Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-09-08
CRITICISM is UNFOUNDED
NEGRO DEPARTMENT AT JAMES
TOWN IN SPLENDID SHAPE.
Mrs. Curtis. Fiscal Agent and Member
of Executive Committee, Replies
to Charges.

IT,. dispatch In Yesterdays Evening Star
from Norfolk. voicing some rather severe
critirismS Of the management of the negror
department of the jamestown exposition,
has attracted no small degree of attention
among t4e coIored people of this city.
Referring to the allegations against the
mana gel ent of the negro exhibit embodied
in JEy special dispatch Mrs. A NJ. Curtis,
fiscal agent OF the negro department and
member uf the executive committee desig-
mated uy the United States government to
disbJusr the 100000 appropriation by Con-
gres- u aid Of the display, said last night:
Tile statement made by some unknown
person ju Your issue of yesterday rejecting
very severely upon the methods OF the
manages of the negro department of the
Jamc-,oVa exposition is without founda-
ton II Is misleading, and If not corrected
NAV t"ud 20 iniure most worthy enter
prise in The eyes OF It's best friends and
we'll !Shors.
Il can rruthfully say that there has been
no s-rI criticism of the management the
artirt. alleges. On the contrary, the eX-
equity" committee has been complimented
upon all SIDES for the excellent exhibit of
negr" genius and skill that has been col
leCted and tastefully arranged in the build
ing SET apart for the display. President
Roosevelt. Secretary COrtelyou. Secretary
Mccall ASsislan Secretary of the Treas
hIN q! ~ fLlWaruS and PRESIDENT tucker
OF the Jamestown Exposition Company, as
well - jhe leaders OF our own race, includ-
ing Ds Booker 7. Washington, President
j. II. Jones of Wilberforce University,
BiShon Walter and others of like promi-
nrnCt, Lave praised our work in the high
est terms and congratulated the entire race
upon Che showing made in its name.
Management Praised.
Not only has the artistic side been favor
Inn he economical
msGtgvment has been spoken of and sur
pris- has been manifested that We have
been getting excellent results out OF the
comparatively small appropriation We be-
Iieve the rank and fi,e of the coored people
Of tile country are entirely satisfied with
our methods. The press and pulpit are al
most unanimous in PRAISE of the exhibit,
and TIN" people from tar and near ars COM
ing Ia increasing numbers to witness this
Tangible evidence of their progress in the
arts. sciences and industries.
The milk in the Cocoanut," l suspect, lies
In the fact that somebody's persona! inter-
ests nav been interfered with in the inter-
est Of the larger ConCern-thc exposition it
self ON the 10Th of August the Negro De-
VelOpment Company anu executive commit
lee. in joint session. decided that in view
of the nishing funds hand there
must be Curtailment of expenses to a
minimum, and the discontinuance of num-
Der OF persons carried on the payrOllS was
ordered. Several of these were from Wash
ingtou. and there was some keen disap-
pointmcu,. ss they expected to be carried
on to jhe end
Thesr smtssalS were purely in the inter
est Of economy, and the manag cement has
been praised by the treasury authorities. as
there must be no deficit at the end OF the
exposition season. The allegation that
money must be saved out for the satsfac-
ton Of doubtful claims is unworthy of at
tenti0H. There is nothing in the threat of
the withdrawal of the book or other ex-
hibt on account of personal pQue for that
matter j. arranged with those higher up"