The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-03-17
MEN, WOMEN
AND THINGS

turai ana mhrkeunB comnlItee oL the
| food preparedness and marketing bu-
reau and wrote a story about the stop
made at the Alabama Polytechnic in
stitute.
1t now rests with me to chronicle the
balance of the journey, for on leaving
Auburn at IL in the morning we sped
away toward Tuskegee, for we had
an engagement to be shown over the
institution made famous by the late
Booker T. Washington.
was in Atlanta at the opening of
the great Atlanta exposition some 20
years ago, on the day which Booker I.
Washington made the speech which
gave him a nation wide reputation. but
caring more for other things than
speech making. cut it out.
have always regretted, too, that
missed the opportunity to hear the re-
nowned negro orator, for he spoke from
the same platform with Judge Emory
Speer, whose fame as speaker was
the lips of many who heard them both
that the feature of the occasion was
the wonderful address of Washington.
It's a strange thing, but / went north
before I ever got to hear him, and 1t
was at Harvard university where first
listened to him. ] was putting in
az
Geological congress which was being
held at Phillip Brooks hall, and among
the noted men on the programme was
the Moses of the negro race.
On the morning on which he was to
speak I asked my wife and our hostess,
q brilliant New England woman, to
accompany me to hear him, and they
did so He spoke with great fervor
and power, and, to be truthful. / must
bear witness that in his presentation
of the negro problem he paid the high
est praise to the southern people. both
men and women. I know of no white
man who could have made out
stronger case than he made.
My wife and I were the only south
erners present, and after the address
went up to him and expressed gratitude
that he had given such truthful and
appreciative account Of the white peo-
pie, among whom he lived, In their diff
ficult task of living side by side with
their former slaves. With a smile he
thanked me, saying; II did not know
that any of my southern friends were
present, but am mighty glad you
liked my tribute to them
1t was tho monument which he had
builded for himself and for his own
race that the members of the agricul-
tural and marketing committee was to
inspect. I was the only member Of 1t
who had ever visited the institution,
and it was certainly an eye-opener to
Them and many were the EXPLANATIONS
OF establishment which fell from their
| lips as they went from building to
building or looked upon the grounds.
| Now, really, it is an impressive sight
to get general view Of the splendidly
grouped buildings, the well laid off and
| well kept grounds. and the surrounding
farm, with the poultry yards, the hog
| runs, the cattle sheds, and to know
| that they had their birth in a cabin and
came into existence through the labors
Of an ex-slave whose life story is one
| of the real romances Of the men who
climbed out Of obscurity in the nine
teenth century to a position of com.
manding influence.
Have what opinion you may about the
worth of the Tuskegee institute, or
| about it's founder, there is no gainsay-
| ing the fact that both have, are, and
will play a great part in the future of
| the negro race, not only in the south.
but in America, and the quicker we
| southern people realize their power for
good or evil to both the white and the
black peoples of this country and try
| to understand, guide and help those
| upon whom the burden now rests, the
better it will be for US and for our chill
| dren.
Our party, after having been served
| a wholesome and we'll prepared dinner
| in the house where the white friends
of the institution are entertained,
| went on our tour OF inspection, guided
by a son of Booker Washington. who
hopes to graduate next year from the
| institution which his father founded,
| and while we appreciated his courtesy
| in showing US around. feel sure that
| he was gratified at the comments made
| by those of our party upon the work
| which his father had wrought.
Before leaving we called at the adj
ministration building, where we were
cordially received by Principal Motion,
a worthy successor to Washington, who
| the great work unto which he was
called. I had from him a modest but
| interesting account of his four weeks
| in France at the request of President
Wilson, and left him feeling that truly
his position demanded tact, common
| sense, ana conservation. and that so far
| as it lay within my power was going
| to do what I could to assist him in a
| wise solution of a problem that is no
Longer a southern, but national prob.
lem.
f, He feels sure that If the men of good