The Colorado statesman., 1912-04-13
HOW FOREIGN IMMIGRATION
WILL ULTIMATELY SOLVE
NEGRO PROBLEM
BY FRANKLIN W. WILLIAMS, AT
TORNEY AT LAW.

One of the most difficult problems
Of our nation today is the problem of
the races. The enslaving and the
subsequent emancipation of the ne
gro bequeathed a legacy of trouble to
the American people which is, now,
one of the most difficult problems of
the nation. 1t is difficult, because of
its complexity and seemingly vexing
phases. 1t is of the deepest concern,
because the negro must somehow be
built into the national life and char
acter of America. For us, the prob
lem means the security of the negro's
welfare in this country. His welfare
seems to be endangered and imper-
lied; yet, we shall see that it is real
ly secure. The problem presents
three phases: An Industrial, an edu-
cational and civil phase.
Now, you may ask, how can foreign
immigration help to solve til. negro
problem? First, let us see how it
will affect these three phases of the
question; then, you shall Judge for
yourself If it will not help to solve
the problem.
At present, there is much alarm
among our people over the immigra-
tion laws which are being made in the
southern states. But, we have no
need to fear. The south is far from
being overcrowded. There are thou
sands, yes, millions, of acres of land
unoccupied and unused in this coun-
try which ought to be occupied by
somebody. The present demand for
labor, upon which the Industrial and
business prosperity, in a largs meas
ure depend, cannot remain unsatisfied
This explains why foreign immigrants
are being brought to this country in
such large numbers. Some of them
the Greeks for example-are making
remarkable progress. The Afro-Ameri-
can can learn lesson from this
quiet but persistent people. We hear
a little of them here in the south;
but they are slowly saving their spare
means and are bending every effort
towards starting and developing va
rious lines of business. They have al
ready reached a point where they are
establishing banks and other large
enterprises. The Greeks of the south
compel us to recognize them be-
cause of their progress. The Afro
Americans can compel the white
races to recognize them when they
prove their real WORTH their practi-
cal ability by acquiring personal and
real estate and by establishing banks
and other enterprises.
Now, after forty-seven years of ex-
perience, our race is beginning to
ho
industrial and business developments
Already, we are purchasing every
year thousands of acres of land and
we are founding schools and banks.
Then too, our patronage, which, for
merly, IN a large measure went to
the white race is now turning towards
our own people. In proportion as the
members of race learn to respect
each other, in proportion as they learn
to invent, foster and establish busi-
ness enterprises and conduct them
in business-like way, in like proper
ton will such a race be respected by
its fellow countrymen. Consequently
the thrifty immigrants, bringing their
healthy competition, which we so
much need, will quicken our energy,
stimulate us to be more Industrious;
cause us to buy more land, build bet
ter houses, have larger bank accounts
and, thus, present to the world tangi-
BILE and visible evidence of our worth
as race. By making constructive
progress along Industrial and econo-
mic lines we will secure the respect
and consideration of our neighbors
The educational phase is equally as
important. 1t is true that the Afro
Americans have made unparalleled
progress along the line of general ed
ucation. Thousands of our young men
and women are in academies, pre-
paratory schools and colleges. Ne
groes are occupying prominent places
in the professional and in the artis-
tic world. But, as a race, we have
not paid enough attention to techni-
cal training. We have too few we'll
| trained, well-educated master mechan-
| ics too few master masons and too
few civil engineers and architects.
Foreign immigration will be an incen-
tive to this kind of education-which
the masses need-which we as a race
are neglecting. The better the ne
gro is prepared for service, the better
and more efficient service he can rem
der and the greater will be the de-
mand for those services. The indi-
vidual or the race that is prepared
gets something to do, regardless of
his previous condition. Idleness means
ignorance; ignorance means crime;
and crime means a heavy burden to
the race. Therefore, we can see that
the safety of the race is in the direc-
tion of industry and education which
will be developed very largely by com
petition.
The civil phase is of no less i'm
portance. Foreign immigration is caus-
Ing the negroes to unite They must