4 it 1 i Ufl - fi r i Li J 1 1 THE COBOEED AMERICAS mSHIGTOT B 5KS4X3xSxm8 The National Negro Business League JxjxgxxjrtHjxtxjxS The first step to show the commer cial progress of the American Negro was the organizing of the National Ne gro Business League in Boston in Au gust 1900 It was the first time since emancipation that men and women of the race had come together to discuss the financial side ol the question It was the beginning of a new era for the race For the first time steps were taken to convince a pessimistic world of the Negros progress Booker T Washington the pioneer spirit in the movement uttered the motto of the gathering when he said A uselees shiftless idle class is a menace and a danger to any communi ty When an individual produces what the world wants whether it is a pro duct of hand head or heart the world doeB not stop long to Inquire what is the color of the skin of the producer The press of this country and Europe hailed the meeting as a harbinger in the direction of a solution to the vesed problem The convention was a mou umental success No one who looked into the earnest faces of the 150 dele gates present or saw that surgiDg an xious throng that stood in front of Park er Memorial Temple awaiting the open ing of the doors filling the street from curb to curb and that large auditorium within five minutes after the door was open or saw what interest the conven tion aroused in the communty and the space given to the reports of its pro ceedings by all the newspapers of Bos ton and vicinity can doubt that An other thing the leadership of Mr Book er T Washington was acknowledged The most ardent and pertinent carper and critic was eilenced Mr Washing ton and the Convention carried Bos ton by Btorm At the morning session the Hon John J Smith of Boston wel corned the delegates to the city and in the evening Mayor Hart came in and in a most pleasing and encouraging speeoh surrendered the keys to the city A notable leature oi cne conven tion was this There was no crying about prejudice or railing against conditions The speeches were all manly Delegates came from every section of the country from Alabama as well as from Maine from Kansas from North Carolina and Virginia They came bearing their own expenses The tales told by some of the delegates of Buccess and failures of beginning low and becoming independentwould make material worthy of fairy tales The people ol Boston listened in amazement One of the notable speeches dealing with such condition was by Giles B Jackson who said Turned loose on the8thday of April 1865 without one foot of land or one dollar to purchase it now in these 35 years the Negro has accumulated and owns one of all the land in the State he owns one sixteenth of all the landB in Virginia east of the Blue Ridge he ovrns one tenth of all the land in 25 counties out of the 100 counties in the State he owns one sev enth of Middlesex county one sixth of Hanover county one third Charles City county and he is acquiring land at the - rate of about 50000 acres a year This is only a sample of the narratives of progress and achievement heard there The delegates to this memorable gathering were composed of farmers bankers mayors carpenters tailors doctors lawyers editors educators florists preachers and manufacturers There were men and women represent ing every phase of American life A delegate from a Southern town of 25000 inhabitants surprised the meeting by saying No undertaker in my town can con duct a funeral without hiring my car riages and heases In contrast to these delegates were men and women prominent in state men whose ancestors had been the true friends of the race They had come to hear the results of the freedom which their fathers had given to the Negro There was William Lloyd Garrison jr who spoke as only a true friend can and Mayor Hart Professors Meserve Frissell and Bumstead who are using their time and influence in behalf of the education of the blacks Withal it was a great gathering It has done more to open the eyes of the American people to the true worth of the Ameri Negro than any other effort that has been put forth by the race The peisonnol of the officers of the League whose portraits are found on the cover of this journal in this edi tion is the proof of the continuity of the League They are men of high re pute known for their wisdom each a master in his chosen field all working for the race personal achievement be ing secondary The permanent officers chosen were Booker T Washington President jGiea B Jackson of Va Mrs Alberta Moore Smith of 111 Vice presidents Gilbert C Harris of Mass Treasurer E E Cooper of the District of Columbia Secretary and E A Johnson of N C Compiler The executive commttee is composed of men equally as well known in public life foe fidelity and character and are well fitted for the work They were announced as fol lows T Thomas Fortune Booker T Washington E B Cooper Gilbert C Harris Louis F Baldwin WHJones Isaiah T Montgomery W R Petti ford We present them today with this sketch of the League as a gentle re minder that we have reason for observ ing Thanksgiving since within the year passed we have found a way by which we can help solve this perplex ing problem THE CAMPAIGN IN THE WEST Senator Hannas Matchless Management and His Consideration of Afro American Spellbinders A Salaxy of Bright Young Men Who Helped to Do the Business Indianapolis Ind Special Now tha the great battle of the ballots has end ed a brilliant republican victory won and the smoke of excitement is clear ing away those who led the fight are coming prominently into view and well won honors are being bestowed upon the heroes The Colored American notes with pleasure the responsible part assigned the colored leaders in the West and re joices at the distinguished manner in which they performed their arduous duties how nobly they fought to main tain and keep afloat the old flag The confidence reposed in our boys by Chairman Hanna Vice Chairman Payne and Secretary Heath of the Na tional Executive Committee will ever be remembered by the entire race as a fitting compliment to competent leaders and a consistently republican race The name of Hanna will hereafter be writ ten upon the roll of the Negroea friends The committee made no mistake when it drafted into service the Hon Ferdinand L Barnett a competent lawyer faithful trepublican and ex perienced campaign manager who waB placed in charge of matters pertaining to the colored voters Mr Bainett lost no time In organizing his forces and in calling to his assistance some of the brainest men and best stumpers which the race affords in public life The West was the real battle ground of the campaign there every inch of the ground was bitterly contested and there the ready fighters were needed and placed on the firing line The favor in which the colored spellbinders were held is best attested by the general demand for them and the value of their services is best seen in the grand results of their labor There were many participants who did noble work too numerous to mention but we are pleased to speak of those who played the moBt conspicuous parts HON J MADISON VANCE of New Orleans La won for himself great honors and a lasting reputation as an eloxuent and f orcelul orator For eight weeks his persuasive oratory and convincing logic were hurled at the breatworks of the enemy which at last fell in ruin at his feet After walking into a Chicago meeting arm in arm with Senator Hanna he delivered to the 7000 people there assembled a most brilliant and effective address which has been pronounced the crowning ef fort of his life Mr Vance spoke in Illinois Wisconsin and Minnesota The common verdict is Vance is a power on the stump and with the incoming administration he is right up against the throne in point of influence PROF ITENRY Y ARNE1T of Ohio his many friends will be pleas ed to know was called into field serv ice by the national committee and fought where the battle was the hot test He was specially called as the statistician to refute the charge that MeKinley had done little for tha Ne gro and to disprove Bryans assertion that The Negroes elect Presidents and receive only janltorships Mr Ar netts addresses were masterly efforts replete with indisputable statistics par ty history convineing logic and timely information Having made a special ty of his subject matter he presented it in such a manner that his speeches were received with enthusiasm his au diences interrupting with frequent and hearty applause He campaigned four weeks during which time he spoke in Illinois Wisconsin Minnesota and Ohio Judging from his confident smile his lines have fallen in pleasant places and under the next administra tionwell you will hear later EDITOR T THOMAS FORTUNE was in the fight with heart soul voice and pen No man did more than he to explode the erratic theories of the Wild man of the west and to dissem inafee good sound republican doctrine He was the historical storehouse for the Western campaign For eight long weeks by day and by night he waged a mighty battle and laid numerous op ponent converts at his feet During the last few weeks of the campaign he was heard from the stump in Illi nois Missouri and Kansas As a speak er he was fully as interesting instruc tive and convincing as he is known to be as a journalist A glanee at the bandwagon will locate T Thomas on the front seat COLONEL WILLIAM PLEDGER the associate Burvlvor of the old guard ripe with experience replete with burning truths and enthused with Inspiring confidence wa3 in the front ranKs always ready for the hottest fight The Colonel never did more brilliant and effective work His speeches were perfect gems of wit and and eloquence The Influence of his presence and speeches was always con spicuously efleotive He never failed to carry his crowd with him nor could he Bpeak long without being interrupt ed with vigorous and hearty applause The utmost confidence was reposed in him and his every suggestion was heed ed by the committee He spoke in Il linois Missouri and Kansas His tour was a continuos blaze of glory always increasing his popularity His wires are reputed to be well laid and connect ed with the Administrations power house DR GEO W BRTAHT who gave seven weeks campaign serv ice simply let fall one continuous shower of glittering oratory on erery section of the enemys country After touring Illinois South Dakota and Ne braska for seven weeks the unanimous verdict was Hes the noblest Koman of them all Dr Bryant was more frequently called and invited and made more speeches than any of his associates on the stump His great work boro abund ant fruit and doubtless his reward will be fully commensurate HON J FRANK WHEATON member of the Minnesota legislature easily won for himself the title The Oratorioal Chesterfield His oratory and manners are of the superior class His speeches were replete with telling points and illumined by brilliant flights of oratory His rhetoric and loglo de manded the applause of the most cul tured and pleased the superficial His stage manners and his mixing qualities made him a favorite His tour through Illinois MiEssuri Kansas and Iowa gave him au opportunity whioh he sed to the best advantage His star vill shine for many moons and be found la the mors brilliant clusters Bishop Arnett Hon - MoElwee Dr Hansom Hon George Jaekson Prof Green and many others made a few addresses Hon John P Green of Ohio and Hon Qurley Brewer of Indi ana did work in their respective states The Hon Geo H White Hon J W Lyons and Hon H P Cheatham each made meteoric flights through the West and will be heard from in our Eastern reports The Negro plays a most conspioaoui part In the Western campaign The Colored American is proud of the work they so nobly performed proud of the records they made for themselves and for the race they so well represented Long live J Madison Vance Henry Y Arnett T Thomas Fortune Colonel Bill Pledger George W Bryant I F Wheaton F L Barnett et al heroes of 1900 Argus LIBERAL UNIVERSITY We have received a nicely gotten up catalogue of the Oregon Liberal Univer sity It is interesting because at this point the world is watching the course of that particular institution with in terest The showing which It seta forth in its catalogue or year book Is all that could be expected of a school just fonr years old and which recedes its support from free thinkers