New-York tribune., 1905-08-19
NEGRO CONVENTION ENDS.
JOhn " dnamakcr Tells Hearers To
Be 4Self-ReIi0nt.

John Nsnamaker was the principal speaker at
lne closing sessions of the National Negro Bu.i
ness League yesterday. Mr.. Wanamaker told the
league he was not there to make an address. but
10 see what kind of people tho colored bust
ness men OF he country He told them that they
were beginning at the best time America had
for business and with great friendships and op-
portunities for success"
The very existence OF this league" Mr. Wanna
maker said. is to upon its face. indct
ment against exploitation OF progress by chance
or by favortism by sympathy. You cannot
afford 10 stop for a single minute, in order to be
come the ward Of the nation. to be paid for any
service that you did in the war be considered
the OF any handicap that YOU may feel to be
upon YOU. The grest dream that you 10 be
lifted and carried has been exploded. You are like
the man who was kicked by mule. He not
handsome afterward. but he had learned a great
DEAL"
Mr. Wanamaker then told the league he had
learned great deal from the colored people.
Why the first book 1 ever read. he said. Rob
inson Crusoe.' given me By coored boy OF
my childhood acquaintance. 1t came from a black
hand but a heart that white. When first
Mr. Washington | felt drawn him as am
TO you. If you get mp and do something for your
self and expect else 10 do it for you.
you will not have cause to be discouraged"
During the morning session paper on The Chi
cagO Strike and Negro 4abor read by s.
Iaing Williams. delegate from Chicago Mr. Will
ANS commended the work of the negro IN assist
ing to break that strike and characterized the
strike as the greatest demonstration of violence
Chicago ever witnessed" He said, in part:
Into this the negro was brought. He did
his work well. He despised the charges that he
was criminal Some OF the papers in glaring
headlines said they were black brutes The public
was made believe that negroes being
shlpped in by the thousands. The fact is that,
of the six thousand men imported strike break
ers, seven hundred only were colored These
seven hundred We're brought from two cities only
ST. Louis and Kansas City. They fully in
formed as to just what was needed. They were
promised and paid s. a day and lodging place
The conduct Of these black men. when they reached
chicago. and while they were there proved that
they Were neither criminals towards.
The officers of the league follows
President. DR.. Booker T. Washington. Tuskegee
Ala; first vice president r. NJ Howell. Atlanta.
Ga; second vce-president J. E. Bush. Little Rock
Ark; third vice-president. Charles B. Brooke
Clarksdale Miss; fourth vice-president. F. D. Pat
Enmet J. Scott Tuskegee Ala: recording
tary and national organizer Frederick r. Moore
Brooklyn y. Y. treasurer Gilbert O. Harris Bos
ton Mass: compiler. Alain F. Williams Chicago
nTicial stenographer William n. Davis. Washing
ton: associate registrar. Peter ]. Smith, Washing
ton; transportation agent. F. H Gilbert Brooklyn,
y. Y; executive committee T. Thomas Fortune,
chairman. Red Bank y. j; Cyrus Field Adams
Washington; Theodore W. Jones, Chicago: X. L.
Fla; J. c. Napier. Nashville. Tenn; DR.. F. E
Courtney, Boston. Mass; J. {. Jackson, Lexington
KY; DR.. F. A. Furnss Indianapolis Ind. James
B. Carter. Brunswick. Ga. and Philip A. Payton,
tr.. NeW-York City The next convention will be
held Atlanta. Ga.