The Washington bee., 1908-02-15
AeDrO BuSineSSLGapuG
EMMETT J. SCOTT SPEAKS.

Rcceiges al OgGfi3H, and Is BaHqKetted
BY Local Business League - Strong
Settlement of .4imS Of National BnsI-
ness League - Commercial! Instinct
of Race Stimulated BY FrGtcrHal ViSit
In the presence of large audience at
Metropolitan A. NJ. F. Church on last
Tuesday night, Mir Emmett ]. Scott
private secretary 10 Dr.BOOker T.Wash-
ington, and corresponding secretary and
national organizer Of the National Ne
gro Business League, told of the aims,
ideals and achievements Of the body
which he represented, and which has
enioved nine years Of increasing pros
peritv under the fostering care OF the
DrinciDal and founder Of Tuskegee IN
.titute. In language, seIf-reliance, san
itv and pride of racial accomplishment
Mr.. Scott recited the fact that since
the beginning of the National Negro
Business League in Boston in 1900, 49S
branch Leagues have been established IN
the States and Territories OF the I'm
ion; twenty State leagues have been de-
veloped: the banks controlled by Ne
proes have increased from two TO thlr-
ty-three: drug stores have multiplied
from a mere handful to Us; depart
ment stores, oil mills, gold mines, IN
surance companies, bonding and trust
companies, and many other lines more
familiar TO the race have been put into
operation on a more imposing scale
through the vitalizing inufience OF the
League. Colored men have become large
producers of potatoes, sugar-beets, cot
ton, sugar. cane, and agricultural COM
modities indigenous to their respective
localities, and in the cities the race has
made astounding progress in all Of the
activities that make for a substantial
and enduring place in the world OF
business. Scarcely a single avenue OF
trade or public utility is not marked
by the presence Of a Negro, and all are
succeeding, despite manifold difficult
ties
The Negro Business League IS not
unmindful of the numerous embarrass-
ment. and disadvantages under which
colored people labor said Mr.. Scott.
But its agitation proceeds along the
line OF practical endeavor self-helpful-
ness, the overcoming of odds by actual
" doing something, as an evidence OF
racial worthiness, rather than indulglng
in talk of a doubtful value, and de
nouncing somebody for what he has
failed to do for us. We think the
splendid results, as told by progressive.
business men at our national gatherings,
have more than justified the organiza-
ton of the League. The League at
tends strictly to business. In all the
nine years OF its existence, not one
member has ever risen TO point OF
order Snowy oratory has never been
encouraged; harmony of action and
plain facts, illustrative OF patience, IN
dustry and final success, have been the
agencies emphasized by the League as
containing the elements OF real racial
uplift"
Mr.. Scott Is in thorough sympathy
with the teachings and philosophy OF
DR.. Booker T. Washington, with whom
he has been intimately associated for
eleven years, and enjoys in the fullest
measure the widespread popularity Of
his chief, among the forces that are
building up the commercial industrial
and educational welfare OF the colored
people of the National Capital lie re
cieyed an ovation at the hands OF the
large and representative audience which
greeted him an Tuesday evening. lhe
meeting was held under the auspices
OF the local Business League, IN con-
junction with the regular session OF the
Bethel Literary and Historical AsSocla-
tion. the foremost organization Tor lit
erary research in the entire country
The personnel OF the gathelng' as
we'll as its size, was a tiattering test-
,nonial of the high regard in which
Mr. Scott is held in Washington, and
., unmistakable note OF endorsement OF
his helpful and constructive labors. The
exercises through hurTiedly arranged
reflects great credit upon the energy
and re.ourcefulness of Miss Mare -
D. Madre, president Of eBthel Literary
who presided gracefully during the pre-
liminary stages Of the meeting
The program included DR.. W. II
Davis, official stenographer OF the Ma
tional League, who gave an interest
ing resume of the big meeting last Au-
gust at Topeka, Kansas, analyzing Us
composition and describing its lnvlgora'-
ing effect upon the commercial lie OF
the race; Mr. Daniel Freeman, pno-
toprapher of twenty years experience
Who gave some informing statlsacs
Mo- ar+arDrJseS OF VaTl-