The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-08-30
TELLS NEGROES TO
DECREASE CRIME
Booker 7. Washington Speaks
in Atlanta
SOUTH IS THE BEST PLACE
Negroes in this Section are Making
More Money and Have More
Property Than Those in
the North.

Atlanta, August 29-The seventh an
nual session of the National Negro Bus
mess League, of which Booker T. Wash
ington is president opened here today
with over a thousand negroes from all
parts of the country present Speeches
of welcome We're made by Mayor pro TEN
Harwell and President Samuel D. Jones
of the Chamber of Commerce. which were
responded to by the more prominent ne
gro business men.
The meeting was called to order by w.
B. Matthews, president of the local or
ganlzation, who made the opening ad-
dress The regular programme of the
convention was then taken up and a
number of speeches on various industries
delivered by negro business men.
The sessions will continue three days.
The principal feature of tonights ses-
sion was the annual address of the pres
ident of the organization, Booker T.
Washington.
After explaining the objects of the
National Negro Business League, Booker
T. Washington in his annual address as
president of the league, said in part:
Booker T. Washington Speaks.
1--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 accomplish
ing something that the world respects,
will be far the best in promoting our
interests. Let constructive progress be
the dominant note among us in every
section of America.
Fright here in Georgia we have album
dant evidence that the negro is learning
this lesson at rapid rate 1t is safe to
say that the negro in Georgia owns at
least $40, 100000 worth of taxable prop
erty, and that our people in other sec
lions 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 l nave no hesita
ton in reaffirming my opinion that the
southern states offer the best permanent
abode for the masses of our people.
''There is much that the brave, intel
ligent, patriotic white man of America
can do for us; there is much we can
do for ourselves. The executive authori-
ties should see that every law Is en-
forced 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
Get Rid of Criminal Negroes.
"On the negro's part we have duty.
Our leaders should see to it that the
criminal negro is gotten rid of when
ever possible. Making all allowances for
mistakes injustice and the influence of
racial pride, | have no hesitation in say
ing that one of the elements in our pres
ent situation that gives me most concern
Is the large number of crimes that are
being committed by members of our race.
The negro is committing too much crime,
north and south. The crime OF lynchlng
everywhere and at all times should be
condemned and those who commit crimes
of any nature should be condemned. 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 the COM
hitting of crime is doing to our race. Let
us stand up straight and speak out and
act in no uncertain terms in TINS dlrec-
ton. Let us do our part and then let
rs call on the whites to do their part.
Fright here in the south there are
more things upon which the races agree
than upon which they disagree. There
is practically no section of the south
where the negro farmer, mechanic mer-
chant and banker cannot find encour-
agement, opportunity and prosperity. In
this respect let us not overlook the fact
that many similar opportunities are at
our door"