The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-03-11
LABOR NEEDED FOR
 SOUTHERN STATES Negro Workers Are Not In
 creasing in Numbers THE GAP MUST BE FILLED President Finley of the Southern Rail- way Talks on the Problem and How the south Must Secure Suf-
 ficicnt Laborcrs
THE GAP MUST BE FILLED


 many localities of the south, will con and realizing that negro labor must be relied upon very largely, President Finley of the Southern Railway com pany, speaking on this subject in the address which he delivered on Found CTS Day at the Tulane university of Louisiana on the 3d instant, said:
 Many localities in the southern states must rely upon the negro for a agricultural work of all kinds, for un- skilled labor generally. and, to cer- tain extent, for work in the skilled trades and in industrial establish ments. That, in future years, we may be less dependent on the negro is indicated by the statistics of the census of 1900, which show that the negro population of the south is not increa sing so rap idly as the white population. In the 10 years from 1890 to 1900 the white population of the south increased 25.2 per cent while in the same period the negro population of the section in creased but 17.2 per cent. To discuss the several cases which contributed lt t0lS uintTcHCe III the rates OI 1n- crease would unduly prolong my ad- dress
 There is reason to believe, however, that the conditions which affected the relative rates of increase of white and negro population in the south between 1890 and 1900 are still operative and that, as time goes on, the negro popula- tion of the section will constitute a de- creasing proportion of the whole. 1 do not think that any one in this audience who will give the matter serious con- sideration will tn ink that the segrega- tion of the two races in different local ities is either practicable or desirable. Such segregation, involving the remov- al of millions of negroes from the agri- cultural and industrial activities in which they are now engaged, would create void which might have to be filled largely by bringing in an equal number of -Americanized immigrants and introducing in the South those civic and social problems that have proven so difficult in some other sections of the United States. I do not take the posi- tion. MT. President. that we should dis courage immi grafton into the south, but believe that, as far as possible, we should draw our immigrants In the first
 
 country and from among those of for eign birth who have already assimilated American ideals in other sections and that we should seek to avoid any situa- tion that would impose upon us the diff fcult task of assimilating all at once large foreign element Therefore, in my opinion, the south is confronted with the necessity of bringing the negro up to higher state of efficiency and de- probability, and, in considering tn e character of training that will be of benefit to any group of individuals, whatever may be their color, the first thing to consider is their most preva- lent deficiencies
 q think MT President, that consid- cred from an industrial viewpoint, the most serious defciences of the negro race, as whole, may be classed as moral rather than as intellectual. The negro, as a class, is deficient in will power. This accounts, in large measure, for the fact that he Is generally more efficient when working under a white man who can impress his will upon him. It accounts for much of the indoleuce and unthrift so prevalent among the race. It accounts for the lack of self control which often makes the negro inn provident. It accounts also for the in- fiuence that can be exerted over the members of the race, either for good or bad, by those individual negroes of stronger will power. Deficiency of will power also leads to lack of dependability and lack of that persstency which is es- sential to success in any line of work.
 Another deficiency of a large element of the race is lack of appreciation of the dignity of manual labor and of pride In work well done. This deficiency has been so pronounced, in some instances, as to lead to sweeping condemnation of all negro education, and I know of intelligent men in the south who be- lieve that education for the negro in any form is an injury to him and to the white race with which he is brought into contact. This sweeping denuncia- ton of all education for the negro, based on its failure in individuals, is, I be- lieve, as much of a mistake as forming too high an estimate of the capacity of the race as a whole, based on the achievements of the exceptional few. The results of education are sometimes disappointing in the white. as well as in the negro. but we do not on that ac- count. condemn all education for whites. When we encounter failure of education among the negroes l. do not think we should jump too hastily to th conclu- sion that all education for the race is mistake. but should endeavor to find out
 
 for there is no doubt that misdirected education may be harmful.
 Tn one of his addresses. Dr. Frisssil of Hampton institute quoted an old ne- gro preacher who prayed Lord make the unfit fit, and the filter more fitting This, believe, should be the aim of education-to make the unfit fit and not to make the fit unflt-and the more rn- fit the individual or fle race may be. | the greater is the need of the right llino of education. As applied to the negroes | of the south, I believe that the aim of education should be to qualify them for the opportunities created by their in dustrial and social environment and not to handicap them by fitting them for op- portunities that do not exist
 | My observation and study of the prA,- cnt economic status cs the race in the south convinccs me that the primSry aim of negro education should be tie building up of character and will power the development of self-control moral responsibility and dependability. and the teaching of useful work and that all use full work is honorable.
 q sometimes hear hegro industrial schools criticised on the ground thas relatively few of their graduates eng ye in industrial work while many of them become teachers and preachers and en- gage in other callings that do not re- quire manual labor. It is my un1er- standing that one of the objects cf these
 institutions is to educate teachers. and SO far as thei- graduates preach md teach the right things. they are doing better work for thcir race than f, ~ went directly Into industrial life tlnsn,- selves. for they are relatively so few that their individual work would make