Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1913-03-07

Class in Physical Gcogr
problem. Booker T. Washington
knew the remedy, but how to apply
it in an effective manner was the
TerpleXing question before him. He
realized that the purpose of any
school was to make it's students en-
ergetic, useful citizens.
So he planned that his school
should be a practical and a useful
one The institution Incorporates the
school of agriculture. the industries
for the girls, and the department of
mechanics for the boys The alter
nate system, one day class and one
day laboratory is followed. Under
this plan the students have actually
built SO of the handsome buildings
how on the campus. In the erection
CT the Armstrong Memorial Trades
Building, the dimensions of which
are 2S3x315 feet, and two stories
high, the plans were drawn by
colOred man. The 100000 bricks
were made by Tuskegee students In
their laboratory work. The plaster
ing, the carpentry work, painting
and tin-rOofing were done by these
students in the trades department.
There were 100 students who re-
ceiyed training in the erection of this
building. The electrical fixtures
were installed by the students in the
engineering departm emit The cleo
tricity for the building was generated
by machinery installed by students
in practical engineering. Tuskegee
writes and Rrints its own books. The
domestic science department directs
the preparation Of the foods for the
several dormitories. Before the
Senior girls graduate from the home
economics department, they must
demonstrate that they are capable of
running a home; and accordingly
they live for five or six weeks in
"Dractice cottage" on a living wage
of SO per week, not including light,
heat and foods. Tuskegee teaches it's
students to be clean, self-reliant and
courteous; to have system, order and
sequence to everything and to de-
yelop character. For Booker T.
Washington says, There can be no
liberty without intelligence; no in
dependence without industry, and no
power for man and no charm for
woman without character"
Tuskegee Industrial Institute has
now been founded for over 80 years.
1t has revolutionized the educational
system of the south The graduates
of Tuskegee are found in every i'm
pOrtant center of southern activity
and community life Not a single
graduate of Tuskegee or Hampton
can be found in any Jail or peniten-
tiary.
Emphasis has been purposely laid
on the Industrial instead of the pc
litical activities at Tuskegee. Dur
ing the 80 years of its activity it has
administered to over 5000 students,
with the result that the average
yearly income of the negro is $500
instead of $500. The average length
of time the 5000 students have been
out is IA years. Their earnings have
been S88,2OO,O00. and without this
preparation they would have earned
only $12,6OO,000.
In the building of such an institu-
tion and the policy pursued, Mr.
Washington has not been without his
adversaries. His worst enemies have
been those within his own race They
claim that the negro has been a
drudge long enough; and instead of
trying to give him more work, the
stress should be laid on his political
and social environment. 1t is urged
by these negro thinkers that Mr..
Washington represents the old type
respecting negro education; that by
not demanding more political power,
the negro has been gradually dlsfran-
chised; that there has been crea-
ton of civil inferiority: and that
there has been fewer appropriations
made for the higher education of the
negro in the south lately than form
erly.
But over and against these com
plants stands the conviction and the
policy of the leader of Tuskegee. To
render the best possible service to
higher education is to teach the
present generation to provide ma
terial or an Industrial foundation.
He says, 81 can not but believe,
and my daily observation and expert