Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1911-11-24

| along with the training Oh tno Unih
just as important for the white rae
as for the black7 II we need indus
trial education to make better farm
ers, to make better carpenters, Z
make better brickmasons, to max
better citizens for one race, why d.
we not need 1t for both2' He said II
reply: I thoroughly agree with you
Industrial education must be for botl
races; Just now, he said, our partic
ular work is for the negroes and tn
/ Indians alone-the other will have K
be evolved In the future do no
know Of any reason why emphasis
should be placed upon the observ
ance of the primary virtues Of indus
trial economy or thrift by one race
above another, unless 1t is that oul
race needs teaching OF that sort more
than another. II SO, then the greater
emphasis should be placed where the
greater necessity lies. But, at al
events. II / understand the lessor
which the eminent speaker Of the eve
ming has been teaching from one enc
of this country to the other, It is Ger
tainly lesson which can and should
command our unfailing and enthusiasts
tic support" ,.~
Doctor Washington began his ad
dress which lasted one hour and ten
minutes. 1t was enthusiastically re-
ceived, the applause being often led
.tJ1 the white listeners.
1t was considered to be one of the
most remarkable addresses ever de-
livered to the colored citizns Of Biz
mingham-remarkabl for its abso'
Lutte candor in dealing with the race
problem.
Following are some of the white cit
liens seated on the PLATFORM: Judge
w. l. Grub, Doctor Parks, Doctor
Riley, Mr.. Klotz. Judge Edmund II.
Dryer, Hon. ]. o. Thompson, MIR.
Smith Cullom, Jr., Judge Grow, Pro-
lessor White, Doctor Ullman, Mr.. M.
v. Joseph, Mr.. Cabiness. Hon. John
Frye, Ben M. Jacobs, Doctor Whaley,
Mr.. Gafford and several white ladies.
Doctor Washington spoke as fol-
lows:
81 am glad to be in Birmingham IN
connection with the beginning OF tn
work Of DR.. J. A. Whitfield in neN
church. l have known Doctor Whitted
for many years in North Carolina, and
there are fewer stronger and more
useful men of our race anywhere than
is true Of him.
There is important work for a
church to do in a city like Birming-
ham. The eolored population OF the
Birmingham district is large and grow
ing each year. Birmingham and JEFF
ferson county contain not far from
100000 colored people. This l think
you will find the largest number, with
possibly one other exception, Of col
ored people in any county In the
United States. The mere fact that
so large a number of colored people
are living in this county brings tre-
mendous responsibility to the church
and people who have the interest Of
their community and state at heart.
There is perhaps no other country
in the United States where colored
people earn and handle SO much
money annually as they do in Birm.
ingham and Jefferson county. 1t is
safe to say that from $S,0O0,00O to
$10,000,00O are handled every year
by our race in this county.
Il sometimes fear that as a race
we do nOt rightly appreciate our OPP
portunities in this country in the mat
ter of finding plenty of opportunities
to live. In most of the older coun-
tries of the world there are thousands
of people today who are seeking Ia
Dor, who are willing to work for a
very small wage. When was In
Europe last summer l saw numerous
cases where thousands of people
walked the streets at night and by
day, sleeping sometimes on the side
walks, sometimes under the trees in
the parks, because they could not find
labor with which to supply their
wants. How different is 1t with the
hundred thousand colored people in
Jefferson county. do not think l
am far out of the way when say that
there is scarcely an able-bodied man
or woman Of our race in this county
who cannot find plenty of work every
day in the year, and In most cases
instead of having to seek work, work
seeks them.
1.-THE colored man as laborer has
an advantage again when compared
with the condition Of laboring classes
among other races In the old world.
During the past summer in southern
Europe saw strong, able.bodied men
working for wage OF from IL to Is
and rs cents day and glad to get
work at that price. How different 1t
is with the colored people in Jefferson
county, where in many cases they
earn from 10 to IL times as much as
the same class Of laborers in south.
ern Europe.
In Jefferson county the negro has
spatted. down pretty big field in the
matter of labor. do not want to see
my race merely tolerated in thia coun-
tys because 1t exists in large numbers,
but want to see my race In such q
condition that it will actually be
wanted and sought after because OF
Its usefulness and high service. This
means that In an increased degree
everywhere the church as well as the
school should teach our people relia-
bility in matters Of labor.
In some communities am often
told that while the negro Is valuable
for q certain kind Of labor for CTR
tain time, that one cannot depend
,,nnn him fnv ron ~ mt oYnrfiua lohnr