Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1905-09-08
NATIONAL NEGRO BUSINESS
LEAGUE.
What Is Said Of II BY Our Core
spondent--Many Good Things
Much Work Done, Etc.

Mr.. George Foster Peabody. a dis
tinguished representative of the world
of finance, talked Interestingly on
similar lines and gave some excellent
advice. Attorney Wilford H. Smith,
of New York, ]. H. Atkins of the same
city, e. c. Brown of Newport News,
Va, Charles II. Stewart of Indianapo-
lis, Ind, read papers on "The Negro
Tenant" and DR.. J. w. E. Bowen
closed the evenings program with a
scholarly address on formulation
Building" One of the very ablest
addresses of the evening was that of
Miss Carrie w. Clifford of Cleveland.
Ohio, who is noted for her splendid
work among the organizations of
women in the state of Ohio. Her dram
attic warning made a pronounced hit.
She said:
whatsoever man soweth that
shall he also reap" If the white man
sows lynchings and Jim Crow cars and
Acknowledgement and injustice. you
may be sure he will reap bountiful
harvest of them Mrs Clifford re-
ceived an ovation.
Thursday Was Field Day.
and the League ran the gamut of the
gainfull occupations, and much valu
able information was impaired. Edi-
tor c. j. Perry spoke on "The Negro
Publisher; Charles T. Bass, of Sulli-
van, Ind, told of what he was doing
in Opera House Management" ID.
Macon Webster on Business Condi-
tions in New York; Rev. w. F. Gra-
ham, Richmond, Va, on Insurance:
H. c. Haynes, Cnlcago. Ill.,, on Razor
Strop Manufacturing" Mrs. Emma l..
Pitts, Macon, Ga, on '.Dressmaking
and Millinery: J. I. Diffay, Birming-
ham. Ala. on Modern Barbering"; r.
J. Minton, Philadelphia. on Loan AS
sociations'; Rev. Matthew Anderson
of the city of Brotherly Love talked
of the work of the Berean Association
there; Rev. W. r. Pettiford, Birming-
ham, Ala, w. H. Davis of Washing
ton, D. c.. on Business Training for
Business" and many others of equal
Importance were presented.
Mr.. John Wanamaker Visits The
The event of Fridays session was
the visi! of Mr.. John Wanamaker. the
American merchant prince. He spoke
frankly and forcefully and to the
point, pointing out the shortcomings
of the Negro, yet declaring in sympa-
thetic vein the warmest admiration
for his aspirations and virtues. After
NJ, 1,o$ hn %n nly~,
a speech. but to view the assemblage
so that he might form an idea from
Fits personnel character of the men and
women who were exerting themselves
to bring the race to a higher plane in
intellectual and commercial endeavor.
Mr.. Wanamaker said in part:
"You are beginning at the best time
America ever had. You are at a mo-
ment of great responsibility, because
the world is watching closely every
step you take to measure your capa-
city for citizenship and for right
place in the conduct of business with
other men, I want to voice deep
conviction that success or failure is
not matter of race, face or place. 1t
is matter of grace. The same grace
of God which gives the white man a
sense of what education, truth and
honor does for him. that is just as
much yours as if, while | speak to
you. your faces should be turned
white" He contended that if Negroes
were being crowded out of occupations
once adjudged their particular proper
ty, it is not question of color. but
@hn
American whites have BEEN giving
more efficient service and hence We're
winning in the competition with the
Negro, who was neglecting golden op-
portunities. Mr.. Wanamaker's talk
was listened to with many evidences
of approval, and as he sat down the
Chautauqua salute was given as a
mark of especial appreciation.
During the day the program of pa
pers was cleared up, and among those
who appeared were r. L. Grant of
South Carolina; Theophilus Bond of
Arkansas; A. A. Turner Of Ohio: S.
Laing WILLIAMS of Chicago; J.. A.
Lankford of Washington, D. c.,
Charles Banks of Mississippi, w. M.
Porter of Cincinnati, O., A. l.. Ballard
of Pittsburg, Pa, J. w. Alexander of
Ocala, Fla, |. 4. Montgomery, R. {.
Calhoun and others.
To Atlanta Next Year.
The committees were heard from
and reports Of officers were brought
in and adopted. Mr.. J. c. Napier,
from the executive committee, an
nounced that Atlanta Ga, had been
selected as the meeting place for next
year. Topeka, Kan, was close Sec
ond in the race, and may secure the
Leagues presence two years hence.
Other cities considered We're Little
Rock, Ark, Lexington, KY, Cleveland,
O., and Columbus, the same state. Be-
ing in the heart of the south and near
the center of tthe Negro population of
the country, the attendance in 1906
will the very likely to outstrip even
the great New York meeting of this
year. T. Thomas Fortune presented
the report of the committee on resolu-
tions, which declared in favor of more
strenuous effotrs to plant local leagues
in every community, and strive for
larger opportunities in business hous-
es Of all kinds for the young people
who are now compelled to accept beg.
carly pay for hard and unsatisfactory
labor. The National Negro Business
League is doing noble work in teach
ing the Negro masses the gospel of
intelligent thrift, and the sacredness
of service that makes for the happi
ness of humanity. Each conven
tion of the League has been an i'm
provement over the preceding ones
This is an indisputable evidence that
the influence of the organization is