The St. Paul echo. [volume] (St. Paul ;) 1925-1927, 1926-12-25
House Strikes out $368, 900 Item
from Interior Bill on
Point of Order
Hope To Be Restored
SOutherner Declares Northern
Congressman Fear Losing
Negro Votes
(Preston News Service)


item of $368,000 for Howard Uni
versity, which includes $150,000 for
a new dormitory for young women,
was stricken from the Interior De-
partment appropriation bill in the
House of Representatives Wednes-
day. before the big supply bill, car
rying $11.748,00O, was passed.
SOutherners Fear Races Progress.
Discussing his opposition to the
item for Howard University, Rep.
Bill G. Lowery, of Mississippi, said
in part: Il do not believe that in
the present condition of the Negro
race. university education is the
best way of helping him. He is most
in need of a practical and Industrial
education to make him a thrifty,
self-sustaining citizen. In this I am
not opposed to the advancement Of
the race"
Lowery a Bitter Opponent.
For several years, or ever since he
came to the house, Representative
Lowery has opposed government aid
to Howard University, the basis of
his opposition being that Congress
did not make appropriations for in
stitutions of similar character
maintained for white or Indian stud
ents, and also because the Negro race
at present was not prepared" for
university education.
A SOutherner's Idea.
II do not believe that in the pres
ent condition of the Negro race a
university education is the best way
of helping him. He is most in need
of practical and Industrial educa-
tion to make him thrifty, self-sus-
tanning citizen. In this am not op-
posing the advancement of the race.
think you will find me in exact
agreement with Booker Washington,
the greatest man of his race, and
with julius Rosenwald, that splendid
Chicago philanthropist, who has CIV
en- more money to Negro education
than any other one man has ever
given. And who, in my opinion, has
directed hissE.shs in the most sane
and effective way. These two great
friends of Negro education have at
least put great stress on the practical
and the industrial.
But even if we admit all that any
one may claim as to the Negroes
need of college and university edu-
cation, does it follow that we should
provide for this by appropriations of
federal funds? For the hundreds Of
thousands of white young men and
women of America, the highest insti-
tutions of learning are provided by
the state and by philanthropists.
The government gives elementary
schools and Industrial education to
the Indians. But when members of
that race want a real college educa-
tion, they find it without univer-
sity provided especially for them
from the federal treasury. There is
really no more reason for using fed
eral funds to maintain a university
for Negroes than for Indians or
white people.
Negro Vote Counts.
Representative Lowrey declared
that northern congressman support
measure for fear of losing Negro
votes. He said: II believe nine
men out of ten in this House would
oppose this measure if they would
simply lay aside all political consid-
erations and all questions of personal
or party popularity, and face this
question squarely as matter Of cor
rect or incorrect governmental policy.
In saying this I do not mean to bring
an ugly accusation against any of my
colleagues, either Democrat or Re
publican. But the truth is that men
of both parties and men, both North
and South, have in private converse
tion suggested to me the purely po-
litical ground for continuing this ap-
preparation. To put it more plainly
they are afraid that voting against
this appropriation will mean loss
of the "colored vote" to them or their
party in certain localities. Now.
honestly, have we a right to appro-
pirate public funds for the purpose
Of obtaining votes? Much is being
said just now about the illegitimate
use of money to influence certain re-