The colored American., 1903-08-29
ECHOES FROM THE NAEIONAL
NEGRO BUSINESS LEAGUE.

ness League
Nashville is a great, hospitable city
and demonstrated its ability to take
care of visitors by the reception Civ
en- the League delegates while in that
city
Mr. Francis H. Gilbert of Brooklyn,
N Y, was an active and enthusiastic
delegate. He attended every session
of the meeting encouraged it by his
presence and activity and very gen
erOusly became life member.
Some of the old gaurds like Judge
NJ. w. Gibbs, of Ark, Jno. G. Dancy, of
n. Carolina, Rev. j. w. E. Bowen of
Georgia, DR.. w. D. Crum, of South Car
Olina and DR.. Pettiford, of Alabama
were conspicuous by their absence.
No better evidence of the usefulness
and popularity of the League is need
ed than the fact that in less than a
half hour $50 was taken in through
the life membership and by delegates
paying their dues.
The Chicago delegation was weak
ened by the absence of quite number
who were in attendance at Richmond
last year. 1t was a strong delegation,
however, headed by Messrs. T. w.
Jones. A. G. Howard, S. Lang Will
liams and wife. ]. Gray Lucas and
wife and many others.
There was flow of elOQuence when
a motion was made to elect DR.. Booker
T. Washington, President of the
League in open meeting by acclama-
ton. 1t was only equaled when he
was made a life member by the same
body.
Turn off the switches; telegram
ahead for the monkey is on the main
line" was the utterance of Mr.. c. H.
Winfield, of Jamestown, Miss. the
Merchant, Timber and Stove Dealer,
when he was called upon to address
the meeting.
Lawyer J. Thomas Newsome. of
Newport News Va, made one of the
best five minute talks of the meeting.
He is a successful and brilliant young
lawyer who is winning his spurs and
making money. Newport News made
no mistake in sending him as dele
gate.
"Confine your speech to five min
utes," was the injunction of Mr.. Wash
ington when a speaker came to the
platform with a vOluminous manu-
script He very wittily said that
the best of most of the written speech
es was the last part of them and he
urged many speakers to read the last
part first.
The local committee, of Nashville
headed by Messrs. j. c. Napier R. H
Boyd and others was magn1tclently
organized and worked to perfection.
The Nashville Railway and Light
Co, rendered the delegates and their
friends free trolley ride to all parts
of the city and gave them as many
special cars as were needed. The del
egates took on Edgefield, (East Nash
ville,) the Universities in West Nash
Vile and South Nashville.
The writer did not attend the ban
Quet at Jubilee Hall, but learned from
those who did that it was magnih
cent affair we'll attended by Nashville:
elite and was a success
The Boston, New York, Washington
Richmond delegation which reached
Nashville on a special train Of Pull
man cars attracted attention in go
ing to and coming from Nashville
These dnIegations were royalty treated
by the Seaboard Air Line Officials anC
barring the delay at Atlanta, Ga, boil
ways gave the best of services.
Will the Eastern delegates ever for
get those breakfasts and dinners a
NOrlina. n. c. and at Hamlet. sam'
state. The DINING rooms at these pla
ces were thrown open to the delegate
and most elaborate meals were served
The breakfast at Chattanooga as wei
As the supper at Dalton, Ga, wer
good enough but they were handouts
as it were.
Pav presf ar TaVlOr and his amiabl