The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1917-06-29
ny RALPH ". WHITE,
(ovVucIAL ooRREsPoxDKxr.) J

(ovyIcIAL CORRESPONDENT
CHARLESTON, W. VA. June a.
Dr.. Thomas Jssse Jones. . specialist in
The federal bureau of education under
Oommissioosr Claxton, has given 10 the
public . very readable report on the
Negro in his review Of 6ftv years past,
covering the Ns9ro's life and achieve
menes- The report 10 rather full and in
mos rsspscts very exhaustive and be il
said 20 his credit that he hews closely 70
The lins Of facts - they are, in most all
of his report and not - someone else
would like 70 see them. He lays particu-
lar stsso on the fact that most of the
coiorsd school education system is adapt
I'd 20 tie study Of the higher branches
and 10 the arss and science, when - he
thinks, it should be directed more specif-
ically 70 thai Of agriculture and rural
LIE. He also calls attention 70 the fact
that in doing this, the Negro 10 follow
ing in the footsteps OF the white msn
and that ths lssssr 10 now seeing his mis-
taks and should take steps 70 remedy it,
A . ssnersl proposition DR.. Jones is
righk The American people - . whole.
bsoh whiss and coiored, have wandered
10 fsr from mother ssrth, they are liv-
iag too lest. They are living srtificially
Ihh y sxue, both physicalIy and ment-
aiiy- We may be enjoying the most
modsru Improvements, but We are pay
Ing IN awful price for is. We are burn
iag the candle ~ both ends. We are
esovding What ooghs 70 b three score
and - ysau ineo hs<is over three de-
esdss Ard cali is living Life. We are
snjoyinR luxury st the expense of Ionge-
visy. Tie pendulum 10 bound to swing
ths oeher way---and that soon. Improve
msnas ars bound 20 ce me with the sd-
vance OF civilization, hut We should be
slow 70 abandon the old land marks.
We aGree with DIR. Jones that the Ne
gro should, not only should but ought
and Dust, ret back TO rural life In
oeher words, he must give more atten-
sion 70 rsissng his living out OF the
ground, but here 10 the problem 1--WE are
spssking now - . Fsee), he must first
60 the ground. Then. after having got
ten the ground, he must know how to
cultivate it and do 20 intelligently. We
hold that giving him more education
along the agricultural line is just the
thing, but not ss the expense OF his
knoWledes Of the other branches OF learn
ins. Why not make him . rounded out
man, instead of lopsided one. One
ssys that Greek and Latin do not help
Easa 70 farm. In one way they don't.
In another way they 10. A good farmer
kpovs the soils, which 10 know CON-
Prshensively he must have some fair
knowiedgs Of chemistry. Chemistry 10
certainly one Of the higher branches.
Greek and Latin do not help chemistry
- chemistry, but the scquirement OF
thsm enables that man 70 develop brain
power that aids him materially in arriv-
Ing ss his conclusions and working out
ms problems In chemistry. A good far
nsr knovs something about trees and
plants and seeds, etc., and 10 do this he
muss know Botany in some form. Bot
any y one Of the higher branches. The
ssns rules spp,ies here. We don't mean
that . man he's ~ set up . chemical lab
rseory on . farm, nor dos he need 10
cnltivsss . Botanical Garden 10 become
. sncce sfui farmer, but We do mean that
be must have . knowledge Of thee thing.
bsfore hs can hope 70 measure up 10 the
requirements OF today in this particular.
Les take suother peep at the propo-
sision. Hypothscste . Gaze where we
ssnd 1000 Negroes through AsrieuItursl
and Mechanical schools and turn them
oos thoroughly equipped 10 take up the
vork OF agriculture and mechsnics.
Where will he 70 10 apply that knoxl-
sdss? To whom shsIl he apply and not
10 rrfussd the opportunity 10 demon
ssssss shst he can do thee thinr? BE
he ever % good . brickisyer. architect,
dsignss. horticulturslist, practical geo
los'ss. ETC., from where. pray tell nc, 10
his employment 20 come?
But says one, Why don't the Negro a.
. whole gst land for himseIf? Why don't
hs purrhsse homes7 Why don't he op-
srsss fscsories Of bis own, etc., All Of
shsss inssrroxssions he mske, unmind-
fsi of Ne iscs that 10 takes money 70 do
shss shiDes and the opportunity 70 earn
ths kind Of mooey, which he could earn
ssd would earn and pro6tsbly employ
IN this very p"rsuis u he could ees ipso
shs fscsorsss, the banks, the bag whole
ssis housss. on the railroads and thous-I
ssds Of Other places where the real
uooumv n - Suus~d h,<x 49, ~-Ax