The Colorado statesman., 1911-09-09
MOTION RETURNS
FROM ABROAD
WAS ONE OF THE PRINCIPAL
SPEAKERS AT THE UNIVERSAL
RACES coNGREss-PRAIsES
DU BoIs AND MULHoLLAND
FOR FoRcoNsERvATIsM-THINKs
MEETING WILL HELP RACES.


Mrs. Motion. arrived in New York
from London. England. Major Motion
was one OF the principal speakers at
the Universal Races congress, held In
London at the University OF London
From July 26 to 20. He and Mrs.
Motion sailed for America at the close
OF the congress from Glasgow, Scot
land, on the steamer Saturnia, landing
in Montreal
Major Motion has nothing but praise
for the Universal Races congress,
and predicts that the convention
should have a good effect on the peo-
pie OF all races. He says that the
true position and condition of the
negro OF America should be more
thoroughly understood.
Two members of the congress who
greatly pleased Major Motion by max
ing conservative and optimistic ad-
dresses were w. E. d. Du Bois and
John E. Mulholland Judging from
Major Moton's complimentary refer
ence to Messrs Du Bois and Mulhol-
land, the stand taken by them was
entirely different from that of a few
months ago when they made an ap-
peal to England to Interfere and pro-
test against the discrimination OF the
negro in America.
Professor Du Bois stated the case
for the American negro in clear,
forceful manner as anyone would
want" said Major Motion to an Age
representative. "He did not sound
pessimistic note and was as conserva-
tive throughout his talk Mr.. Mulhol-
land was equally as hopeful Of the
races future in this country, and
while conscious of the disadvantages
and difficulties under which the ne
gro in America labors, he expressed
the belief that America would sooner
or later give the negro all of his
rights and privileges and settle its
own problem at home"
Mr.. Mulholland entertained the dele
gates to the congress at reception
given at his London home which was
attended by Major Motion and Mrs.
Motion. Mrs. Black, an American.
the Countess Warwick and Lord
Waredale also entertained the dele
gates.
Major Motion, who has been COM
mandant and executive officer at
Hampton for over twenty years, while
in London discussed the future OF
the negro in America as follows:
There is much that is discouraging
in the situation in America, and, al
though there is still prejudice be-
tween black and white, the situation
to me was never more hopeful than
1t is today. The negroes are growing
to have more faith in themselves,
and naturally more respect for them
selves, and they are obtaining more
and more the respect OF other races.
In the educational institutes, where
such men as Booker T. Washington,
Doctor Du Bois and Kelly Miller are
working in absolute harmony, as un-
doubtedly they will, / do not think
anyone need feel hopeless about the
ultimate adjustment of our race dif-
ferences in America.
I'VE are just passing through the
most acute period of race feeling In
America. Among southern educated
men there is a strong section who are
taking a keen interest in the negro
question, from its scientific and econ
omic point of view. For instance,
am secretary to a board OF trustees,
who have in hand a million dollars
of money to be distributed among
rural schools for negroes. President
Taft is one of the trustees, and we
meet once a year In the cabinet room
of the White House to discuss the
I'd 10
northern and southern white men
Mr.. Andrew Carnegie is member
and so are Mr.. Robert Ogden and
DR.. Booker T. Washington. The fact
that the white men, northern and
southern and the colored men meet
the president of the United States
at the White House to discuss this
problem shows that the position is
hopeful and to me these meetings
are only one of a number Of encourag-
ing signs of the times"
81 should feel safer" he said, "in
race riot at Atlanta. Ga, than would
be in New York. There is strong
foreign element in the north, who diff
fer greatly with one another, and that
causes a difference with the negroes
'In the south. on the other hand.
in case of distress, / could go into a
southern mans house and say to him.
4 am in trouble; there is mob after
me- and | would be taken in and
given shelter without questions asked
That is probably survival of the old
pGternal feeling which the Virginian
planters entertained towards their
slaves, and which impelled them to
protect negroes against attacks from
outside. The southerners may talk
very loudly and harshly on the race
problem, but what he says as Vir-
ginian and what he says as private
individual are two very different
things.