The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1912-05-23

\
FAr. Taftshas shown time and again
hts deep Interest in the colored race
as ana in the Y. NJ, C. A. and other up-
|iiftng movements.
-. TPresideat Taft is more free from
Fqaass feeling than any man have
ever known of, despite any reports
|t9s the contrary. He believes in equal
opportunity for all, and especially for
tR soastes VINO have not had the same ad-
Yahtages as others. Were it posi-
E9lne he would be here to tell YOU this
hiimself, and he much regrets his in
ability to be present
Proud Aclnevement for the Negro
EIhe erection of this building is
something for the colored race to he
proud Of" continued Secretary Slim
son. "designed as it was by a colored.
man, built largely by colored hands.
and with money contributed by color.
ed people, 1t shows that the race is
capable of accompl ishing much, if
grXsn'th opportunity. 1t is also sig
hlhcant that gifts of white men and
or people not connected with the
CHRISTIAN religion, helped in a large
way TO make the completion Of this
building possible. julius Rosenwald
Hebrew, Of Chicago, gave evidence
or the broadcast human charity in con-
trlDutlng $23,OO0rto the building fund.
b. lis encouraging to note the wide
spread tendency to give the colored
people a chance to show what they
can do and to lend assistance in the
way that will yield. the most lasting
results.
1T is being recognized more and
more that the problem of the colored
race Is a great national. one," de-
clared the Secretary, with emphasis.
1t belongs to no section and to no
particular class Of people. 1t can nev-
er be solved except by the co-opera-
uon or peoples of all religions and all
races. We must face it as Americans.
all fighting together under one flag
for common end"
Mr.. SIMPSONS speech was frequently
interrupted by hearty applause and
calculations of "Amen!"
Other speakers were Or Georeo
Otis Smith, president of the Washing
ton Y. NJ. c. A.; w. Knowles Cooper
secretary Of the Washington Y. NJ,
{. A. and Mr.. r. c.. Morse. Refer
ences were, made by each 10 Former
president Roosevelt, who laid the
cornerstone of the structure on
Thanksgiving Day, November <G,
1907 Mr.. e. j. Morton, president OF
the colored branch, conducted the ex-
ercises and happily introduced Tho
speakers.
100 much credit cannot be given 20
those interchangeable Workers, IInAeThA.
tlonal Secretary j. E. Moorland, and
Local Secretary Lewis e. Johnson, who
created the movement and whose IN
''c1.ng faith and un1agging indr,-
Try pushed it on to its grand realiZa-
'lol. ollc Ol lne most gratifying
gifts was $500 paid in by H W
Grass, cOlored man and forny:'.
lave. The other big donation. asi.I>
IRON that Of Mr.. Rosenwald, was So
600 from Mr.. John D. Rockefeller.
More than $27, 900 came from the COL
ored people Of Washington, represeY,-
ing the generosity of all classes fror,
the humblest 81 per week laborer to
the $4,000 per year government off,
ciai, mhlgling together on a common
platform Of race pride and Christian
cooperation.
Building Admirably Adapted to Its
Purpose. acknowledgements
The building is admirably ADAPTED
TO the purpose for which it is intend
cd. 1t was designed by w. Sidney
Plttman, colored architect, and eve
~ brick was laid by colored con-
tractor. Thus it is a monument to
Negro brain, Drawn and financial
strength. The building has four
floors. In the basement are a barber
SHOP, Turkish bath, social rooms. |
swimming pool, (5Ox2O feet, to 6
lcct deep, shower baths, lockers and