The Washington herald., 1910-03-09

fore de war" times, and their more for
tunate offspring, who nave had the ad-
vantage OF education in these latter days,
filled every seat in the large edifice and
drank In the words Of wisdom that speak
ers uttered
Prof William A. Joiner. president Of
the Wilberforce Alumni Association. pre-
sided, and after the invocation by Rev.
J. n. Ross. introduced DR.. John Hurst
DR.. Hurst gave an interesting history Of
Wherefore university since It's organiza-
ton and explained the needs Of the insti-
tuition in behalf OF which the meeting
was held
Senator Dick felicitated the officers and
graduates Of Wnberforce on the success of
-'Wilberfore Night The greatest factor
in the solution of the race question rests
with the negro himself" said Senator
Dick, and he is doing more to settle il
right now than all others. Against odds
he is making struggle that will be no.
ticed in times TO come. and will find his
reward n the blessings or pOsterity for
the work ne Is doing to-day.
Sentiment of Ohio.
Il believe voice the sentiment Of
Ohio's Representatives when I say that
the Buckeye State now stands where she
always stood In the struggle for greater
freedom. To-day Ohio IS Just as anxious
to strike down the shaekles Of ignorance
as she was to strike them down in the
greater struggle half a century ago."
While President Scarborough. OF VIII
berforce University. was making a brief
address. Justice Harlan entered the
church and was given an ovation. Presi-
dent TAFT arrived a few minutes later
and was greeted with applause that
lasted several minutes. The President
shook hands with the guests Of honor
and the committee OF arrangements. who
occupied seats on the platform.
William T. Vernon, register Of the
Treasury. introduced the President as
the man who has come TO the aid Of the
negro and IS giving his influence 20 the
education OF the black race"
President Taft said, in part:
The negro race IS a great and growing
race-400-00 when the war closed: 10
0oa0oo to-day-e race with whose history
the United States has been bound. and
with whose progress and Improvement
this country must always be bound and
united. While the white race and the ne
gro race live eontentedly together in this
country, they must have among the ne
gro race leaders. They must have a high
ly educated class from which those lead
ers are TO be drawn. The negro race IS
a race peculiarly susceptible TO the teach
ing from the pulpit and nothing can be
more to obtain their uplift than the thor
ough classical and higher education OF
their preachers.
If you are going TO spread industrial
and primary and secondary education
among the negroes generally. you must
do il through competent teachers, and
those teachers can only be obtained by
receiving the best education that the
country can afford.
Another path along which the negro
race must laboriously mount upward is
the path toward hygiene and the guard
Ing against the ravages Of disease. which
has brought about loss and suffering to
the entire race all over the country: and
that can only be accomplished by hav-
Ing among the negroes competent physi-
clans. competent surgeons. competent
nurses, and competent leaders OF the
people in this regard 70 teach them how
to live"
At the conclusion Of the Presidents
address there was prolonged applause.
Fifty Wherefore young men and women
gave their college yell with long
Taft, at which the President smiled
broadly AID acknowledged his thanks.
Justice Harlan made the last address
Of the evening After a few remarks in
lighter vein, he told the audience that
Frederick Douglass, negro, was the
greatest man I ever heard speak IN so
far as dominating a popular crowd is
concerned"
Justice Harlan said OF negro education.
There are some who CRY that nothing
is to come OF negro education Look at
the Anglo-Saxon race. once savages. and
now predominating IN the world, through
the influence OF education. My race.
which was responsible for freedom. also
has a responsibility toward the freed
man. We must be awakened. both
whites and blacks, to our duty toward
Wherefore and the negro, who, before
the law. is the equal of any one OF US"
In concluding his address, Justice Har-
Ian requested the choir TO sing America"
His request was complied with. and both
he and the President Joined in the sing
ing of the hymn.
After benedietion by Bishop Daniel 4.
Paine. of the A NJ. E. Church. the presi-
dent left the church and was escorted to
a waiting auto by the entire congrega-
ton. Justice Harlan was taken home in
the auto. after which the President re-
turned to the White House
Signed Pledge Card.
It was announced after the meeting
that President Taft had signed one of
the pledge cards passed out at the
but the amount OF his donation
was not made public His brother.
P. Taft. has already contributed
S1.000 to Wilberforce.
During the evening there was a concert
by the Lyric Orchestra and
vocal selections by the supplied choir
of the Metropolitan Church.
Money for Postal Service.
The House nasged the Pest-of1ce an