The Washington herald., 1909-02-22
NEGRO INDUSTRIAL
SCHOOL DISCUSSED
Senator Hepburn, of Idaho,
Gives Race Advice,
MUST WORK FOR THEMSELVES
Asserts the Proposed Institution
should Be Built by the Negro PeO-
ME of washington Through Indus
try and Perseverance-Says Idaho
II Able to Handle the MOrmOns.

United states senator ". 3. Hepburn,
Of Idaho. was the principal speaker at a
mass meeting yesterday afternoon IN Con-
vention Hall to consider means Of pro
curing Soa.e9 for building industrial
training schools in the District and Tux
edo. Nd, for negro boys and girls.
The Senator advised the negroes 10 20
TO work and do something for themselves,
and not be dependent on Congress for
their maintenance. He asserted the East
paid too much attention 10 the Mormons.
Idaho. he said, was able to care for them
They were a law-abiding class, he an
nounced. and as far as he knew we're
Christians. His advice on the Mormon
question was for those present 10 study
their own faults and try and ind some
way to improve themselves without go
ing 10 the West for material
Interested in Movement.
Senator Hepburn continued. saying:
7 am much interested in this move
ment. You should have industrial schools
where your people may learn useful
trades. The schools should be built but
they should be built by your race, and
then you can say. We old that It was
accomplished by our industry and perse-
verance
"yoa need no leaders from the outside
To accomplish It. WAT you do need is
confidence in yourself
'You are anxious 20 build this school
one Of you has informed me that you
have many acres Of ground in the Dis
trict and in Maryland There are more
than 10000 negroes in this city, I an
informed Every man should constitute
himself a committee 10 so cut and col
IeCt the money When YOU have built the
school, you viii feel better for doing il
yourself. You have intelligence and mus
cular power. Get out and hustle, and
when the school is in operation don't
teach your children 20 be lawyers and
doctors and the other professions Teach
them how TO work. and how 10 work
hard.
IF the bill is brought Up in the Senate.
I VIII vote for the government 20 pay for
your schools. but f I were you I would
rather pay for it myself.
Must Help Himself.
Ia presenting Senator Hepburn, Rev
Mr. Anderson said:
The time has come for the negro 20
show some disposition 10 help himself.
He has depended upon politics and po-
litical parties and other imaginary ways
Of salvation for forty years It is time
he should now look within himself for
the solution Of his problem which is,
The best way TO make a living That
question concerns him far more than
tariff. trusts. and similar issues
we had introduced IN Congress q bill
20 appropriate $4,000 for the school-in
the House by Judge Crumpacker. Of Indi-
ana and in the Senate by Senator Lodge,
Of Massachusetts-and I am glad 70 say
these bills met with most favorable con
sideration BY the leading Senator's Of
beth political parties. We were given
hearing before the committee Of the
House. at which Rabbi Abraham Simon.
Gen. John 3. Henderson. and myself
spoke After. considerable agitation for
the passage OF this bill I was advised by
some OF the Senator's that II would be
best for me 10 let the bill rest for the
present and first secure the grounds and
let the people OF the District Of Columbia
make an effort 10 pay for IT, and then
call upon Congress for assistance IN put
ting I'D the buildings They represented
IL wasn't in good taste TO come To Con
gress representing 1eQG0 colored people
who had not done anything along this
line 20 help themselves. and ask Congress
20 dump S100006 into their laps In my
mind, after second thought. the point was
well taken.
4 then turned my attention toward
trying 20 secure site for the school I
succeeded in having three acres Of
ground donated in the District Of Colum-
bia. and purchased seventy-seven and
half acres near by. in MaTyland-the
th1ee acres for the trades building There
VIII he an academic department, such as
IS usually had in industrial schools The
seventy-seven and One-half acres Of
ground in Maryland is for the agTicul-
turaI or farm school where We VIII have
q truck garden. dairy farm, and poultry
raising on large scale. Here We VIII
produce such things as viii be used in
The trade school and cater 10 the markets
Of Washington and Baltimore. The place
IS beautifully situated at Tuxedo. Md. on
the Baltimore and Ohio and PENNSYLVANIA
railroads. at the first stop after leaving
the Union Station. The fare Is only Il
cents on the steam cars and > cents on
the street car