Page:The Negro a menace to American civilization.djvu/188

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166
THE NEGRO

"Letters from Hunt are to the further effect that President Roosevelt has approved his plans. These were revealed to the President when the latter enter- tained Hunt at dinner a few days prior to his departure for Africa. Before completing his plans Hunt, late in August, sought the advice of Booker T. Washing- ton, whom he met in New York. * I can get you all the colored laborers you need,' said Washirjgton. " Then came the colonization idea. Washington approved, saying that thousands of negro families in the South would gladly embrace a chance of going to the Soudan and making new homes. The growing of cotton and sugar-cane and kindred products would fur- nish negroes with employment well suited to them. " Hunt has made millions out of Korean gold-mines during the last six years. He went to the Nile to re- cover his health, and became interested in his coloniza- tion project." " Atlanta, Ga., Sept. 27. — In an address before a mass meeting of negroes in this city. Bishop Henry H. Turner of the African Methodist Episcopal Church declared that the separation of the races was the only solution to the race problem. " Bishop Turner urged that opportunities should be offered to negroes to settle in Africa by a reduction of rates on steamship lines, stating that ' this Nation or its aggregated people will either have to open a highway to Africa for the discontented black man or the negro question will flinder this Government.' " Bishop Turner contended that by separation he did not mean that every one should go or must go, but