The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-08-31
THE SOUTH FOR NEGROES
Best Permanent Abode for the Masses
oi the Race. Says Booker Washing
son-An Address Before National
Negro Business League

Atlanta. August 29-The seventh
annual session OF the National Segr,
Business League, Of which Booker r
washington is president. opened here
today with over a thousand negroes
from all parts OF the country present.
Speeches of welcome were made BY
Mayor pro tenn Howell. and President
sam Jones. Of the chamber If COM
merce, which were responded % by
the more prominent negro business
men.
Inc meeting was called 10 order by
". B. Matthews. president II the ,oca.
Organization, who made the opening
address. The regular program was TAX
en- up, and 4 number of speeches on
various subjects delivered by negro
business men. The session will con-
tlnue three days more.
The principal feature Of toni.ht's ;
session was the annual address of tn
president, Booker T Washington.
After explaining the object of the
National Negro Business League.
Booker T. Washington, in his annual
address as president of the league said
in part:
We believe that while the world
may pity a crying, whining race. it
seldom respects it We believe that
the influence of one great success in
really accomplishing something that
world respects will 90 farther in pro-
noting our interests. Let constructive
progress be the dominant note among
us in every section of America.
Right here in Georgia, We have
abundant evidence that the negro is
learning this lesson at a rapid rate. 1t
is safe to say that the negro in Georgia
owns at least S20,000,000 worth of tax
able property, and that our people il
other sections of the south have made
almost equal progress. Within the
past year | have inspected and studied
the conditions and progress of our
people in the northern and western
states, and | have no hesitation in re-
affirming my opinion that southern
states offer the best permanent abode
for the masses of our people.
There is much that the brave, in
telligent, patriotic white man of Amer
lea can do for us; there is much that
We can do for ourselves. The eXecu-
tive authorities should see that every
law is enforced, regardless Of race or
color, that the weak are protected
against injustice from the strong. We
have examples in several southern
states that this is being done in an
encouraging degree.
''On the negroes part we have q
duty. Our leaders should see 10 it
that the criminal negro is got rio of
whenever possible. Making all allow
ances for mistakes in Justice, and the
influence of racial pride, | have no
hesitation in saying that one of the
elements in our present situation that
gives me most concern is the large
number of crimes that are being COM
mitted by members of our race. Inc
negro is committing too much crime.
north and south. The crime Of lynch-
ing everywhere, and at all times should
be condemned and those who commit
crimes of any nature should be cen
demned. Our southland today has no
greater enemy to business progress
than lynchers, and those who provoke
lynching.
I'VE cannot be too frank or too
strong in discussing the harm that
crime is doing our race. Let us STAND
I'D straight and speak out and act IN
no uncertain terms in this direction
Let us do our part and then let US call
on the whites TO do their part.
Right here in the south there are
more things upon which the races
agree than upon which they disagree
There is no section Of the south where
the negro farmer, mechanic, merchant
and banker cannot find encouragement,
opportunity and prosperity In this
respect let Us not overlook the 1act
that many similar opportunities are
at our door"