Omaha daily bee., 1909-10-31
LEADER OF THE NEGRO RACE
Beneficent Activities Of Booker 7.
Washington of Tuskegee.
HIS SCHOOL AND HIS LABORs
Practical Exponent Of the Gospel OF
self-HeIp Among the COlored
~PeOple-NIany Obstacles
Overcome.

Leadership Of a people imposes grave
duties and responsibilities. Whether leader
ship is assumed or comes through force Of
circumstances, the role demands self-sacrl-
flee and draws out the best qualities Of
mind and heart. The task Of reaching or
coming within measurable distance OF the
various ideals OF those who follow becomes
the more difficult when the following Is Of
lowly estate with restricted opportunities
for advance. Every step must be measured,
every move gagged, to determine the ulti-
mate effect.
circumstances have made Booker T.
Washington a recognized leader Of the
negro race in the United states. Doubtless,
IL the question was put to him, he would
deny the distinction. He pears no written
commission as a leader. His credentials
are his thirty years Of labor as the guide.
philosopher, friend" and teacher Of the
colored people. .
Coming visit to Omaha.
Mr.. Washington is now on a tour Of the
west and will be in Omaha during the week.
Wherever he goes he sounds the praises OF
the famous Tuskegee Normal and Industrial
institute OF Alabama. And he is justified
In boosting the school. Tuskegee is uni
que in being the most successful institu-
ton OF it's class in this country. Its work
interests the whole nation, and commands
the active support Of sincere well-wishers
Of the race north and south,
Nearly thirty Of his fifty years of life
have been devoted to the upbuilding Of
Tuskegee, overcoming many ~discouraging
obstacles, practising the doctrine of self
help and preaching It to his fellows, and
enlisting the cooperation of ~philanthropic
people. A roster of 1,40O students attests
the success achieved through jealous lab
ors Of the principal.
Gospel Of SeIf-HeIp.
SeIf-help is the gospel taught in Tuske-
gee, as it is the gospel that has shaped
the life of Booker Washington. In a series
Of papers in the outlook Mr.. Washington
relates among other things the widespread
encouragement Of the colored people In
Alabama and the south generally, follow
ing the Inauguration of President Garfield
in 1881. Disfranchisement was the primary
cause of the apathy. A delegate was sent
to the national capital to interview the
president with a view to securing political
rights which they deemed essential to their
welfare. The delegate did not see the
president, but nevertheless returned with a
report that intensified the gloom. This
incident" he writes, STRUCK me as the
more pathetic because I happened to know
the man who went on the errand. He was
a good, honest, well-meaning fellow. This
feeling Of apathy and despair continued
for a long time among these people in the
country districts. A good many of them
who owned LAM in the county at this time
gave It up or lost It for one reason or an
other. Others moved away from the
county, and there were a great many aban.
doned farms. Gradually, however, the
temper of the people changed. They began
to see that harvests were just as good
and just as bad as they hsd been before
the changes which deprived them OF thnii
political privileges. They began to see, ir
short, that there was still hope FOR then
in economic II not in political directions
The man who went to Washington to cal
on the president is still living. He is {
different person now, a new man, In fact
Since that time he has purchased a farm
has built a decent, comfortable house; II
educating his children; and l note tina
never a session Of the monthly Farmers
Institute assemblies at Tuskegee that thii
man does not come and bring some Of tn,
products from his farm to exhibit to hi
fellow-farmers. He is not only successful
but he is one Of the happiest and mos
useful individuals in our county. He ha'
learned that he can do for himself VIVA
the authorities at Washington could not d.
for him, and that is, make his life q sue
cess.
Promoting the UplIft.
"A large part Of the work which Tuske
gee Institute did in those early early years
and has continued to do down to the pres
ent time, has been to show the masses O.
our people that in agriculture. in the In
d~ustrles, In commerce., and in the struggl,
toward economic success, there were com
pensations for the losses they had suffered
In other directions. In doing this we did
not seek to give the people the idea tina
political rights were not valuable or neces
sary, hut rather to impress upon then
that economic efficiency was the founda
ton for every kind of success"
Force Of example and encouraging help
f~ulness are the patent influences OF Mr.
Washington as a teacher and leader
Tuskegee Is the visible monument Of hi
efforts. But the school does not bound hi
energy and talent. Frequent tours of tn,
country are made, primarily in the interes
OF the school, lectures delivered on be
half Of the cause, and often the assistance
Of philanthropic people enlisted. The pres
is an ever-ready friend, and the sedat
weeklies and monthlies welcome contrlbu
tions from his pen. These agencies ar
employed frequently and effectively. serv
ing to keep Tuskegee in the spotlight an
whetting the ambitions Of young men 70
a practical education and training. Despit
the responsibility and duties Of his posi-
ton, Mr.. Washington has found time {
write a series OF ten volumes embracing
biography, history and the business actiyl
ties Of the negro race.