The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1921-10-26
At Centennial Celebra-
tlon OF Founding Of
The City
PLEADS AGAINST
SOCIAL EQUALITY
Urges Broader Political.
Economic And Educa-
tional Advantages.
Associated Press

| BIRMINGHAM, Ala, Oct. 90
The right of the American negro to
broader political, economic and edu-
cational advantages, based on a pride
ot race but never on an aspiration
| for social equality was championed
| by President Harding here today in a
plainly worded ennnciation Of his
views on the whole American race
| problem.
These are some of the principles
on which the president appealed to
the nation 10 'lay aside old preiu-
dicos and old antagonisms" and Civ
en- support to a constructive policy
of racial relationship;
Politically and economically there
need be no occasion for great and
permanent differentiation, provided
on both sides there shall be recogni-
tion Of the absolute divergence In
things social and racial"
81 would say let the black man
vote when he Is fit to vote; prohibit
the white man voting when he Is nn-
fit TO vote"
II wish that both the tradition Of
solidly democratic south and the
tradition Of a solidly republican black
race might be broken up"
Il would insist upon equal cduca-
tional opportunity for both"
Men Of both races may well stand
uncompromisingly against every sug-
gestion Of social equality. This Is
not question of social equality, but
question of recognizing a funda-
mental, eternal. inescapable differ
encp.
"Raeial amalgamation there cannot
be. Partnership Of the races In deyel-
oping1he highest aims Of all human
ity there must be If humanity Is to
achieve the ends which we have set
for it,"
"The black man should seek TO be,
and he should be encouraged to be
the best possible black man and not
the best possible imitation Of u white
man"
The presidents address, which
brought him fam Washington on his
first extended visit since his inang-
uraton, was delivered at the centen-
NAL celebration Of the founding Of
the city of Birmingham. II was de-
voted almost exclusively to the race
although Mr., Harding also
took occasion to praise the south for
its industrial recovery and to renew
his faith In the world leadership Of
a reunited nation, He said in part:
"The world war brought US to full
recognition that the race problem is
national rather than merely section
al. There are no authentic statis-
tics, but it is common knowledge that
he world war was marked by q great
migration of colored people to the
lorth and west. They were attracted
~ The demand for labor and the
higher wages offered 1t has brought
he question Of race closer to the
iorth and west and, believe it has
jeryed to modify somewhat the views
# those sections on this question. 1t
las made the south realize its indus
rial dependence on the labor Of the
lack man and made the north real
ze the difficulties of the community
n which two greatly differing races
ire brought to live side by side. /
hould say that 1t has been RESPONSE
lie for larger charity on both sides.
beginning of better understanding
md in the light Of that better under
tanding perhaps we shall be able to
onsider this problem together as
roblem Of all sections and Of both
aces, in whose solution to the best.
of both must be enlisted.
Indeed, we win be wise to recog- =
ize IL as wider yet. Whoever, will
AXE the time to read and ponder Mr..
,othrop Stoddards book on The Ris-
lg Tide of Color, or say, the
noughtful review of some recent lit
rature Of this question which Mr..
:. D. Lugard presented in recent
review, must realize that
ur race problem here in the United
tates is only phase Of race issue
vat the whole world confronts. Sure
we shall gain nothing by blinking
,e facts, by refusing 70 give thought
them. That is not the American
ay of approaching such isues."
PRESIDENT ARRIVED TODAY
BIRMINGHAM, Oct. 26,--Presi-
mt Harding arrived here at 8:45
lis morning TO attend Birning-
ANS Centennial Celebration. The
resident made his first speech Of the
W to the members Of the Alabama
gislature who came to the hotel in
body to welcome him. He told them
eryice" must always be measure
the government and gave pledge
his own devotion TO the service Of
the country, declaring he meant
be President ''for Alabama, Missis-
ppi and Florida" as much as for
ny