The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-03-13
President Speaks for Negro
 Xh1 Has Wife Wife
OIcAys TRY TO STOP HIM
President of Wilberforce University fs Honored By Taft, Who Is Con- demned for Taking Such Posi-
 tion Before the Public
By PATTERSON srEALEY

By PATTERSON STEALEY Washington, March 12.-(SpeciaI )-The presence of President Taft on the plat form at the Metropolitan African Meth odist Episcopal church here at a cele- bration in honor of W. s. Scarborough, president of Wilberforce university. and a rally to raise funds for the college, on which occasion the President deliv- cred an address and made a contribution, is causing continued comment here. Some efforts were made in advance by Ohio politicians and other friends of the President to dissuade him from attending the meeting. But he went and made speech. It was pointed out that to ap- pear on platform to honor a negro who is married to white woman, and make an address on education and morality and DeLefits of hard work before an audience composed mainly of negro government of- fceholders and the high society," ele- ment of Washington's negro population, night be misconstrued by the great mass of the negro race.
 A number of hard working and sensible negroes in Washington do not approve of Scarborough's course. Those leaders
 
 iceas believe that ScLrEoroughs example IS harmful to the negro race and suss to give them false and dangerous ideas. 5carborouEhs wite is a teacher in lns, normal training department of the uni
 ersity of which he Is the head. He s said to be very reluctant to discuss his domestic relations and is consider ably psrturbed whenever the subject of his marriage to 8 white woman is mentioned. Many regro educators who are striving tor the uplifta cf the negro race alonk sane and heaithful lines insist that his domestic venture has Injured nts school as well as other negro institutions ol learning throughout the country that art forced to reply for support upon the contributions of white people. It is understood that the trustees of Wilberforce university are seriously discussing whether Scarborough can render the most helpful service to the students in that institution who look to him for example and guidance. Wilberforce university Is situated at xenia, O. It was organized in 1856 and now has 80 instructors and an enroll ment of 400 students.
 The meeting in Washington was to try and raise S17.00O for the university to make available the s17,00 offered by Am drew Carnegie on condition that the col- lege raise like amount. The President made a subscription, though the amount was not announced. His brother, Charles P Taft of Cincinnati has given 5000, while 90 alumni of the school are seeking to raise the remaining 3ls,oo0. It Is under stood they are having a more than ordi- nariiy difficult time.
 Conservative and sober leaders of the race privately expressed regret that Pres ident Taft should have joined in the dem- cnstration in honor of Scarborough.
 The records of the District of Colum- bit show that marriages between white men and negro women are not infrequent. About 15 or 20 such marriages take place every year in the district. On last Satur- day the local press recorded the fact that William A. Snyder, white, and Mamie Green, colored, were united in ''the holy bonds of wedlock." The marriage was performed by the Rev. Aquilla Sale. marrying negro parson. On Monday the clerk of the supreme court of the district issued a marriage license to Charles Willis Moore. white huckster, to wed Louisa L. Borkenborrough, negro woman. The wedding took place Tuesday at the home tie Rev. A. J. Tyler, 6 negro minister. When Moore approached Clerk Mcconnell to get hrs license he said:
 T want to marry this lady. She says sbe is part Indian"
 Locks like to me she Is considerable negro.' suggested MT. Mcconnell
 T don't care what she is, am going to marry her." said Moore.
 Scarborough, the president of Wilber- force. was born in Macon. Ga. in 1852. He married Sarah c. Bierce of Danby, N. r., on August 8, 1881. He is described as highly educated negro.'' and signs his name William Saunders Scarborough, Hon. A. M., Ph. D.. IL. D. For 25 years he has been a professor of Greek. After graduation Scarborough became for a short while student in the Ober- lin Theological seminary. For four years he was professor of Hellenistic Greek in Payne Theological seminary. and for 1s years professor of classical Greek in Will berforce college. and head of the classicsl department of that college. Last year he succeeded Joshua H. Jones as president. He was delegate to the Ecumenical Methodist confersoce in London in 1901.
 The authorship of such works as "The- ory and Functions of the Thematic Vowel in the Greek Verb" Birds of Aristo- phanes," Our Political Status and num- erous articles on negro folklore, '"The Ne gro Questions Classical Philology and Archaeology" is credited to the pen of Scarborough.