The broad ax., 1913-02-22

eIared the lack Of the Negro is not
due to evil but to a hack Of culture.
They were reluctant 70 believe her
right in her conclusions even though
she has for years been putting al her
energies into practical settlement
work among the Negroes Of Chicago.
MFs. Woolley is the founder Of the
Frederick Douglass social center in
the Negro section Of the city. An
sWering q query Mrs. WOOIley said she
believed interraeial marriages unwiss.
"The Negro Is not given . chance to
maks good" Mrs. WoOlley said. SHE
is fighting against tremendous odds.
Even though he il capable and indus
trious and honest he is denied en-
ployment, Mrs. Woolley declared.
che is berated for faneied errors, he
is reproved and scoWled upon IL he at
tempts to make anything Of himself. I"
"True democracy" Mrs. woolley
said, is the ideal and aim of all reform
ers and the only solution of the vex-
ing problems. Three of these she as
serted were so distinctly analogous
that the arguments in each are almost
identical.
Blames Social Scheme.
The labor question, the woman. ques.
ton end the race question all persist
because Of social ehasms which should
not exist. Employer and employed,
man and women, White man and Black
man are held apart by a chasm of
what Mrs. WooIley calls easte-the en-
Ployer, the woman and the Black man
being all in q measure subject.
The race question is worldwide
a problem in south Africa and in the
Philippines as well as our own eoun-
try. Everywhere, said Mrs. WOolley,
it is not a matter Of color but Of caste.
In spite of one declaration of equal
ity it is "previOus condition of servi-
tude" which accounts for the Anglo
Saxon prejudice against the Negro.
We have freed the slaves but have
not emaneipated the Negro. Their
emancipation can only come when
class distinctions are swept away and
the White man is willing to accord to
the Black the opportunity which he
seeks for himself.
PLEADS for Black
This was Mrs. WOolley's plea equal
opportunity-just fair chance. Her
audience was surprised to learn that
no business college or kindergarten in
Chicago would admit Colored students,
The Negro Office worker can seldom
find employment owing to the preju'
diees of other White employees.
Yet, said Mrs. Woolley, we are con-
tinuaIly urging the Negro to fit him.
self for self-support and then close
the doors in his face.
The absolute essential in the sOlu-
ton of the race problem is the Great.
ing of Just and amicable relations be-
tween the two raees-a breadth of
mind which win judge questions en-
tirely upon their merits.
"The lacks in the Colored race are
not racial but cultural and their re-
form waits only upon opportunity, u
said Mrs. Woolley. Frederick Doug
lass said, Il know of no race problem,
it is a human problem. ," and it is fol
this attitude on the part of the White
race that she and others like her are
working for, Mrs. WOolley said.
Mrs. Woolley briefly sketehed the
work being done in her center and
told Of the 40 Colored women's clubs
in Chicago which are trying to better
conditions, working under the signif.
cant motto, Lifting as we climb. u
Mrs. C. Francis sang a delightful
group of songs.-The Aurora, Ill. Daily
Beaeon-News, Thursday February 13,
1918.