The Washington bee., 1907-08-24
B.5lu T. Washington breaches Self
HelbfHIHesS

Register Vernon Tells of the Negroes
Priceless Value to the American Ma
u5n-The Struggles and Triumphs of
Of the Men Who Are Doing Things"
Baltimore Next Year, Officers Elect
ed-Topeka Does Herself Proud as
Mine Hosf-Best Meeting of the
Serlcs-Special Correspondence.
Eopeka. Kansas, August I0.-The Ma
uonal Negro Business League captured
the Golden West-and the League, in
rrn. has been captured by the bounte-
on, hospitality and cordial welcomes
which the good people Of the Sunhower
State have showered upon 1t with prod
gal hand. This is the first session Of
thc organization TO be held west of the
Mississippi River, and it Is conceded
by all who have followed the fortunes
of dr. Washington's famous aggregation
of constructive workers from its incep-
uor at Boston eight years ago up to
the present, that in many respects the
Topeka meeting. like the name Of Abou
Ben Adhem. leads all the rest"
I'm point # attendance, the average was
E.u-mafn-ained, despite the long distance
from the center Of the Negro population
of th. country. and the personnel, not
ui.h-tnding the absence of several of
the strongest members Of the "Old
Guards" was fully up to the standard
m quality and influence in the world
thar Does Things" The Napiers, Pat
ta-sons, BankeS. Bushes. Montgomerys,
Scots. Williamses, Moores, Taylors,
Nclars Furnishes. Fortunes, KnoXes
Landlords and other pioneers were "on
deck to keep the old ship true to her
moorings, while there was an unprece-
dcutcd infusion Of new blood that gave
the deliberations a snap and go from
start 20 finish and generated an enthu-
s.asm and interest above the ordinary.
In closeness Of attention, in the accom-
DIshment of definite results, and in the
composite story OF achievement told by
business Negroes, it may be said, with
out InvidiOus comparison. that the meet
ing of this year was the most profitable
Of the entire series. The generous hos
piality OF Topeka's good citizens exceed
d the anticipations of the most ardent
"rooters" for the city. 1t was a fire.
suent remark among the delegates after
each of the innumerable and superbly
conducted social functions, that it was
simply marvellous how the leaders of a
community in which there are but fifteen
thousand Negroes could accomplish so
much and with such apparent ease, when
to do half so we'll would tax the wits
and exhaust the public spirit of many
other places which boast of a colored
population four times as great
John Br0Ja'J SOaI Goes MGrching On.
A special interest attaches to the meet
ing on this soil and at this place, be-
cause of the anti-slavery memories that
still linger hereabouts. There was more
than one man present who has personal
recollections OF OsSawatomie John
Brown The spirit of this immortal
friend of liberty and fraternity, whose
name, Frederick Dauglass says in his
autobiography, used to be whispered
about among the slaves in awe-stricken
tones. has become a fixed tradition in
the mind of the Negro race, and the
sacrifices he made for the brother in
black can never be forgotten. The sim
pie mention Of the old hero invariably
evoked a wave of reverent applause.
Truly, it may be said, as it was 50 fer
entity sung by the audience:
John Browns body lies moulderlng in
the grave,
But his soul goes marching on!
This pathetic incident came about just
after the completion of the addresses
Of welcome, when Mr.. T. Thomas For
tune, the brilliant editor of the New
Yorl, Age. arose and solemnly suggested
that the presence of the League upon
the field made memorable byJohn Brown
should be recognized by tribute to his
memory, and asked that Bishep Grant,
who IS greatly loved by every man,
woman and child in this region, and who
was a prominent figure throughout the
League series, invoke upon the meet
ing the spirit of the fearless destrOyr
of tn accursed institution OF slavery.
The profound silence that fell upon the
meeting, broken only by the deep and
penetrating voice OF the man OF God,
created the one thrilling and dramatic
episode of the session. The Negro IS
not ungrateful for the noble deeds of
John Brown, who died as surely as
Christ did that men might be free.