The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1909-07-08

were large numbers of white people
from the community, and great
many colored teachers who ara at
tending summer school at Hampton,
as well as a great number Of students
who remain at the school during the
summer The welcome accorded DR..
Washington at this place, his alma
mater, was unusually cordial. and
his hearers responsive to his remarks.
On the following day the real
Journey over the Vjrginian Railway
commenced in earnest, Boarding a
private pullman car attached to the
special train arranged for by the
railway officials, the car Rocket"
formerly used by the Hon. Theodore
Roosevelt In his trips over the rail
roads Of this country, attended by a
full regalia Of train crew, porters,
ETC., DR.. Washington and his party
left Norfolk for Suffolk, where he
was. to speak at one-thirty p. m. ,''
Suffolk. -
When the special train bearing the
party arrived in Suffolk, line of
automobiles, rendered by white bank
ers and business men, was at the sta
ton, and seated by Mayor Norf1eet.
pr. Booker T. Washington rode in a
procession headed by g, large band,
another, car followed a special COM
mittee from the town council, and
following these, in autos and car
rtages, was the rest of the party.
After luncheon served In Samar-
itan. Hall by leading eoloreds citizens,
Dr.: Washington, addressed an audi
eneS pf; Six tanaanf I peapla< an An &, 8
grove at the heau sRs ma ain Street..
The addressTof welcome OH behalf of
the white cftizens:#as made by Rev.
j. B. Dunn, pastor >of the Episcopal
Church, and on BEHALF of the colored
citizens by S. S.. Morris, and a pre-
sentation speech by w. w. Staley.
1t was during DIR. StaIey's elo-
quent introduction Of DR.. Washing
ton that one-half of the grandstand
on which were seated white people
and Negroes, collapsed, and scores
OF persons fell but without harm.
In his speech; DR.. Washington
created whirlwind Of laughter when
he said: II must confess that even
the fates! are drawing the color line
hot white man went down"
The enthusiasm with which DR..
Washington remark were received
at Suffolk was not eclipsed at any
point on the trip. The mixed audi
ence Of white and black people re-
ceiVed his words of frankness with
reference to the race relations, and
his plain statement of facts, without
oTense. DR.. Washington spoke in
part as follows:
"Just before he died, the late Mr..
II. II. Rogers asked me to make a trip
over his new road with the idea of
seeing and finding out what the con-
dition Of the colored PEOPLE is and
or reporting 10 him what might be
done to further improve their con-
dition, as we'll as to further promote
friendly relation between the black
people and the white people. In
fulfilment of this promise, am
very glad to be in the state of my
birth. l never inspect the condition
Of the colored people in the South
without being proud that I am a mem
, Der OF the Negro race and equally
proud that was bern in the South ::
There is no case Ia history, in my
| opinion, that Is so interesting as that
which the Negro race represents.
| Here we have ten millions Of peo-
| PIC, VIZ were oaIy few hundred
years aSo brought here from savagery
civilized and today ten millions in
material educational, moral and re-
lfgious purposes arc far ahead Of any
similar number of black people In
the world. With this happy out.
come, not only is the Negro to be
pra'sed( but the Southern white
man. in whose midst he has made this
progress and who has actually helped
him to mako 1t, is due a great deal OF
praise.
The Negro will grow more use.
ful, more law-abiding in proportion
as he Is encouraged. If the Negro
does a good days work, he should
be praised; II he pays his debts prom
pity, he should be praised; If he lives
laW-abiding, clean life he should bt
be praised and the mistake should
not be made of CHASING all coloret
people together and stating as /,
often done, that all are worthless
immoral and useless. In most cases
the people who made those state
ments simply mean that few have