Evening star., 1921-10-26
Asks Educational and Voting
Rights for Negro, But Not
Social Equality.
SENATOR UNDERWOOD
EULOGIZED IN ADDRESS
Mr.. Harding Uses Plain Words in
Speeches at Birmingham
Celebration.
BY the Associated Press.

by me Associated Press.
BIRMINGHAM. Ala. October 20
President Harding and his party ar
rived here AT S:45 am. to attend Bir-
mingham's semi-centennial celebrs-
ton.
The day dawned clear and warm.
despite predictions to the contrary. \
busy day was ahead for the Presi-
dent. Upon arrival at the terminal
station he was greeted by Alabama's
sixtyseven queens, selected to rep
resent their respective counties at the
birthday party. The President trav-
eled over d fiower-strewn path be-
tween lines of Alabama school chill
dren On route to his hotel He headed
civic parade before delivering the
principal address of the day at Wood
row Wilson rark AT noon. Six hum
dred plates were laid at a downtown
hotel for the presidential luncheon.
Discusses Race Problem.
The right OF the American negro to
broader political. economic and edu-
cational advantages. based on IA pride
of race, but never on an aspiration Tor
social equality, Was champiOned by
President Harding in d plainly word
ed enunciation of his views on the
whole American rae" problem.
These are some of the principles on
WI ich the President appealed TO the
nation 10 lay aside old preJudlceS
and old antagonisms" and give sup
port to constructive policy OF racial
relationship:
Politically and economically there
I h.. .fa ION for Ia T.
manent differentiation, provided on
both sides there shall be recognition
of the absolute divergence i'll things
social ad racial"
Il would say let the black man vote
when Re is fit 10 vote; prohibit the
white man voting when he is unfit to
vote.
Il wish that both the tradition of
solidly democratic south and the ira
dition of a soiidly republican black
race might be broken up
Il would insist upon equal educa-
tional opportunity for both
Men of both races may well stand
uncompromisingl against every sug-
gestion of social equality. This is not
a question of social equality, but "A
question of recognizing funda-
mental, eternal, inescapable differ
ence.
Racial amaleamation there cannot
be- Partnership of the races in de-
veloping the highest aims of all hu-
manity 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.
best possible black man and not the
best possible imitation OF white
man.
The world war brought us to full
recognition that the race problem is
ba,
There are no authentic statistics, but
it is common knowledge that the
world war was marked by great
migration of colored people to the
north and west. They were attracted
by the demand for labor and the
higher wages offered. 1t has brought
the question of race closer to north
and west. and believe il has served
to modify somewhat the views OF
those sections on this question. III
has made the south realize its in
dustrial dependence on the labor of
the black man and made the north
realize the difficulties of the COM
munity in which two greatly differ
ing races are brought to live side by
side.
Disregard Equality.
"Men Of both races may well stand
uncompromisingly against every sug-
gestion of social equality. Indeed, II
would be helpful to have the WORD
equality eliminated from TINS con-
sideration: to have ii accepted on
both sides that this is not a question
of social equality. but question of
recognizing a fundamental. eternal
and inescapable difference. We shall
have made real progress when We de-
yelop an attitude in the public and
community thought of both races
which recognizes this difference.
pecially would l appeal to the self
r. spect of the colored race. would
inculcate in il the wish TO improve
itself as "A distinct race. with mere
dity. a set of traditions, an array OF
asnirations all it's own. Out OF such
racial ambition and pride will come
natural segrcEations. without mar
rowing any rights, such as are pro-
cseding in both rural and urban com
munities now in southern states.
satisfying natural inclinations and
adding notably to happiness and con-
"On the other hand / would insist
,,non equal educational opportunity
for both. This does not mean that
both would become equally educated
within "A generation or two genera
tons or ten generations. Even men
of the same race do not accomplish
such an equality as that. But there
,ust he such education among the
nnIored people as will enable them
10 develop their own leaders. capable
IF understanding and sympathiZing
With such a differentiation between
tho races as l have suggested
leaders who will inspire the race
with proper ideals of race pride. OF
national pride. of an honorable
destiny, an important participation
in the universal effort for advance
nent of humanity as a whole. Racial
no
partnership of the races in develop
ing the highest aims OF all humanity
,here must he il humanity. not ronly
here but everywhere. is to achieve
the ends which we have set for II.
II can say to you people OF the
south both white and black, that the
time has passed when you are en-
titled to assume that this problem of
races is peculiarly and particularly
vour problem. More and more II is
Incoming problem of the north:
more and more the problem of
Africa. of South America, of the Pa
c;fic of the south seas, of the world.
II is the problem of democracy every
where il we mean the things we say
about democracy as the ideal politi-
cal state.
shun Class Groups.
,"The one thing we must sedulous-
ly avoid is the development of group
and class organizations in this coun-
try. There have been times when we
heard too much about the labor vote.
the business vote, the Irish vote. the