The Washington herald., 1909-05-10
CAPITAL NEGROES
SET RACE STANDARD
So Declares Booker 7. Wash
ingtOn in Address Here.
URGES Y. NJ. C. A. BUILDING
Tells Members of Race at BeIaseO
TheHteF They should Contribute
ture-Loafer of Their People Must
Be Gotten Rid OF, He Says.


sroes which assembled IN the Belssco
Theater, DR.. Booker T Washington. of
Tuskegee Institute. spoke on behalf Of
the new building Of the colored branch
Of the Young Mems Christian AssOcia-
ton yesterday afternoon
He was introduced by the chairman OF
the day. Commissioner Macfarland, as
the greatest negro IN the world" and
as the accepted leader OF the race charged
it with the great opportunity and the
great responsibility resting upon it. ne
addressed himself 10 the negro Of the
District Of Columbia. who. he declared.
sets the example FOR many millions or
bis fellow-countrymen. and Should act
as the worthiest representative OF a
people whose freedom dates back only
forty years.
NO mar has so much faith in ny raoe
as have. said Dr. Washington. NO one
has a greater conception OF his destiny.
and nc one believes more firmly that he
viii rise 70 his unparalleled opportunity.
Race Standard Set Here.
The 10000 negroes in the District Of
Columbia have great opportunity be
for them They also have a great re-
sponsibiTty. a responsibility 10 save
themselves and make progress. and az
the same time 20 set such an example
before the world that the whole race
shall be helped and not hindered. In A.
large degree the eyes % the whole coun-
try. and IN some degree. the eyes OF
TIE world, are upon the negroes in Wash
iEEton. Public sentiment. 50 for as the
condition of our race IS concerned. IS
in a large measure made by what is
seen Of our people here
Many foreigners visiting America do
not see the negro except in Washington.
Many persons who reside in the United
States study the Washington negro and
take him as a type Of the race. For
these reasons and more II is most i'm
Dortant that We present the very high
est example Of civilization and progress.
It IS unfortunately true that many
persons Of other races 90 not see the IN
dUstrioUs. law-abiding negro. who is en-
gagged in some line OF worthy occupation.
but they do see the negro lcafer in Penn
sylvania avenue or in the slums. They
brand these Ioafers and drunkards and
gamblers as types Of the negro. We
must see 70 it that through such organ
!zatiOus as the Young Mems Christian
association the negro loafer IS gotten I'D
II. that he is turned into an industrious.
moral, and useful citizen. We must help
him Up or he viii drag US down
Makes Plea for Funds.
The speaker told his hearers that the
Washington negro drew S5,G00O00 from the
every year. There is $4,000
more paid out as salaries to school teach
crs- He asked them If they could not
easily afford the S75.co0 required TO build
the new building OF the colored branch. |
Of this amount $4,000 is subscribed. Of
which $4,000 already Is paid in. DR..
cited the noble example of
\ colored man, a day laborer IN this
rity, who has contributed 500 in cash for
the movement. He is Henry Chase. He
was brought forward amid great cheer
rs
Such an enterprise as this continued
the negro leader. not only makes a
great demand upon the generosity Of our
OWE race. but an equally pressing de-
nand upon the generosity Of the white
race. We should do our part. We have
a right to ask our white friends TO as
sist and encourage Us at the same time.
We draw no color line
To the credit OF the negro, 10 the credit !
Of the white man. North and South. I
[ may be said that ever since our black
,itizeas became free. except where some
ocal or special calamity has overtaken (
hem, for forty years or more. the negro I
las provided for his own bodily needs. /
lis own food. his own clothing. his own /
shelter and has never called upon the 4
nation for a single cent TO supply him
With the necessities OF life. The only /
al he has made upon the public IS for 4
,ducation. for moral and religious train /
ng. and that call. I believe. will not 70 4
Unanswered in the District OF Columbia 4
Commissioner Macfarland spoke of the /
unparalleled subscription OF So 600. /
which has been contributed entirely bv
nen OF your race. Il is the largest sub
cription Of its kind in the world, not
MY planned well for the nations city.
ut seed bringing a great harvest in
he future.
Before the main address Of the day
wo hymns were sung by A. H. Caldwell
nd the AmphiCn Glee Club gave selec-
ions Rev. ". II. Fair and + J Nor