The Colorado statesman., 1912-04-13
THREE THINGS OBSERVED At
THE GREAT BOOKER 7.
WASHINGTON FARMERS AND
WORKERS CONFERENCE.
WIN. HICKS, B. D., UNIoNToWN,
AL A

ALA.
The first thing | noticed was the
unstinted hospitality of Mr.. Washing
ton, his staff of about 200 teachers,
and his student body of perhaps 1900.
Ihe visitor at Tuskegee ms at once
captlVated by the attention that is
given him not only by teachers and
students, but by the "Tuskegee Wiz
ard" himself He takes especial de-
light in seeing to it that the stranger
within his gates is comfortably shell
tered, fed and entertained all for
gratis, knowing his heavenly Father
hath and evermore will reward such
unbounded hospitality. AS | observed,
l thought how profitable it would be
to us as race, if the IL 100000 of us
in this country would learn and prac-
tically apply in our everyday life such
lessons on hospitality. Then the
wicked doctrine of Myself and wife,
my son John and his wife-us four
and no more"-would die, and then
the hospitable people of earth would
give it decent funeral and turn out
to the burying in great numbers.
The second thing that engaged my
attention was the timely lessons on
self-help and economy. AS unprece-
dented reports were made by the teach
er and farmer of phenomenal, indus
trial progress in the school and on the
farm, 1t was easy to see that our
races greatest need is not a gift-a
donation; but job and knowledge as
to how to hold that job, and do the
work as well if not better than the
other man. Don't help the man di-
rect, but help him to help himself.
In this way the needy gets two bless
ings-the one is the help you give
him and the other is the help he
gives himself. The reports showed
clearly that hundreds of negro farm
ers ARE living and eating at home
that is, living this year on what they
made and saved last year. Our eco
nomic condition was ably discussed
by some of the best thinkers of the
age, and many helpful remedies were
suggested for our economic ills.
The best way to be economical and
saving is just to be economical and
saving, and be it now. If you have
not started start today and believe
the man who, perhaps, when told that
the donkey could not run, knowing
for himself, said: You need not tell
me that the donkey can't run, cause
/ done seen what the donkey done
done" So we must not believe that
we cannot solve our own economic
! problems, because we can. DR.. Wash
ington and scores of others have de-
monstrated the possibility. The Unit
ed States Postal Savings Banks that
aresuow operating in many postoffices
furnish excellent opportunities for saw
| ing. In connection with our Negro
Boys Improvement association here,
we have organized saving club. Sew
en- of our little boys have bank ac-
| counts now, and others are preparing
to join.
That Mr.. Washington is thorough
ly interested in and notes carefully
the progress of his race in different
sections is evidenced by the following
excerpt from one of his letters to the
! writer:
MY dear Mr.. Hicks:
. l am very glad to note
/ tHe eVluSnL pIOSItSSlNt oh lhO
part of the negroes in your section
of the state. This is most encourag-
ing We are glad that you came to
the annual Tuskegee negro conference
and that you were pleased with what
you saw and heard.
Yours very truly,
"BOOKER T. WASHINGTON"
My third observation was the fact
that here at this industrial school,
in the very midst of all this industrial
whirl, stands the Phelps Bible Train
| ing school, under the management OF
the scholarly DR.. A. F. Owens, where
the word of God is daily taught, and
around which as a center the indus
trial wheels of this great plant turn
/ thought, as l paused in moments
meditation, what a mighty team is
this for the races uplift-Religion, In
| dustry and Education!
T0PICS OF THE HOUSEHOLD.