The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1915-09-11

ignorance who claim tutorage, even to
have graduated at Booker Washing
tons school," These have prejudiced
us against an attempt to educate the
Negro.
Again, we have members of the
race living among US giving good, in
telligent, u~npretentious service, striv-
ing quietly for right, and working Ca
pably in their line Of industry.
This is because we do not know,
have not actually seen what is being
done for the Negro, with Alabama as
the working center.
A week ago l left Birmingham for
Tuskegee, reaching there the after
noon of the same day. Arriving at the
depot at about two o'clock, l was driv-
en- through the quaint little town, with
its huge shade trees and colonial
homes, to the Tuskegee Normal insti-
tute.
From the moment l entered the
grounds l saw the result of a wonder
full Industry small city laid off in
streets, with parks, blooming plants
and graveled ~drivevays. The center,
the school plant and its workshops,
with a circular border of well-kept
homes, the homes of the teachers.
At a distance a beautiful view of grow
ing fields and meadows with stock
grazing ~leisurely along. Amazed does
not express my impression at first, and
establishment never ceased in my
rounds. All Of the route from Mont
gomery along the way l had noticed
the same old plantation shanty, the
wash pot and the half red dog, l could
never have imagined such a transfer
nation from existence to comfort, from
idleness to work, could have taken
place within so few miles of n to
the other.
The story reads like a fable. In
1881, "a years ago, there was a politi.
cal campaign on in Macon county.
The Negro had a voice in the elections.
AS a reward for political service a
promise vas fulfilled to the leader of
the Negro voters-"that a good teach.
er would be furnished to the Negroes
of Tuskegee." Booker T. Washington
was the fulfillment of hat promise
a political product that has worked
well. He had been educated at Hamp.
ton, Va, and came in response to the
demand for a teacher-thus the Ne.
gro race came to be in possession Of
a leader whose influence has been felt
over the world, and whose executive
ability has builded a city of his own
out of the barren fields in Macon coun'
ty. Land was purchased at 81 an
acre; then that has price today. Grad
ually the school property has IN
creased in acreage until it numbers
$500 acres now, with 1900 under cul
tivation. Already there are SO hand
some buildings of brick, dormitories
study halls, dining hall, a Carnegie
library with a circulation of 4,00C
books, a hospital recently built ant
equipped at the cost of $4,000; al
electric plant at a cost of S300,0 600 has
just been finished. These bear the
names of the philanthropists who have
made them possible. All of the labor
has been done by the student body Of
the school-even the brick are made
on the premises. This is a wonderful
workshop from gateway to field. Il
would take n a week to see the in
dustry that is under process of ere
alton along all lines; and a book t.
enumerate all thought and half tina
saw.
The entire work Of shop and field ii
done by the student body, thus the ex
pense of procuring the advantage
offered by the school is very much re
duced to the pupil.