Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1911-06-02
PRESIDENT WRITES
OF EDUCATION
DECLARES IN LETTER THAT
NEGRO SHOULD BE GIVEN AN K
INDUSTRIAL EDUCATION.
THE WORLD IN BOSTON
Fisk University Day Observed at Great
Missionary ExposItlon-only Lead
srs OF colored Race Should Be
Highly Educated, Belief
Of President.

Boston, Mass. Especially. President
Taft formally opened the great World
In Boston exposition in the Mechan-
les building He turned a key at the
White House. flashed spark over the
wire to illuminate the great electric
star over the stage in Pageant hall.
With the blazing Of this star. four
feet in diameter, the exposition begun.
The president also sent q message OF
gree Ing from Washington.
A letter from President Taft was
read, expressing his regret that he
could not attend, and thanks for the
invitation An extract from a previ-
our letter Of the president was also
read in which he said: II am not one
of those who believe that 1t is we'll
to educate the mass of negroes with
academic or university education. On
the contrary, I am firmly convinced
that the hope Of the negro Is in his
industrial education throughout the
south, and in teaching him to be a
better farmer. better carpenter, a
better machinist. and q better black
smith than he is now, and to make
more blacksmiths and more good
farmers than Their are now among
the negroes"
The letter added that he had also
become convinced 1t is necessary to
have few high class negro univer-
stiles for those who are to be the
leaders of the race. Nothing can do
SO much towards establishing real
nucleus for leadership among them
as the maintenance of such univer-
sity, to Fisk, he wrote in conclusion.
Letters Of regret were also read
from Governor Woodrow Wilson Of
New Jersey and Gen. Frederick D.
Grant.
President Gates OF Fisk university
said in part: "All we ask is
that we be tested by our own
standard Of civilization. The great ma
tional problem Of today. II all the for
eign nations should be asked the
question, Is the race problem. They
would all make the same reply. In
all our large cities not only are col
ored people the victims Of prejudice.
but the people Of all races" He said
Fisk university was educating col.
ored people into service for their own
kind.
Booker T. Washington began by
saying that, when boy, born into
slavery, he was valued at $500. IF
am worth any more today to the
world 1t is due to missionaries" he
said.
II the World In Boston is repro.
duced In future years, he said that
Fisk university would be able to help
furnish people OF every color. "The
students there include all the colors
Of the rainbow" he added.
There is crying need for Chris
tian doctors and educated men in the
south, he stated. In describing the
successful raising of money for a
white Y. M. G. A. building at Allan
ia, Ga, and then for colored Y. M.
G. A. building, he called 1t a race
riot" Both white and colored Chris
tians worked together. But nothing
was said in the northern papers about
that race riot" he said.
1T pays to have the cultivated
black man and woman, and in proper
ton as we have them there will be
fewer riots in the SOUTH" In closing,
Mr.. Washington paid a high tribute to
the work OF Fisk university.