Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-06-17
Progress of CoIored Race
Is Dwell Upon in Address
by H. B. F. MacfarIand

Declaring that the progress of the col
ored race during the last half century
has not been excelled by any people.
Henry B. F. mcfarland. former Com
missioner of the District of Columbia.
last night urged the graduates of NJ
Street High School. Armstrong Manual
Training and Cardozo and o Street Fo-
cational schools to pledge themselves 10
honest endeavors for the further advance
ment of their race.
Mr.. Mcfarland was the principal
speaker at the joint commencement ex-
ercises of the four schools. which were
held in Convention Hall. The big audi
forum was packed with friends and rel
atives of the graduates. Henry L. Blair
president of the board of education, pre-,
sided, while members of the board ano
James f. oyster, it's former president
occupied seats on the stage.
In beginning his address former Com
missioner Macfarland referred to the in
terest which the nation has In the pup,
lie schools of the District, and declared
that further development of the schools
depends upon the maintenance Of the or
ganic act of 1878, under which the led
eral government contributes to the sup
port of the municipality.
Praises Members of Board.
II think the city is to be congratu-
lated upon the services Of the men and
women of the board of education who
serve without pay said Mr.. Macfarland.
IT am glad to believe that simply ex-
press the feeling of every patriotic
American the country over who is intel
ligent enough to know about the public
schools of the District of Columbia. l
have had reason to believe that IN the
recent campaign of education concerning
the organic act that there are all over
this country men and women who 1eel
just as strongly interested in education
in the District of Columbia as they do
in their own states and cities.
They regard the National Capital as
an integral whole. like no other city,
and would feel ashamed and disgraced If
the education given here was below the
standard that existed elsewhere. They
do not divide the capital into nationa!
city, made up of parks, buildings ana
things that can be seen, and local CITY
made up of schools, a health depart
ment and municipal services generally.
They look upon this National Capital as
one and they want 1t to be IN all re-
spects the finest in the world.
Therein lies our hope that the al
rangement which has obtained since lsIs'
under which these schools nave peer
made what they are, under which all our
progress has been achieved, and upon
which all our progress. moral as wei, %
physical, for the future depends, VIII pe
maintained. You should keep in MIND
aiways- especially when talking to any
Of YOUR friends in the Senate or House
Of Representatives, that the scnoois oe
mend absolutely upon the maintenance OF
the 'haIf-and-half' principle
Progress Made by Race.
Referring to the prograss made bv the
colored race, Mr.. Macfarland said:
FIFTY years ago per cent of the col
ored race could read-now 10 per cent
Fifty years ago no architects or engineers
or manufacturers or mine owners were OF
the colored race-now there are thou
sands, Fifty years ago there were no
negro newspapers. banks, stores or other
businesses of similar character-now You
have 400 newspapers and periodicals. six
ty-four banks, 100 insurance companies
and 10000 grocery stores. flIty years ago
there were no colored doctors. nurses or
dentists Now there are $1,000 OF such
professions. Fifty years ago there were
ing in the front rank Of their respective
profession. Fifty years ago there were
no farms owned by the members Of your
bracing more than 100000 acres.
Rejoicing as do at your pride in your
race, I rejoice to speak to you tonight as
members Of that great race-a race which
is going to be greater in the future than
it has ever been in the past. The I'M
paralleled record OF the negro race In
the United States ought to be to these
young men and women the greatest pos
sible Inspiration that can be given them. .
Scholarship Awards Announced.
The exercises were opened with an in
vocation by Rev. J. G. VanLoo, rector
of st. Monica P. E. Church. Rev.
Walter H Brooks. pastor Of Nineteenth
Street Baptist Church. pronounced the
Superintendent Of Schools Thurston
announced the following scholarship
awards:
M Street High School graduates
Howard University. Price Green1eaf
and Norwel Barnett; University Of
Pittsburgh scholarship. Thomas Bar
ton; Howard University scholarship,
College of Arts and Sciences. Mac Ed
wards, Gabrielle Pelham and Robert
Porter; Teachers College. Ruth Small
wood, Marion Brown and Edna Prout
Armstrong Manual Training School
Howard University, College Of Arts and
Sciences Richard Jones and Allen
Jackson: Teachers College. Catherine