Metropolis weekly gazette. (Metropolis, Ill.) 1???-19??, 1914-08-21


Thoughtful negroes as well a.
thoughtful white men," he said. ARE
agreed that the South offers the
largest opportunity for the masses OF
the colored people. It Is fair to a.,
sumo, then,
That, for the present at least. the
South cannot depend on foreign I'M
migrants for its farm operatives. its
domestic and personal service, or its
InskiIled and semi-skilled labor:
THAT 1t must depend on the negro
for the present and also the very dis
tant future to recruit tho ranks OF this
form OF labor;
THAT, II the negro La to constitute
the mass of industrial operatives Of
the South. 1t 10 imperative for the
common good that there should be
sympathetic cooperation with the
white workers engaged In similar
forms OF industry:
That every effort should be exert
ed on the part Of the South to make
these laborers, black and white. more
xS4taoids noTo Shltf4u4 duu AHofc osn-
Client; that the laborer can be kept
efiicient and skillful only as his en-
vtronment Ia wholesome and strength
ening and not weakening and democrat
fzfng;
THAT 1t Is the duty Of every pa
triotic southerner to use every posi-
bis means for the practical. sympa-
thetin training OF these workers and
their children through o thorough.
weilregulated school system.
IT Ia frequently asserted by care
less and thoughtless speakers and
writer's that all negroes are lazy. shift
less and inefficient; but In practically
every district where negroes are en-
ployed. whether al farm laborers or as
mechanical laborers, the verdict Is
that a large majority Of negro work
ers are reliable. many of them are
skiflful and very efficient. and not a
few are almost indispensable. There
are very few places In the South
where the employer would be willing
10 dispense with the services OF his
negro employees"
The speaker gave hint OF the
means which must be employed to
keep these workers faithful and eff
cient mo leader, either black or
white" he remarked, can give skill
full, efficient, conscientious service
when he is surrounded day and night
by all that tends to lower his health.
distort his mind. weaken his morals.
embitter his spirit and shake bis faith
In his fellow men,"
Major Motion was led to emphasize
the very great necessity of education
for the negro There has been much
criticism" he said. and some fun
and ridicuie made at the expense OF
the educated negroes by. perhaps.
well meaning people. But after all is
said and done. the most successful and
the most reliable and the most infiu-
entail element In the negro race, as in
every race, Is the educated class--the
men and women who have done most
to cement cordial and sympathetic
relations between the races; who have
had the greatest influence for eau
ton and conservatism upon the reck-
less and radical negroes; who have
been most patient and most persistent
In their efforts to At the whole negro
race for freedom and citizenship, In
their broadest and most perfect sense.
by practical Christian education and
sane. wholesome advice"
Kindergartens for colored children
are being adopted In different parts
Of the South an one ~ the agencies
for improving social conditions that
have troubled two generations Rich
mond, Va. has lately opened an ex-
detrimental kindergarten which has
already created such interest among
negro parents and the school authori-
ties that 1t Is expected 1t will soon be
made permanent. The Richmond
kindergarten was opened by the Ma,
tional Kindergarten Association OF
New York at the request OF Richmond
people who knew OF the success OF the
demonstration given among the col
ored children at Chattanooga, Tenn.
where the local association assumed
the care and support OF the school on
March /.
- A. a