New-York tribune., 1909-02-24
EDUCATE THE NEGROES
ONLY SOLUTION OF PROB
LEM, SAYS 1IR. TAFT. =,
President-eIect, While AdmittingN
Eristence of Race Prejudice, Ridi-
cuIes Idea of Repatriation.


negie Hall at a public meeting in the interest OF.
negro industrial education in the South as reps,
resented by Hampton Institute. In spite or tha-
weather the large hall was filed with an audi
ence representative Of the best citizenship or
New York II was the annual meeting held
under the auspices OF the Armstrong Assoc1a-
tion which in alternate years appeals for funds
for Hampton and Tuskegee institutes
The President-elect was exceedingly happy In
his presentation of the negro problem He was
in good voice and spirits. and several times
laughed merrily, once at joke on himself toldi
by Booker T Washington. the negro educator
Declaring he ha no sympathy with those who
held that the black and white races could not
live together. Mr. Taft said that the negroes
we're here, and the problem would have 70 be
and could be solved
Admitting that prejudice existed. Mr.
TAFT said the best way TO work out this part OF
the problem was 10 make it to the advantage OF
both races not to have any such feeling ham
per them in living side by side. He did not be-
heve, he said in too many crutehes for men
who were trying TO walk but thought that II
the negro was taught how to use his arms and
legs and brain he would take advantage OF the
opportunity offered to him and work out his own
problem
1t was difficult Mr.. Taft said. TO speak IN
parliamentary language OF the advocacy OF the
doctrine that we ought TO keep the negro IN tg-
Hampton and Tuskegee were helping TO solve
the problem of the negro
Mr. Taft said he believed in competition IN
labor. and for that reason thought it would Be
to the advantage of the negro if more enigrated
to the South.
TELLS STORY ON PRESIDENT-ELECT.
Mr.. Washington who spoke first. told Of an
alleged experience OF Mr. Taft on Southern
M ~. g $5-ssf
who did the cooking that she must feel highly
honored to prepare a meal for Mr.. Taft
"Auntie" replied that she never heard OF the
.ge'man." But" said the host Of the President
elect you must certainly have heard OF his
great service to the country of his wonderful
knowledge of international affairs and OF his
ability as a public servant" This did not seem
10 impress "Auntie" in the least. but she said,
finally. He certainly does look like man who
has been used to his three meals . 6ay.@
one of the most interesting features Of the
evening was the drawing up OF curtain, re-
veaIng on the back OF the stage twenty-seven
pupils Of Hampton. engaged in the trade and
arts taught there They were doing everything
from cabinet making and laying a brick wall
to steam fitting. including building wagon.
blacksmithy. chair Gaming. sign painting and
printing This surprise brought rounds OF
cheers from the audience
Greer said that no man had studied the problems
of race and class adjustment. of which tho
negro question was one more than had the Pres
ident The audience rose 10 greet NIr- Taft with
cheers
MR. TAFTs SPEECH
The President-elect said:
We have ten. millions Of negroes in the United
States and of that ten millions. I suppose nine
millions live in the Southern states Now L
vou read the Congressional Record remember
one distinguished Senator wanted 70 compel the
bic TO read it-bUt there is a great deal that
is very useful and learned in it-there is a great
deal YOU can sympathize with in IL. great deal
of much truth and great deal OF humOr- That
is. 1t awakens your humor. sometimes in SYM
pathy and sometimes at IT,
Now if YOU study the Congressional Record
Won will see that there are some statesmen that
saw that it is impossible for the negro and the
white races to live together. That the solution
is beyond the hope of human effort Wei. the
ten millions are here. and what are you going 20
do about it?
There are some who propose that we should
move them bodily out Of the country; they do
do not say when. but out OF the country they are
to go And when there is attempt to move
five hundred of them out of the state in which
il is said their relations 10 the whites are most
inharmOniOus. You have riot the minute you
propose to move them. on the part OF and by the
very men with whom they cannot live.
It seems 20 me that that is the reductio ad
absurdum with reference TO suggestion that
expatriation is a solution OF this question The
solemn. scientific statement OF man that the
races cannot live together even though IL ap-
pear in the Congressional Record. ought not to
occupy our minds for moment, because they
are living together and they have lived to-
gether for a hundred years. Now, the
question is whether We OF they. or all OF us
together, can make that living together better
for both races It IS A problem that is set be-
fore us. and il does not help TO say that YOU
Genuine crystal pebble eyeglasses. the cool kind
that never mist. at Spencer's. now 81 Maiden Lana
-AdVt-