Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1924-06-07

DJNHHAM, N. c., June 5-Dr. james
r. Shepard, Principal OF tne OufnaN'
State Normal School In tnls cltS'
member of the State Inter-Raclal Com
mittee President OF the North Caro
lima Colored Teachers Association anu
one of the outstanding representative
of tbe Negro race in America, mas CIV
on to the newspapers a very coHple
hensive interview in regard TO the III
ter.racial relationship of the Soutn
and the educational advancement %
the colored people, especially IN Nortl
Carolina. One portion OF tine inter
view which is of particular interest "
the colored people generally IS Dr.
Shepards statement in regard 10 no"
ard University. DR.. Shepard was ask
ed TO state frankly his views whetner
or not he thought Negro President
should be placed at the head OF How
ard University and ouner schooiS
where white men are now at the heao
He stated his position as follows:
"I rejoice at the growing progress
of nv race in educational matters I'D
the country at large. The remarkapls
achievements of President Hope Of
Morehouse College and of DR.. Motion
at Tuskegee and distinguished Negro
presidents of other institutions are
convincing proof that the Negro Is cap
able of successfully operating large edu
cational institutions. The time Is rast
coming when institutions devoted ex
clusively to the education of the Ne,
gro youth of the country must be heao
ed by Negroes.
I'm the particular instance OF HOW.
ard University, to be perfectly frank
do not believe that that time mas yet
come and it will not come until Negro
es are willing and able to put in sum-
cient money to operate such an lnstl-
buttons upon the present or even q
larger scale. This will require an enorm
Gus endowment and this endowment
is not in sight. Until that time comes
Howard University must be the ward
of the nation and depend upon apEfo'
priations from Congress
"a white President would naturally
be mole able to secure and hold inc
ear of the senators and representatives
coming as they do from widely scatter
ed sections and with various view
points, better than the colored presi-
dert could hope to do. This is not dis
counting in any sense the ability OF
Negroes to secure results along any
tine when they desire. We must face
conditions rather than theories
Speaking of DR.. Durkee, the pres
emit president of Howard University Dr.
Shepard was strong in his eldorse'
ment of him. He said he had known
DIR. Durkee for several years and that
he was an unselfish worker seeking TO
advance the cause of the Negro and So
cure for the Negro hearing in the
forum of the world. II have heard DR..
Durkee speak in the North and in the
South" said DR.. Shepard before
white and colored audiences, and ne
has presented the cause of the Negro
to those particular audiences in DIN
erent and far more convincing way
than a Negro could have done. l recall
with pleasure" said Dr. Shepard, the
address Of DR.. Durkee before the State
Colored Teachers Association at Stat
er School, Winston, N. c., on Thanks
giving, 1923.
In the audience were white Southern
ers and over thousand colored teacn
ers of the State. President Durkee
made an address then. which held the
audience spellbound and he made d
plea for the Negro which could not
have been surpassed by any man white
or black before any audience. He ca
deared himself to the colored teachers
of North Carolina as few men have
done in a generation. His aim for How
ard University, as l understand it, Is
to put every department in Glass a
and to raise sufficient money for these
various departments so that they viii
be properly endowed and then it is his
desire to relinquish his job to anyone
who can carry it on because then How
ard University will be an independent
institution.
I deplore the various attacks of the
colored people or white people for that
matter upon any man who is really
working for the advancement OF the
race and know from personal knowl
edge that DR.. Durkee is unselfishly
working for the Negro race. 1 hold NJ
brief for him, because feel he needs
no defense at my hand. / simply, as
Negro who believes in his race and is
working in every way to advance it
desire to speak the truth and to give
a word Of praise to those white men
who are fearlessly championing tbs
cause of the Negro. AS view the
growth of Howard University I think
all of it's friends will agree that it has
really made more progress in the last
five years than in any twenty years
previous. do not think need to be
quoted further along this matter, bu'
] desire to go on record as friend o.