The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-18
"BIack Spurge0n" Introduces
 Speaker to An Audience
NEGRO Y. M. C.A. IS AUDIENCE
President-Elect Tells Negroes That They Must Settle the Race Cues ton for Themselves By
 Industry and Thrift.

Augusta, Ga, January 17.-Introduced to a big audience of men. comprising the negro Y. M. c. A. of this city, to- day as the most popular and con spicuous citizen of the United States; Americas great statesman; our un- crowned king, for whom we wish suc- cessful administration. and second term," by the famous pr. Walker, known as the Black Sturgeon" Mir. Taft became greatly inter lift of r. M. c. A. work. and talked for an unusually long time to his en- thusiastic listeners.
 Dr. Walker painted a bright present, and brighter future for the negroes of Georgia, who owned, he said, mill lion acres of land in the state, and paid taxes on $20,000,000 worth of prop erty.
 This report, MT. Taft regarded as most encouraging, it gave him an illus tration for his oft-expressed belief that the race question must be settled by the negroes Themselves. This meant industry, information and thrift ac- quired by constant individual effort. He dwelt at length upon the advantages of Y. M. c. A. work to bring about this condition, and illustrated his point by picturing the temptations and depres- sion of Americans in the Philippines, and the help which the association was rendering there, to afford wholesome ways of entertainment for the leisure hours.
 Tolerance Growing.
 It was his belief that the Y. M. c. A. had brought about in this country more tolerance between the various, elig- ious denominations. As an exarnpie Of this, he made a detailed explanation Of the situation this government found itself in, with respect to the friar lands in the Philippines. but parenthet- ically remarked before proceeding, T think a pretty good example of this tolerance is the fact that I am elected President of the United States
 Concurrence, he said, had been ob- tained from a body of clergymen, rep
  that no protest would be made by them when the government should take up with the Pope, the negotiations neces- sary to acquire title to these lands. Their purchase, for $7.O00.O00, he said had saved what would have been a bloody revolution in the Philippines, which would have cost this government millions in money and many lives.
 Forty years ago." MT. Taft said, "it would have been impossible to have obtained this concurrence. There would have arisen among the denominations an objection to it, on the ground that 1t was recognition of the Roman our traditions"
 After he had described the indorse- ment of T. M. c. A. work on the 18th mus of Panama, where four great clubs are running, each undec the direction of an experienced r. M. c. A. secretary paid by the government; where 10 or a dozen ministers are also employed by the government, with a plan indorsed to establish two or three more clubs, MT. Taft remarked.
 Good Work Done.
 "It is possible we will be charged with having filched that money from the public treasury, but if we have, we have accomplished a good work with it. I think also the expenditure could be defended on strictly legal grounds. We have entered the Isthmus of Panama and introduced there some 50,000 souls. l. l.. tn cir morality looked after, unless we furnish ministers, churches and Chris tian clubs, we are going to have such saturnalia of evils, such demoraliza- tion. that we. will never build the canal. Hence, if we are to be impeached for spending that money 1t will be in a good cause"
 His feeling of satisfaction that Y. M. c. A. work had found a place among the negroes of the south constituted the concluding thought of the address, which ended with the sentiment;
 If the negro would be respected, he must make himself worthy of such respect"
 MT Taft arrived here from Atlanta at 9 o'clock this morning. He went at once to the Ferret cottage.
 Fred w Carpenter, who will accom- pany Mr. Taft to the White House as secretary to the President, got here to- day from a vacation in California. In his absence, Wendall Mischler assist ant secretary to MT Taft, has had charge z the office work.
 The statement Is authorized from MT. Taft that no person has authority to represent the President-elect as taking my attitude whatever regarding the situation in Oregon. The need of such statement has been im pressed upon MT. Taft by information that his name was being used in efforts to break down the Oregon primary law.
 MT. E. H. Hartman is expected here tomorrow.
 King George Receives Americans.