The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-01-22
First of Phelps-Stokes Lectures
at University of
Virginia.
Special to The Times-Dispatch.


Charlottesville. Va. January eli
at the University of Virginia was de-
livered in Madison Hall tonight by
DR.. James H billiard, of New Orleans,
president of the James fund and direc-
tor of the Slater fund. DR.. billiard
was introduced by Dean James Morris
Page. His subject was Race Adjust
ment in the South" DR.. billiard
said in part
"As there must be discussion of real
tions between the races in the South.
it is needful that such discussion be
based on carefully ascertaIned facts.
We should welcome such agencies as
the Phelps-S tokes fellowships and lee
tureships and the university commits
sion There is need of knowing the
real facts as to the present condition
of the negro in matters of religion,
education and civic and material ad-
vancement. Then we should think
what is best to be done and what re
suits may be expected. The report OF
the university commission will be Of
great Importance.
Makes Great Advance.
Meantime. there are certain general
facts which must be realized and faced;
The negro is here in the South, and VIII
remain here. Furthermore. he desires
education and Improvement. l think
there can be no doubt that the negro
race has made great advance since the
Civil War. At present the gross wealth
Of the A merican negro is estimated at
about sec. 900 900 There are fftyseven
negro banks. with deposits amounting 70
S. 20oo 600. Negro farmers own and cuiti-
waite 1850 900 acres. During the ten
years frcm 1900 TO 1910. 23oO Southern
negroes changed from tenancy 10
ownership, an increase OF u per cent.
During the same period illiteracy was
reduced from a per cent TO 30 per cent
Negroes raise annually G.5oo,Ooo for
church purposes: a.: ssd 90 coy o~n 1nu ICE
travelling through the South can see
signs of Improvement unless he keeps
his eyes solely on the plantation negro.
or on the low type of the city alleys.
Throughout most of the country one
can see improvement. especially where
negroes have been able TO purchase lana
or 70 rent on fair terms
But there is the other side. There
are thousands who are living IN conGi-
ton of ignorance and uncleaniiness and
white people must learn that every con
sidcration OF Justice and self-lnterest
demands the effort TO change such con-
ditions of ignorance and inefnciency.
As to the relation between the
two races. IL II not an obvious fact
that the millions are going on quite
peacefully about their business and
that II Is only the hundreds about whom
we hear troubles2 There II little trouble
in actual practice in the common
every day routine of business. Negroes
testify to the good Will OF the Southern
whites in the enterprises which they
undertake / wonder daily az the peace
fui relation of the races when 1 remem-
Der how much has been said and done.
from Thad Stevens TO Governor BleaSe,
which might cause irritation and hatred
IL Is a long. bad story. which began
in mistakes when men even as great
as Charles Summer forgot all about
human nature and Inheritance and en-
vironment and all the other tTernen-
dous facts OF commonplace life. and
tried 20 lcgislate theories and Ideals Tor
two peoples. neither of which they
understood After the storm and stress
the two races are now settled down 20 a
basis Of gradual ad iustment.
Education and Religion
A 10 what can be III meoiatelr
done 90 seems to ne that We must Work
first along ne lines Of education and
religion. We must recognize that the
cdufat.ou Of the masses must depend
upon the public schools. and that these
schools must be made more efficient
by the Introduction OF home industries
and hy relating them 70 tho life OF the
people. Justice demands a larger ap-
propriation for this purpose. A. conui-
tions now are. WITH the snort term ana
Inefficient teacher and the lack OF super
vision. much OF the money 81 almost
wasted
IN regard 60 the question % rciigi-
ou- influence. there D. great need that
an effort pc made 20 bring home 20 the
minds 81 the negro preacners the CON
vicfion that their religion "a meant tor
this world - veil a. for the next T rr
among the rrErocS 81 tra- 90 fre tnur.
Try preachers. Many 90 these are good
men. but the great majority have ID
"a 20 idea about frc rhardrfrr ~ preach
IuE fhaf o. most needed. lnrH--u
these. tf they were nightly Instructed
the greatest improvement 'rIlt Pc
affected 10 the way 90 sanitation art
CLEANLINESS ana tnriff
In addition 20 tnc question ~ in.-
provemcut tu education aur Religion.
ID seems 10 mf that We southern NlIfe
people may well consider whether We
air Just 20 ne rae. iu Dar ~ urfl.I. alton
81 frr urErue- 90 "a mass Nr ~uAtNnfn.
ers generally Ike ere irlItilIaI negro.
viii work With him help rim. joke Aitl
HIM. but iu another mood 80 CHASE alt
81 them fogcfn.r ana are arf fu Judge
the whole uy fnc worst ffrf- lu ny
opinion 10 would b. better fnr l- ana
better for them that the ruiorcd pcgpie
OF toe south should b. encouraged 20
have seif-rcspcct. s
No one man can predict trc fnturc.
There will always BE- race rrpticrn-. fyr
races are different and fne dirercuCes
viii PERSIST but ] ero no reason WY
the white people aud ire co4orri people
ma not contin4e o. 'iFe ia tAc south
with y natural -cGrrE4finu and rcf
~ utfuaI cooperation ana good Htll.
What We need o. = knOWirdgc OF the
fast. Of the real cordffiore that - pres
erf exief and then 70 have conndenCe ~