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CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
 United States
12252 Posts |
Continuing the story from Part II... Note: The following direct quotes are from The Congressional Record and reflects their time. As such, word choices often do not match today's social preferences and sensibilities. No offense is intended by me - my only desire is to present history as it happened for educational purposes.Next up was George Anthony Dondero (R-MI): "Mr. Speaker, it is with a great deal of pleasure that I rise in support of this bill to honor the memory of Booker T. Washington. I commend the gentleman from Virginia [Mr. SMITH] for everything he said regarding him and reiterate and echo the same sentiments.
"It was my privilege to know Booker T. Washington. He came on a number of visits to the city of Detroit. Long ago I chose the life of this distinguished man as the subject of addresses, delivered by me to high schools. I speak this morning solely from memory.
"Booker T. Washington was a great man. He was not only a leader of his own people but he was a great leader in the things that make for the dignity of honest toil and a better human existence.
There comes to my miiid this morning the fact, as the gentlewoman from Ohio [Mrs. BoLTON] bas already suggested, that the beginning of Tuskegee Institute was started in a chicken coop by him. It came to be and is one of the foremost educational institutions of the South for the people of his race. He became its genius and directing head. I also remember in reading his book Up From Slavery, the scene that took place at a log-cabin door on the morning that Booker T. Washington left his parental roof to go to Hampton Institute, Virginia. He walked the distance of 500 miles. As he left his lowly home his mother, a slave mother, illiterate and uneducated, said to him, "My boy, always try to be a little more than you seem to be." That is good advice for all of us. We find this boy on his way to Hampton Institute sleeping beneath sidewalks. When he arrived at that place he swept the rooms and dusted the desks in a manner before unknown and earned the right to be janitor and work ' his way through that school.
"He believed in the only thing that works in this world, and that is work. He taught his people that by precept and example and did much to lead them upward and forward. They started from scratch. We commend and applaud the colored people of our country for the progress they have made during the last 80 years.
"So I reiterate in closing by saying that I raise my voice with pleasure in support of the pending bill to honor the memory of a great American and his noble deeds-Booker T. Washington."Representative John Marshall Robsion (R-KY) offered: "Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. R. 6528 which proposes to authorize the minting of 5,000,000 50-cent silver coins to be turned over to the Booker T. Washington Memorial Commission, to be sold by them and the proceeds used to purchase land and construct memorials to Dr. Washington at his birthplace in Franklin County, Va.
"This memorial will be a most fitting recognition of the great character and work of this very outstanding American citizen. Mr. Speaker, measured by great intellectual attainments, nobility of character, great achievements, loyalty to his race, and patriotic devotion to our country, Booker T. Washington was one of the really great men, white or colored, that this country has ever produced. In honoring him today, we honor ourselves.
"His name is also coupled with two other very great American Negro citizens. I refer to Fred Douglas, the statesman, orator, and citizen, and also to that great scientist, George Washington Carver. All three have reflected unusual honor upon themselves and their race, and h9,ve been a great blessing to our country and to mankind. Their lives and their achievements now are and will continue to be an inspiration and benediction to their race and to our country and especially the young people, both colored and white.
"Douglas and Carver were slaves. Each of these three great men overcame great handicaps and suffered many disappointments, but in the end their lives were crowned with the fullest measure of success. Neither of them sought the easy way of life. They learned early in life that there is no excellence without great labor. Their highest ambition was to be of service to their race and to our country. No other race in all history has made such wonderful progress in every walk of life as has the Negro race since they were freed a little over fourscore years ago. They have made this progress insofar as they have followed in the footsteps of these three great colored citizens and others. Our colored boys and girls must realize that their progress and success will depend largely to the extent that they, like all other groups, train their minds, hands, and hearts for useful service to their own people and our beloved country. How can any boy or girl, white or black, fail to be inspired by the industry, ambition, and nobility of character of these distinguished colored citizens any less than they have been by the life and sacrifice of another great American who gave so much to the colored race and to his country, Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln and these three colored leaders were not carried away by the "isms" of foreign lands. They believed in the traditions and institutions of our country. They knew that it was the finest and best in all the world and it was their high purpose to be an honor to their country.
"In setting up this memorial for Dr. Booker T. Washington, it is our hope that it will lead tens of thousands of boys and girls of his race, as well as the white race, to emulate his beautiful and splendid life."In Part IV of this story, I'll conclude up with the statements of Representatives Havenner and Sabath. 1946 Booker T. Washington Birthplace Memorial Half Dollar  To continue this story, click here: Part IVFor more of my stories about commemorative coins and medals, including more on the BTW commemorative coins, see: Commems Collection. Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
Edited by commems
07/28/2024 08:34 am
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Posted 07/28/2024 12:57 pm
Uncirculated American Silver Eagles 
