Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1911-10-13
BOOKER I. WASHINGTON
IS TOURING TEXAS

FLAe CRATE PREPARATIONS
WE'RE MADE eY NEGRO eUsl.
NESS LEAGUE OF TEXAS FOR
ENTERTAINING NOTED Eou-
GATOR.
At the instance of number of rep
resentative negro citizens OF Texas,
II. Booker T. Washington is making
tour OF the state Of Texas for the
two-fold purpose Of making observa-
tions on the condition and progress
OF the negro people of Texas and OF
awakening, inspiring and instructing
his race in this state. He hopes also
to meet in the course of his journey
many Of the good white people Of the
state and to interest them more fully
IN the progress Of the negro and to
convey information respecting that
progress which will be valuable to
all.
Similar tours have been made in
Mississippi, South Carolina, North
Carolina. Tennessee and Virginia, and
good reports were made of the effect
OF these trips by both whites and
blacks. In fact. no adverse criticism
was made, but, on the contrary, the
best white citizens who heard him
speak were positive in their express
sion Of approval of DR.. Washington's
visit and Its influence among both
races. A herald Of peace between
the races, an evangel Of the gospel Of
industry and economy, the influence Of
Booker Washington has unquestion-
ably been benefit to both races, In
the south and to the country at large.
His never-to-be-forgotten Atlanta ad.
dress, on the occasion of the Atlanta
exposition, furnished status quo. q
modus vivendi, as to the race ques-
ton, that was acceptable at once both
to- the north and to the south; to the
black man and the white man. The
effect of this address was instantane-
GUS and universal. In his address he
declared in effect that the basis Of
racial peace was to be found in the
complete social separation of the
races, to be accompanies by habits
Of industry on part Of the black man
and OF economic usefulness on his
part to the white man; and the best
friend the negroes could have were
the white people right around them;
and that economic and moral progress
aud efficiency on part Of the black
man was better state OF things for
the south than the black mans eco.
nomic and moral weakness and degra-
datiCn.
The influence of this address was
as remarkable at the north as at the
south, and contributed greatly to the
allaying of sectional bitterness and
to better understanding between
northern white men and southern
white men. For the first time, on read.
ing the Atlanta address Of Booker
Washington, northern white men be
gan to understand the southern situa.
ton and the southern point OF view
And it lis not too much to say that
Booker Washington has done as much
or more than any other individual
white or black, of his time. to facilitate
better feeling between the white
people Of the north and the white peo
pie Of the south, as we'll as between
whites and blacks the country over
His influence has not been merely
sentimental, but has directly at
fected commerce and investments as
between the two sections Of the ma
ton.
| speaking of and for the negroes Of
| Texas, can say that we are not
ashamed TO have him visit US and to
see our homes, schools, churches
farms, stores and banks. The negroes
of Texas have much to be proud Of
+ considering the brief span of freedom
--forty-six years, which is but a day
in the long history and progress OF
races and Eations-a little more than
| single generation, as the life of the
" ritter, for example, comprehends the
entire span Of negro freedom from
! bondage--and a few years more.
AS for the educational advantages
Of Texas negroes, they are, on the
whole, unsurpassed by any other state
| in the Union having equal negro pop
ulation. All the larger and lesser
| cities of Texas have not only primary
| and grammar schools for colored
youth, but excellent high schools as
well. Such cities as Houston. Calves
| ton. Fort Worth and Dallas have ex
cellent high school buildings-the
$50 900 negro high school building al
Fort Worth being model of it's kind
which would do credit to any com
munity in the nation. Such cities al
San Antonio, Waco, Victoria, Hous
ton, Corslcana. Galveston. Dallas and
Fort Worth have given the colored
children the advantages Of industrial
training in addition to the convention
al literary training.
The public school system Of Texas
SO far as the negro people are con
4 cerned, surpasses that Of any other
state as TO courses Of study pursued
leverage length OF school term, and
salaries paid to negro teachers.
The secondary or advanced educa
tion OF the negroes Is by no means
1 neglected. AT Prairie View, in Waller
county, near Hampstead. Texas, the
state Of Texas maintains, under dlrec
ton OF state board of directors, q
normal and industrial college which
now surpasses in number enrolled, in
variety Of Industrial and literary
courses offered any similar state in
/ stitution in the United States, and il
the largest institution for negro edu
cation west Of the Mississippi river