathy" he said. which have had from the time I was a small boy. for inherited 1t from my father. than whom the colored race never had 3 better friend"
 This interest. MT. Taft said. had been stimulated through his experience In tha Philippines. He reviewed the strug- gle Of the race from the time of siav- cry. It had made the most progress in agricultural pursuits. and 1t was in this line he believed they should con- tinue. although he spent considerabls time in his comment on the value of educ ton which he said hac increased from i've to fifty per cent In the pasI forty years. The education to be most sought for by the negro race, he said. was primarily the rudiments of knowi- edge combined with industrial train Ing. This should be supplemented by higher edcuation for a more limited number to furnish we'll rounded minis- ters. doctorss teachers and lawyers.
 Tt will be greatly easi for him (the nsgro) to secure his civil and po- ttlcai rights when he becomes useful 10 the community and a source of prof 1t to many members cf 1t. Prejudice against the race fades away most rap idly when there are pecuniary reasons for its disappearance"
 The candidate said he had not al- ways been in favor of higher educa- ton for members of the negro race, but after a full investigation of the needs of the race. I am convinced that was In error.'
 On the subject of race prejudice and mob violence, MT. Taft said:
 T do not know that the race bit terness Is any stronger today than It ever was. For a length of time 1t seems to be altogether abated and then there will be an outbreak, a mob will be formed, developing the most fend- ish cruelty, nanifesting itself in the zblindest and most unreasonable assaults npon perfectly innocent people, simply %eeause of their color 1t Is only fair 1(N say that such brutish exhibitions arN not confined to any one section.
 NThe best remedy a-id the necessary one is an improvement in the admins. fFation of our common laws. and the holding to strict account the officers of the law wko do not use all possible means to prevent and suppress such outbreaks.