Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-22
CoIored Residents of District
Mean to Have College.
MOVEMENT WELL STARTED
Senator Hepburn Discusses Subject
at Mass Meeting.
FOR AGRICULTURAL TRAINING
Rev. S. Geriah Lamkins, the origi-
nator Of the Project, Tells of
Acquiring Land.

That there is need for a national in
dustrial school for colored youths in the
District of Columbia and an agricultural
view expressed by Senator Hepburn of
Idaho, the principal speaker at a mass
meeting in Convention Hall yesterday aft
ernoon to discuss the question.
During the summer of 1907 the move
ment was started by Rev. s. Geriah
Iamkins. and yesterday in reviewing the
progress that had been made he SAID that
three acres of land had been donated for
a trades building and seventy-seven and
one-half acres for agricultural purposes.
The farm is at Tuxedo, Md, and is inn
proved by an eleven-room dwelling.
Favors the Movement.
Senator Hepburn declared himself heart
and soul in favor of the movement. The
money necessary to carry out the plans
for the establishment of the school. he
said. could be raised promptly If those
behind the movement had confidence in
themselves.
II am much interested in this move
ment," the senator said. You should
have industrial schools where your people
may learn useful trades. The schools
should be built, but they should be built
by your race, and then you can say: We
did that. 1t was accomplished by our in
dustry and perseverance,
You need no leaders from the outside
to accomplish it. What you do need is
confidence in yourself
You are anxious to build this school.
One of you has informed me that you
have many acres Of ground in the District
and in Maryland. There are more than
100000 negroes in this city. / am in
formed. Every man should constitute
himself committee to 60 out and collect
school you will feel better for doing it
yourself. You have intelligence and mus
cular power. Get out and hustle, and
when the school is In operation don't
teach your children to be lawyers and
doctors and the other professions. Teach
them how to work and how to work hard.
IF the bill is brought up in the Senate
will vote for the government to pay for
your school, but If I were you l would
rather pay for 1t myself"
Negro Must Help Himself.
Rev. Mr.. Anderson, who introduced the
senator. said:
The time has come for the negro to
show some disposition to help himself.
He has depended upon politics and po-
litical parties and other ina ginary ways
of salvation for forty years. he declared.
1t Is time he should now look within him
self for the solution of his problem. which
is, THE best way to make living" That
question concerns him far more than tar
iff, trusts and similar issues.
I'VE had introduced in Congress- the
speaker explained, "a bill to appropriate
100000 for the school-in the House by
Judge Crumpacker of Indiana and in the
Senate by Senator Lodge of Massachu-
setts-and 1 am sglad to say these bills
met with most favorable consideration by
the leading senator's Of both political par
ties. We were given hearing before the
committee Of the House. at which Rabbi
Abram Simon. Gen. John B. Henderson
and myself spoke. After considerable
agitation for the passage Of this bill I
was advised by some of the senators that
1t would be best for me to let the bill rest
for the present, and first secure the
grounds and let the people Of the District
of Columbia. make an effort to pay for it,
and then call upon Congress for assist
ance in putting up the buildings. They
represented 1t wasn't in good taste to
come to Congress representing 100000 COL
ored people who had not done anything
along this line to help themselves, and
ask Congress to dump 100000 into their
laps In my mind. after second thought
the point was we'll taken"