Evening star., 1932-06-10
PRESIDENT PLEADS
FOR RACE EQUALITY
IN HOWARD ADDRESS
Continued From First Page '

whose jurisdiction Howard University is
governed: Capt c. r. Train, U. S. N.
and Col Campbell Hodges. U. S. A.
naval and military aides to the Presi-
dent; Capt. Joel T. Boone, U. S. N.
medical adviser to the President, and
Theodore Joslin, one Of the presidential
secretaries
Surrounding the platform which held
besides the presidential party. members
OF the Howard University faculty. were
the 35S graduates who received various
academic degrees.
President Hoover was introduced by
DR.. Mordecai w johnson. president Of
the university. The Presidents speech,
IN full, follows:
Text Of Speech.
1t is an inspiration to come into
this institution of higher education for
the Negro race. Nothing that the Fed
eral Government has done reflects more
credit upon it fer the meeting of an
obligation than this institution to bring
to great segment Ct our population the
means Of overcoming a handicap for
winch they were not responsible and of
IeVelins upward for them an eoual op-
portUn!ty to share in the full measure
OF citizenship with their brethren of
ether races.
~ Is vital in democracy that the
PUBIC opinion upon which it rests shall
be an Informed and educated opinion
Inc Negro race comprises 10 per cent
OF our population and unless this 10
per cent is developed proportionately
win ire rest Of the population it can
not pull It's proper strength at the oars
OF our pressing problems of democracy
10 provide this development REQUIRES
trained leadership and l ccncede that
70 oe the junction OF Howard Univer-
sity
You are providing here professional
training in all fields to which the COM
munity naturally looks for leadership
relglon, law, medicine. education,
science and art. You are providing this
professional training to men and wom-
en- OF the colored race to your own
best talent. your own leaders by nat
ural endowment. Through the instruc-
ton which they receive here, your nat
ural leaders become trained leaders.
and this training is of the same kinds
and of equal efficiency with that which
is provided for the natural leaders of
the white race. BY this process. the
colored people are being integrated fully
into the broad stream OF the national
life. sharing in the obligation and op-
portunitv for political service. for eco
nomic advancement, for educational de-
velopment Of the individual and for
enjoyment of all the benefits of science
and art and general culture. includ-
ing skilled medical service. more beauti-
ful home surroundings and a share in
the intellectual progress of mankind.
Declared Natural Right.
These things are the natural right
of the citizens of republic. The Fed
eral Government has nobly acknowl-
edged it's duty to provide them here
Il congratulate the graduating class
upon completing their studies with
credit. and I congratulate the Negro
race upon your efforts to prepare your
selves for leadership in their develop
ment. I wish you we'll in your careers
upon which you now embark"
The commencement exercises were
preceded by the academic procession
and music bv the Howard University
Orchestra. Rev. Russell ]. Clinchy.
pastor of the Mount Pleasant Congre-
gational Church, opened the program
with the invocation after which Presi-
dent Hoover was presented by DR..
Johnson
Benediction was pronounced by Rev.
E. L, Harrison pastor Of the Shiloh
Baptist Church.