Evening star., 1909-05-10
FOR RACE
Duty of Negro in Capital In
dicated by DR.. Washington.
PLEADS FOR EDUCATION
Speaks to the Colored 7. II. G. A.
at Belasco Theater.
BLACK MAN Is NO BEGGAR
Has Supported Himself Without
Help Since Emancipation-Men-
ace Of the Lawless.
BLACK MAN Is NO BEGGAR

Booker T. Washington addressed a
large audience Of friends of the colored
/ Y NJ c. A. Of Washington at the Be.
lasco Theater yesterday afternoon.
| The negro of Washington bears the
great responsibility to set before the
world an example by which the entire
race shall be helped. he declared.
| He gave great praise to the colored 7.
NJ C. A. and said it would be far cheaper
for parents to invest money in an enter
prise of the kind which has for its OBJ
ject the saving of children than for them
to spend hundreds Of dollars in future
years to keep their children from the Jail
or penitentiary.
| Need Is Education.
| He said in part:
| such an enterprise as this not only
makes a demand upon the generosity OF
our own race, but an equally pressing de-
mand upon the generosity Of the white
race. We should do our part. We have
right to ask our white friends to assist
and encourage US at the same time.
Sometimes 1 think our white friends
pay US too high q compliment in pre-
supposing that we can do more than any
other race has done. In some parts OF
/
| or four months in the year. while the
people of other races are in school eight
or nine months In the year. The negro Is
| paid too high a compliment when they
| take for granted that the negro child can
learn as much in three or four months as
other children can learn In eight or nine
| months.
Education means cleanliness, means
health, means moral living. means skill.
means usefulness. We cannot get these
elements of strength without the same
opportunity that other people have.
III the Y. NJ. c. A. is necessary for the
salvation of white men, certainly In
larger degree 1t is necessary for the ele-
walton of black men In their present con-
dition.
Negro Self-supporting.
ut ought to be added. to the credit Of the
negro, to the credit of the white man
north and SOUTH that ever since our black
citizens became free-except where some
local or special calamity has overtaken
them-for forty years or more the negro
has provided for his own bodily needs.
his own food, his own clothing, his own
shelter, and has never called upon the
nation for a single cent to supply him
with these necessities Of life.
! ''The negro does not beg for his per-
sonal needs as a rule. The only call that
he has made upon the public is for edu-
cation, for moral and religious training.
J.
answered in the District of Columbia.
THE 100000 negroes in the District OF
Columbia have a great opportunity be-
fore them. They also have q great re-
selves and make progress, and, at the
same time to set such an example before
the world that the whole race shall be
helped and not hindered
I'm large degree the eyes Of the whole |
country, and in some degree the eyes OF
the world. are upon the negroes In WASH |
ington. Public sentiment. SO far as the
condition OF our race 10 concerned, Is In
large measure made by what IL seen
of our people In the District of Colum-
bia.
Many foreigners visiting America do
not see the negro except here In Wash |
,,Sa ington; Many people who reside IN the
and take him as type OF the race.
For these reasons and more 1t Is most
| important that we present the very high
est example of civilization and progress.
False Impressions Received.
1T is unfortunately true that many
people of other races do not see the in
dustrious, law-abiding negro who is en-
gagged in some line Of worthy occupa-
tion. But they do see the negro loafer
on Pennsylvania avenue or in the slums
or elsewhere, and they brand these loaf
ers. drunkards and gamblers as types of
| the American negro.
I'VE must see to it that through such
| organizations as the Y. NJ. C. A. the
negro loafer Is gotten rid of, that
he is turned into an INDUSTRIOUS moral
and useful citizen. We must help him
| up, or he will drag US down.
| I'm any city OF this size the tempta-
| tion is strong for members OF all races
| to mistake the shadow for the sub
stance. to lead superficial life instead
of getting real foundation. The Y. NJ.
c. A.. exerting it's influence among the
! youth of our race, will help to over
come this difficulty. will help US to set
| down to real business and cast aside all
cialIty."
Those on the Platform.
| Among those on the platform were sen-
ator Nathan B. Scott, Senator Carroll
s. Page, ex-Gov. P. B. s. Pinchback of
Louisiana, DR.. Merrill Gates. former
president Of Amherst College: Represent
ative Nathan E. Kendall Of Iowa, J. w.
Foster Commissioner Macfarland, DIR. w.
p. Thirkield. president Of Howard Uni
versity; the Rev. John Van Schaick. jr.,
pastor of the Church Of Our Father;
Judge M. w. Gibbs Of Arkansas. Prof.
Kelly of Howard University, W. T. Ver-
H. Terrell. Judge C.: 9. Bundy. Judge
w. Tyler, John c: Dancy. r. r. Horner,
| DR.. James r.. Wilder, DR.. A. M. Gurus,
the Rev. w. J. Howard. DIR. g. w. Ca
baniss. DR.. w. Bruce Evans, John B. Sle-
man, jr.. T. B. More. r. w. Thompson.
| w. Sidney Pittman. Cyrus Field Adams
and Nathan Hunt.
Dr. Washington was introduced by
Commissioner Macfarland. Before his
address the audience took part In q song
service. accompanied by the Lyric Or
chestra. and the Amphion Glee Club sang
| two selections
Miss Linton's Pupils Recital.