The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1914-12-23
WILSON'S ATTITUDE
TELLS EDUCATORS sOUTHEBNERS
DO NOT HATE THE negro
A QUESTION OF KNOWING

President Talks to Commission On
Southern Race Question-Othef
Speakers Refer to Problem OF the
Races In the neutrality-suspicious.
Referred to as Only Cloud.
Outlining his attitude toward the
negro, President Wilson, at Wash
ington Tuesday told the University
commission on Southern race oues-
tions, made up Of representatives Of
eleven Southern colleges, that "our
object Is to know the needs Of the
negro and sympathetically help him
in every way that is possible for his
good and our good"
Dr. c.. H. Brough, Of the UniVer-
sity Of Arkansas, chairman OF the
commission, told the president the
commission was organized to make
an impartial study of the race ques-
ton from the standpoint Of the me-
groes' economic, hygienic, civil and
moral betterment. He said deep
investigation of the subject was be-
ing made with the goods of the me-
gro in mind.
II am very glad to express my sim
cere interest in this work and SYM
pathy with It. said the president in
reply to DR.. Brough.
II think that men Ike yourselves
can be trusted to see this great oues-
ticn at every angle. There is not
any question, It. seems to me, Into
| which more candor needs to be put,
or more thorough human good feel
ing than this. I know myself as
Southern man how sincerely the heart
Of the South d .sires the good Of the
negro and the advancement OF his
| race on all sound and sensible lines,
and everything that cen be done In
that direction is OF the highest value.
It is a matter Of common UNDER
standing.
There is a charming story told
about Charles Lamb. The converse
/ tion in his little circle turned upon
some men who were not present, and
Lamb who, you know, suffered, said
I hate that fellow His friend said,
Charles, didn't know you knew
him. Lamb said, ! don't; I'll can't
hate fellow IL know.
81 think thatsi a very profound
human fact. You can not hate a
man you know. And our object Is to
4 know the needs Of theh negro and
sympathetically help him in every
way that's possible for his good and
for our good. i can only bid you Sod
speed in what is very necessary
and great undertaking."
President 8. c. Mitchell, CT Dcla-
ware College, declared at the OPEN
ing session Of the commissions con-
ference, thai the European war en-
ohasized there must be something
more than radical and national SEM
timent In solving the questions OF
humanity.
Inclusion and not exclusion must
be the policy pursued on all race
1uestions," ne said. Dr.. james q.
billiard, OF the University OF Viz
ginia, said he was satisfied there was
q growing sentiment among the white
and negro leaders In the South L.
favor Of the education Of the negro
race.
In his annual report Dr.. Brough
reviewed the problems Of the race In
the South. Under the Anna P. James
Foundation he reported 11S counties
IN twelve states last year improved
their negro rural schools, while al
the universities represented on the
commission were Offering courses on
the race question. Dr. Brough re-
ferred to segregation as a "mooted
question" which formed the only
cloud on the horizon.
The constructive work before the
commission he declared to be: "The
socializing and rationalizing of the
| impulses OF an inferior race by i'm
| posing upon them the importance OF
preserving the racial integrity OF
both races, securing Industrial edu-
cation and <.tainirg the goal Of eco
nomic equality of opportunity"
! DR.. Brough believed there was too
much zeal among negroes for the ex-
| ternals Of education and a growing
dislike for domestic service. He
pleaded for higher standards among
| teachers and preachers Of the negro
race.
"The South feels that race integra-
ton and solidarity In social sense
are absolutely necessary to promote
the best interests Of both races" DE-.
Broueh declared in his report:
while willing to concede equality
Of opportunity In an economic sense
she is unalterably opposed to niseo-
genation Of the races and views with
genuine alarm the increase In tbs
number Of mulatoes from 1,132,o6o.
or 1872 per cent. in 1890, to 2,n5a.-,
SIS. or 20.9 per cent. In 1910.
The fundamental incompatibilities
Of racial temperament and tradition
which operate to make the great ma
lority Of actual uniops between the
two groups unhappy and the fact that
many Of those who do enter upon
these unions belong to the criminal
or anti-socia! elements OF both
groups, would seem to indicate the
condemnation of such unions BY the
better elements Of both races as
substantial basis.
"The South rejoices with the North
that the negro has been made COM
mendable and rapid progress along
economic, hygienic, educational, reli-
gious and civic lines within the semi
centennial Of his freedom and that
the problem Of race adjustment is be-
coming less acute and easier Of solu-
ton BY the wise and conservative
leadership OF men Of both races.
"That the negro has made rapid
strides toward the goal Of economic
emancipation is conclusiyely proven
by the latest census statistics. In
1853 there were 3,960.000 slaves In
the South. At the present time g.
108,7S6 negroes are engaged in gain
full occupations in the South alone
and 5,192,535 negroes are engaged
in gainful occupations throughout
the United States as a whole