Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1903-08-28
in ANNUAL SESSION.
Representative Men Convene.

= ~ ANNUAL SESSION.
Representative Men Convene.
Nashviils's Gates Thrown Open to the
Notable Gathering, the Body Of
Which Represents the Brains and
sinew Of the Race.
Nashville, Tenn, Especially The
National Negro Business League met
here today for its fourth annual ses.
sion In the hall of the House Of Rep.
resentatives, State Capitol building.
The following resolution granting the
use of the hall was introduced in the
House Of Representatives, lGeneral
Assembly, Monday. March 20, and
UNANIMOUSLY adopted:
Be it resolved by the House of Rep
resentatives, that the use of the hall
of the House Of Representatives be,
and the same is hereby granted the
coloredcitiznes Of Nashville for three
days in the month of August, 1903,
for the purpose of holding a meeting
Of the National Negro Business
League, which has for it's aim the
commercial, agricultural, educational
and Industrial betterment of the col
Ored race" The League is especially
proud Of the recognition of it's i'm
pOrtance given by the General AS
sembly Of the state of Tennessee. The
following are the ofhcers Of the Bust.
ness League. under whose general di-
rection the session will be conducted:
President, Booker T. Washington.
Tnskegee, Ala; first vice president.
DR.. r. H. Boyd, Nashville, Tenn;
second vice president, w. o. Murphy.
Atlanta, Ca; third vice president.
Charles Banks, Clarksdale. Miss.
corresponding secretary, Emmett j..
Scott, Tuskegee, Ala; recording sec
retary, Edward b Cooper, Washing
ton, D. c.; treasurer Gilbert c. Har-
ris. Boston. Mass; compiler, 8. L4aing
Williams, Chicago, ILL.,; registrar. Pc
ter J. Smith, Boston, Mass.
Not less than 500 delegates are in
attendance from nearly every state
in the Union and representing every
line Of business activity.
The morning session was made
especially notable by the presence of
His Excellency, Governor James B.
Frazier and Mayor James M. Head.
both of whom made addresses of vel.
come an d both Of whom were espe.
cially cordial in Endorsement Of the
purpose of the League. Booker T.
Washington, as president of the or.
ganizatfon, delivered his annual ad-
dress, following the addresses of vel
come.
The sessions will continue for three
days, concluding Friday evening with
q banquet to be rendered by the 10.
cal Negro Business League, the Of.
ficers and members OF which have had
charge Of all arrangements.
The program is q, varied and inter.
esting one, and is confined entirely to
representatives of the Negro people
who nave actually succeeded In the
various business pursuits about which
they are to speak. Some Of the sub
jects and speakers, will be: .The In
surance Business" e. j. Young.
Charlotte, N. c., and C.. F. johnson.
Mobile Ala; white Coat Manufac,
turing" H. Sanders, indianapolis.
Ind; Real Estate" Philip "A. Payton,
Jr.. New York City N. Y, R. d. Little
tlejohn, Columbus. Miss; e. c. Brown,
Newport News, Va; "The Negro as
Factory Operative" J. e. Wiley, Dali
las, Tex: "The Negro in Blacksmith
ing and Wagon Building E. A. Clay,
Henderson, KY, and E. E. Gibson,
Nashville, Tenn; "The Hotel Bust
ness Edward Berry. Athens, o.;
"Chiropody," Vim. Emmanuel, Cai-
cago, Ill; '"The Negro in Pharmacy
and as q Druggist,'T hos. W. Patrick,
M. d., Boston Mass, A. Dejoie. ST.,
New Orleans, La, and E. l.. Harris.
st. Louis. Mo-; Opportunities on.
fered BY Banking" J. N. Connor, Lit.
tie Rock. Ark. and J. N. Donoho, Pine
Bluff Ark. The other discussions
will be on such subjects as "The Gro
Gerry Business" "The Jewelry Busi-
ness, The Boot and Shoe Business"
laundering" "Cottbn 'Merchandis-
ing" etc.
The most interesting feature of the
meeting of the League is photo.
grapic exhibit of Negro men and their
places of business, both inside and
outside views. These afford notable
evidence that the Negro is really max.
ing substantial progress. The en-
hibit covers nearly every state in
the Union and is warrant for the
statement that the Negro is pushing
rapidly forward in business pursuits
The League is being well treated
and cordially received on all sides
by whites and blacks alike. The
Nashville American has extended the
following greeting:
4 Nashville is soon to have within
her gates Negros from England, as
well as the Golden Gate of San Fran.
cisco. From many portions of the
broad envirOns of the Union they are
coming here to tell what has been ac+
complished industrially for the uplift-
ing and betterment Of the race, and
to plan for the further achievement
by the Negro Of that which is of use
and value.
Surely 1t is the duty Of the white
man to vouchsafel encouragement to
this conclave, holding the purpose
and object it does. 1t is meet that
the movement should receive not
alone commentator, but support. It's
benefit is not to be computed in a
moment.
Many Of the members of this
League, representatives Of the intelli-
gence and honesty Of the race, and
it's higher ideas and better thoughts.
successful most of them by frugality
and perseverance, are examples to in
spire emulation through pride in their
brethren Of the masses, or shame
them into following after the pre-
cents SET II iS moi an accomhlu fo,.