The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1907-07-09
THE NEGRO EXHIBIT.
A Defense of the Management of the
Negro Department at the
Jamestown EXDOSitiOn.

To the Editor-I ask space in your
valuable journal to say a few words
to our people in reference to the
Jamestown Exposition, especially the
negro Exhibit Much has been said
derogatory to the exhibit and the
management; so much so that many
colored people who have contemplated
visiting ii have begun to question as
to whether they should do SO. 1t has
been charged that the colored people
were il~l-treated on every hand and
subjected to all sorts of insults which
were openly permitted and condoned
by the management. This | find to
be untrue 50 far as | was able to OBJ
serve. A party of several colored CO.
pie of all shades of complexion visited
the various buildings and attractions
yesterday, and met with no discOurtesy
whatsoever. We were given accom-
mediation along with the crowd and no
special notice was taken of our pres
ence. Our money seemed to so as
far and was as anxiously received as
the hit peoples. So far as we could
see. ard some Of us were testing the
matter. the whole exposition SO far as
the public exhibits and amuSements
are concerned, is open to all alike.
Within the ample space of six acres
are the Negro Buildings where there
are three good, large, neat and we'll
supplied restaurants and one large no
tel where colored people can be served
with anything they can pay for, in
excellent style and by polite atten-
dants. Some twenty thousand dollars
have been spent by the management
on this feature alone.
The exhibit in the Negro building is
now in shape and presents a very at
tractiVe appearance The formal open
ing was held July 4th. Secretary Cor
telyou and President Tucker were
down on the 3rd and expressed them
-oI1o, nc hioh1v nlpaSp6 with the py-
hibit. Hundreds of white people visit
the Negro Building daily and are
amazed at what they see. The exhibit
from North Carolina is the best in the
Negro Building. It is we'll arranged
and the attendants, Misses Hunter,
Hadner, johnson and Harris are active
and constant in their attention to the
many visitors and inquirers who come.
There is q piano in this department
which is generally surrounded BIZ a
bevy of young people which gives the
North Carolina exhibit an attraction
not possessed by the others. The leg
islature of North Carolina made no
mistak in appropriating five thou
sand dollars for this Negro exhibit and
the anage1nent did we'll in selecting
Rev. c. H. Williamson to it
as commissioner General. Those who
see it are bound to conclude that the
North Carolina negro is not asleep and
that he is growing in thrift and intel
ligence, and his speaks we'll for the
white people among whom we reside
for ourselves.
AS to the general exhibit. I will state
that I saw the Worlds Fair at Chicago
the Buffalo and Atlanta Expositions
and the jamestown show is on a par
with the others. differing only in size
and ouality-the Worlds Fair being
somewhat larger than the others. The
morning papers report that Secretary
CorteIyou stated that the Jamestown
exhibit consisted of a greater variety
than the others. There is much tina
is instructive and attractive every
where on the grounds. and those who
desire to spend a few days for a holi-
day can find no better place than at
the jamestown Exposition. The sea
air is lovelv and Fortress Monroe.
Hampton and the L. S. Navy Yard are
in easy reach. Mrs. Maggie Utley. I'M
der Rev. c. H. Williams. is running a
hotel with a large number of neat and
we'll kept beds for the accommodation
of North Carolina people at North
Carolina prices. She is at 1914 Cumber-
land street. Let those who can afford
to do so come and see what North
Carolina is doing in comparison with
other States. and believe they will
return with increased pride in the Old
Tar Heel State.