The state capital., 1891-10-17
BOARD OF LADY MANAGERS.
WORL'S COLUM-
BIAN COMMISSION

CHICAGO ILL, Oct. IA 1891.
To all interested in the colored peo.
pie:
In view of the fact that circulars con
veying very ERRONEOUS idea of the at
titude of the Board of Lady Managers
! toward the colored women of America
ha been, and are being widely circu-
lated, we would most respectfully call
your attention to the facts of the case,
IN order that the colored race may not
be misled by gross misrepresentation
| but may be convinced that the Board
of Lady Managers have a deep and
abiding interest in their cause, and are
doing all that lies in their power to fur
| ther the interests of the colOred wo-
men.
AT the first meeting of the Board of
Lady Managers,in November, 1890,
Mrs. Trent, representing one of the col
! ored organizations of Chicago, request
ed permission to speak before the
Board in the interest OF the women OF
her race. Permission was granted,
and her able address was listened to
with marked attention. At the same
session, Mrs. John A. Logan presented
series of resolutions adopted by the
recognition OF their race in the work OF
the columbian Exposition.
A committee Of three were appointed
to confer with Mrs. Trent as to the
wishes of the coIored women, and the
following report was made and adopted
without opposition:
The committee appointed by the
Board of Lady Managers has the homer
to report that the cOlored people re-
quest that the Lady Managers recon-
mend to the Commission tnat in desig-
Mating persons TO solicit exhibits, that
they recognize them in securing, eX-
hibIts by their race, and that the pre-
sident OF the Lady Managers, in ap-
pointing the executive committee OF
the Ladies' Board, be respectfully re-
quested to appoint some Lady Mama
ger on that committee to represent the
interests of the colOred people"
Committee: Helen q. Brayton, Mrs.
John A. Logan, Mrs. Mary Cecil Can
trell.
On motion, the report was adopted,
and the secretary directed to transmit
a copy to the president of the COlum-
bian commission.
A number of ladies spoke most en-
Enthusiastically in favor OF the recogni
tion OF the colored race, ,and among them
were Mrs. Logan and Mrs. Cantrell;
the latter, especially expressed her
deep interest in the race and her de-
sire to use all her powers in their eIe
vation and advancement, and seemed
to feel that her long and intimate ac-
quaintance with them gave her pecu-
liar opportunities for helpfulness.
In April, 1891, at the first meeting of
vlto eAccut4ve committee Of the Board
of Lady Managers, in conformity with
the wishes expressed by the colored
women, in the report of The committee
appointed to confer with them i'll No
vember, Mrs. Mary Cecil Cantrill, of
Kentucky, was appointed to represent
the cOlored people on that committee.
At ths second meeting or the Board of
Lady Managers, there was deep inter
cot taken in the colored women. Two
decided opinions were held by The ladies;
one class held the opinion that they
should be treated separately and their
exhibit placed by itself; the other and
much larger class were in favor of no uu-
just discrimination in color, but favored
placing the colored women on the same
footing with white women, giving them
the same latitude and opportunity. AT
this meeting affairs were complicated by
dIssensiOns among the colored people,
two factions had increased to four, and
all We're clamorIng tor a national repre-
sentative. 1t was impossible to unite
them, and but for this national rep
resentative would already have been APP
pointed. liz view of these complications,
Mrs. Paul, of Virginia, offered the fol-
lowing resolution:
Resolved, That the work of arousing
interest in each of the several states and
territories. and the district ef Columbia |
among the colored people, and the best
me, hods to be adopted and pursued |
therein, be and tie same are expressly |
referred to the lady managers and theiI |
alternates in each st te and territory, |
and the district of Columbia, who shall, |
after COZ SultatiOn with the worlds fair |
board thereof, be invested with full |
power to act, and shall make reports |
from time to time, of the progress Of |
their work to the president of the Board
of Lady Managers.
The evident purport of this decision is |
clear and unmistakable and shows that |
each state prefers to look after the inter-
ests of her own people without distinc-
of servtucle
The national mmission have given
the Board Of Lady Managers the charge |
oil all the interests OF women, regardless
of color or nationality. They are iu
tensely interested in everything that will
tend to promote the intere Is of women
all over the world. They are especially
interested in everything that will elevate
ennoble, and advance The interests of all
women o! their own country, and make
no discrimination on account of cOIor.
The same opportunities that are given
white WON IL to show their advance
ment in ali avenues of grow tn are open
to our colored women also. No color
line is drawn, consequently there is no
suggestion of superiority; they are
placed upon basis OF equality. A lady
manager has been especially designated
to look after their interests The colOred
women OF every state are urged to or
game and lend their valuable aid in
bringing out the exhibits of their states,
working in harmony with their state
boards. The president of the Board of
Lady Managers will see TO it that in
every state where the lady Managers ale
represented on the state boards, the col
ored p, Ople shall have every encourage
ment and most cUnsiderate attention. All
application or questions addressed t.
these ladies will meet with prompt re-
spOnse.
The Board of Lady Managers would
most earnestly urge the leaders of the
various factions to sacrifice all ambition
for personal advancement and work to-
gether for the good of the whole. thus
seiZing this great opportunity TO show
the world what marvellous growth and
advancement have been made by the col
ored race and what a magnificent future
is before them