The Indianapolis journal., 1903-08-20
Black Man Who Is I'm Commercial
Pursuits Is Not Charged with
Crimes.
MORE CHANCE THAN THE JEW
RACE Is VALUABLE AS 1T SEEKS TO
ADVANCE ITSELF.
National Negro Business Mems League
in Session i'm Nashville, Tenn, at
the State Capitol.

NASHVILLE, Tenn, Aug. 19-Some 1,5O0
negroes, representing almost every section
of the country, assembled in the House of
Representatives at the State Capitol this
morning, the occasion being the opening of
the fourth annual convention of the Ma
tional Negro Business Mems League. The
sessions will continue until tomorrow even
ing. Booker L. Washington, the Alabama
educator, and president of the league, was
the central figure of the convention, and
his address tonight attracted a large audi
ence. Principal Washingtons speech was
the feature of the night session and was
received with evidences of warm approval.
He said:
1.-The National Negro Business Mems
League assembled here constitutes, think
L am safe in saying, the largest. and per-
haps the most representative, secular or
ganization among our people in this coun-
try. Its growth during the five years since
its first organization at Boston has been
at very rapid rate.
More and more, 1 am glad to see the
black man is beginning TO appreciate and
take advantage of the opportunities for
commercial and business development in
this country. 1t is much wiser for us 10
emphasize opportunities than grievances.
The world soon gets tired of the man or
the race with a grievance. We must learn
TO be bigger than those who would Insult
us We must learn to hold up our heads,
and march bravely forward, in spite OF
obstacles and discouragements. The mere
fact that there can assemble in this beau
tiful Capitol building in a Southern State
hundreds of colored men and women from
all parts of the country, representing, as
you do. nearly every line of business in
which the white man is engaged, is an in
dication of growth which is more potent
and helpful than much abstract argument
The race that can produce such an assem-
bly, of men and women after only forty
years of freedom is one to be proud of.
MUST SHOW THEIR WORTH.
1--WE shall succeed in winning way
into the confidence and esteem OF the Amer
lean people just i'm proportion as we show
ourselves valuable to the community in
which we live. in all the common indus
tries, in commerce, in the welfare of the
state, and in the manifestation of the high
est character. The community does not
fear as rule the vote of the man, no mat
ter what his color, who is a large taxpayer
III is not the negro who owns a successful
business or works at a trade, who is
charged with crime.
while we are in many cases surrounded
with disadvantages, when we compare our
condition and opportunities with those of
the Jew in many parts Of Europe. it is
easy to that almost every opportunity
denied the Jews is open to us.
THE greater the difficulties to be over
come, the more strength We shall gain by
Every house owned every farm we'll cul-
tivated, every bank account. every store op-
Grated, every tax receipt, is one influence
which will operate tremendously in our
favor
THE negro is not ungrateful for all the
benefits he has received at the hands of
the white people of this country, and should
on every proper occasion never fall to ex-
press this gratitude in no uncertain Ian
guage. But the mere fact that we are not
easily satisfied, and seek still further op-
portunities of advancement is an indica-
tion of the value of the race. People who
are easily satisfied are people of few wants.
Wherever you find a race that is easily
satisfied and one that has few wants, there
you will find a race that is of little value
| to its country. industrially, commercially,
or in any other direction
WASHINGTON is REELECTED.
| At the opening session this morning the
singing of jubilee songs was followed by
| prayer and an address of welcome by
| dent Collier, of the Chamber Of Commerce.
| After the addresses the convention ad-
| journed until tonight. The league put
! itself on record in reference to the recent
| disturbance at the Boston meeting which
was being addressed by Mr.. Washington On
| motion of DR.. f. G. Morris, of Arkansas,
president of the National Baptist convention,
| the largest negro organization in America,
| the nights programme was suspended, and
| by a rising vote Booker T.. Washington
| secondng speeches by J. G. Napier, of Ten
| nessee, and s. Laing Williams, of Illinois,
| were emphatic in expression and aroused
| enthusiasm.