Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-19
must WORK TOGETHER
Advice to Local CoIored People
by Booker Washington.
MATERIAL ADVANCEMENT
To Aid the Race individuals Should
Make Progress.
USES A SPUR TO THE TAGGING
Address at Metropolitan A. NJ. e.
Zion Church - Representative
Madden Chairman of Meeting.
USES A SPUR TO THE TAGGING

An ADMIRATION to the colored people OF
| the District of Columbia to work together
for their material advancement. so that
they may have results at which to point
as evidence of progress. was the nub of
an address delivered by DR.. Booker T.
Washington of Tuskegee Institute at the
METROPOLITAN A. NJ E. Zion Church last
evening.
There are more than 10000 negroes in
the District" Dr. Washington said, "a
number equal to the population of Rich
mond. Va, Portland, Ore. Springfield.
Mass, or Albany, N. Y, where the same
number of people have established banks,
shops. factories and all the evidences OF
material prosperity. What have you to
show"
Although the speaker did not draw the
parallel directly, yet mention of the
So OOO, 600 worth Of property owned by his
little community Of 2,4OO persons In the
black belt of Alabama appeared in sharp
contrast as spur to the tagging.
Love for His People.
DR.. Washington's address was filled with
expressions of his love for his people and
his desire for their advancement.
BE proud of your race" he insisted.
land do not waste your time over the
race problem I understand that there
are many experts at work solving the
problem here in the District and that in
disnation meetings are held as means OF
advancement. But l say to you, solve
your own individual problem first. The
man who is not getting ahead himself can
the cause for the criticism that our race
cannot learn economy. Take your wives
into your confidence. Make of them true
helpmates, so that they can aid you IN
your business affairs. The race problem
will then solve ITSELF.
The speaker paid his respects to the
fomenters of discomfort by saying that
when trouble is taken away their occupa-
ton will be gone.
1T is easy enough to advise from the
ington said But 1 don't want to know
what you would have us do at Tuskegee
want to know what you yourselves
would do if you had to go down there
and stay down there. For myself, love
my people. and my place is there, work
ing for them. There are millions of ne
groes in the south. and as long as they
are there there I shall stay. and in the
end my body shall be buried right there,
in the heart of the black belt
Interruption Was Startling.
The auditorium was crowded. seven
teen inches of pew being allowed to each
person, and all the inches were filled. ca
diets from the NJ Street High School and
the Manual Training School, who had es-
corted the speaker to the church, lined
the walls In the middle Of one of DR..
Washingtons best anecdotes a loud ex-
plosion startled every one In the audi
forum. There was a binding fash and
the rear of the church was filled with
cloud of smoke. An amateur photogra-
pher in the gallery had set off a flashiight.
Fortunately there was no panic. but the
story was spoiled and the speaker was
plainly annoyed. stopping his address
abruptly for about a minute.
On the platform with the speaker were
Senator William Alden Smith Of hilchi-
gan, Representative j. Warren Keller of
Ohio. Representative Philip p Campbell
of Kansas. Representative Martin B.
Madden Of Illinois. Commissioner Henry
B. F. mcfarland, Supt. A. T. Stuart Of
the public schools. Justice and Mrs. Rob-
ert H. Terrell, w. r. Vernon. register OF
the Treasury: Ralph w. Tyler, auditor
for the Navy Department. and John C.
Dancy. recorder of deeds for the District
1t had been understood that Secretary
Taft would be present, but those who
expected to see him on the platform were
disappointed.
Mon Who Ki11ad Tim Crow RilI