The Rising son., 1907-08-24


uro's Value to the Nation-Best
Meeting Of the Series.
Topeka, Kan. Aug. 19.-The Ma
tional Negro Business League has
captured the Golden West and In
turn the league has been captured by
the bounteous hospitality and cordial
welcome of the good people of the
Sunfower State. This Is the first
session of the organization to be held
west of the Mississippi river. and it
is readily conceded by all who have
followed the fortunes Of DR.. Wash
ington's famous aggregation of con-
structive workers, from its inception
in Boston eight years ago, that in
concentration of attention upon the
work in hand, in the evidences of
progress made over preceding years,
and in the practical results growing
out of the contact of earnest and ag-
gressive men of affairs, the Topeka
meeting, like the name of Abou Ben
Adhem. leads all the rest" 1t was
frequently remarked by the upwards
of three hundred delegates, and twice
that number of visitors, that it was
simply marvellous how the leaders of
community, in which there are but
$4,000 Negroes, could accomplish so
much with such apparent ease.
A special interest attaches to the
meeting on this soil, because of the
anti-slavery memories that still lin
ger hereabouts. The simple mention
of our old hero of Ossawatomie, which
came often and sympathetically, in
variably evoked reverent applause.
Truly it may be said that, as was so
fervcntly sung by the audience:
John Browns body lies moulding in
the grave, but his soul goes march
ing on"
The sessions, covering three days,
were held in the House of Repre-
sentatives. In point of attendance the
average was we'll maintained in spite
of the long distance from the center
of Negro population of the country,
and the personnel. notwithstanding
the absence of several of the strong
est members of the "Old Guard was
fully up to the standard in quality
and influence in the world that docs
things" The initial session was
opened by First Vice-President Ira O..
Guy, who introduced the Hon. T. A.
McNeal, State Printer; Mayor Will
liam Green of Topeka, Hon. j. A.
Iroutman, representing the CONNER
cial Club, and Attorney James IL.
Guy. President of the Local League.
who delivered cordial addresses of
welcome in behalf of their respective
bodies; appropriate responses were
made on behalf of the National
League by Judge NJ w. Gibbs of Ar.
kansas, and r. L. Smith of Texas.
At this point DR.. Booker 7. Wash
ington assumed the chair. amid tu-
multuous applause, and received a
dainty Chautauqua salute at the
hands of the ladies', who We're present
in large numbers. The regular pro-
gramme was then entered upon and
throughout the remainder of the. con-
vention period there was recital after
TtClIdl vi BioSiSSo ~ h''h
and women who have struggled up
ward by earnest effort and who are
achieving tangible results in the COM
mercial life of the nation. Upon ev-
cry side there was evidence of sub
stantial growth and the business in
stinct of the Negro race has undoubt-
edly been quickened by the inter-
change of thought and close personal
contact with those who have made
unquestioned success in numerous and
varied business enterprises.
The stellar feature of the program
was the annual address to the league
by Dr. Booker T. Washington. The
Nspacious and beautiful auditorium. one
of the very best halls of the West,
seating 5000 people, was filled to
overfiowing on the evening that he
spoke. The deliverance contained
much that was new and some that
was not new. but never before had a
Kansas audience heard him speak