Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-10-27

BIRMINGHAM, Ala, Oct. 26.--
President Harding handled the race
problem without gloves here today
in an address which sounded vary
ing chords of sentiment in a mixed
crowd of several thousand whites
and negroes.
Speaking at an outdoor meeting
in Birmingham semi-centennlai
celebration, the president outlined
with pointed sentence and vigorous
gestures a suggested program OF
wider educational, economic and po-
litical advantages for the black race,
without attempt at social equality.
A great roar of applause came
from the segregated negro section OF
the crowd when the president de-
clared for economic equality, anu
then he turned to the white section
and departed from line prepared
manuscripts, to say:
whether you like it or not, un-
less our democracy is a lie, you
must stand for that equality"
Another yell from the section re-
served for negroes came when Mr..
Harding again turned that way ana
laying down his manuscript, SAID:
"I want to be looking in their d.
rection when I say these things be.
cause I am speaking to north ana
south, white and black alike. am
never going to say anything that l
can't saw in every direction and to
all people exactly alike"
Highlights in Speech
These are some OF the principles
on which the president appealed to
the nation to "lay aside old pref
udices and. old antagonisms' and
give support to a constructive pol
lev of racial relationship:
POLITICALLY and economically there
need be no occasion for great and
permanent differentiation, provided on
both sides there shall be recognition
of the absolute divergence in things
social and racial.
IL would say let the black man
vote when he IS fit to vote; prohibit
the white man voting when he is un.
fit to vote. ~
"I wish that both the tradition OF
a solidly Democratic south and the
tradition of a solidly Republican
black race might be broken up.
IT would insist upon equal educa,
tional opportunity for both.
"Men of both races may well stand
uncompromisingly against every sug'
gestion Of social equality. This is
not a question Of social equality, but
a question of recognizing a funda-
mental, eternal, unacceptable differ
ence.
Race amalgamation there cannot
b.. Partnership Of the races in de-
wolopipe gse highest aims of all hui
1nan1tr .ere must be if humanity is
to achieve the ends which we have
saf Tor It.
"yue black man should seek to be
end he should be encouraged to be
the best possible black man and not
the best possible imitation of d white
man"
President Harding passed through
Atlanta before daylight Wednesday
morning on his way to the Birming-
ham semi-centennial celebration, and
will return to Atlanta tomorrow
Thursday) afternoon, to be this
citys guest for half the day.
The president is travelling on
special train and is accompanied by
Mrs. Harding and two members OF
his cabinet, Secretary Of War Weeks
and Secretary of Interior Fall. On
the run to Birmingham the party
was escorted by Senator Oscar I'm
derwood, of Alabama. and Repre-
sentative Almond, Of the Birm1ng-
ham district.
Late Wednesday night, after
spending the day at birmingham
President Harding will leave for Co
lunbus to make an inspection of
Camp Benning, the great school of
arms established by the war depart
ment. near that city. 1t is said to
be the greatest establishment of it's
kind in the world, embracing 100,-
900 acres, and affording instruction
in every kind Of warfare fought on