The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1909-10-28
(Thompson's National NewsBureau. }

(Thompson's National NeWsBureau.) }
Washington, D. c., Oct. j.. T.
Matthew A. Henson, the Negro who
helped Commander Peary! nail the
Stars and Stripes to the North Pole
Is to come to Washington in the near
future for lecture, Manager William
A. Brady having decided to include
the capital IN the lengthy itinerary
arranged for his new star. The lead
ing citizens here will give Mr.. Hen
son reception~on q scale less elab-
crate than that provided by the col
ored people of New York a few nights
ago. The friends Of Mr.. Henson are
disposed to counsel him to eliminate
from his lecture all reference to DR..
Cook, and to indicate in no way his
doubt AS to the truth; of the claims
set forth by Peary's rival. Mr.. Hen
son has demonstrated his ability to
tell q good story of his own expert
ences, and no one evinces any skepA
.ticism about the verify of his recital.
He can find enough material to enter
tain On audience satisfactorily, his
friends think, without bringing him
controversy, the outcome which will
neither add too or detract from his
fame. With this sentiment, Wash
ington is inclined to agree, and it
Ia hoped here that there will be moth
ing OF partisan nature in the lee
ture Mr.. Henson Is to deliver.
An exposition manager Of wide
pnrin .Hl
ing exposition in demonstration of
the Negroes half-century Of freedom,
Is OF the opinion that the enterprise
should be left to the general direction
Of the National Negro Business
League which at it's Louisville con-;
vention, took the initial steps to
place It upon sound footing with
the esalItgias. = yHs. aasa the sXeSy able
gentlemen who are agftating the mat
ter should combine their ideas and
resources with those of the League,
and meet with the executive commit
tee Of the latter In December and
work out definite plan of action.
Only in united effort, with no thought
Of individual advantage, can the full
measure of success be achieved by
this worldwide movement. The, gen
tlemen in question has noted the act
i've enthusiasm Of Prof. e. l.. Black
shear, Prof. r. r.. Wright, the Chi
cago contingent and perhaps others
In promoting exposition sentiment.
and Is confident that they will see
the wisdom Of marshalling their
forces In line with the Business
League and pulling together for an
exhibit that will be worthy Of the ten
millions of American Negroes whose
development Is to placed before the
world. From what we can hear,
this view Is shared by the men and
women who will be expected to take
part ip, the movement for, 1913.
with, the time practically conced.
ed to-. be 1919" continued our in
formant, there will come vigorous
discussion as, to the place-yet, 1
trust, the rivalry will not take on any
acrimony. For my own preference,
/ would say the exposition ought to
be held In the suburbs of the national
capital. Does this sound startling?
To get down to brass lacks, | am GER
tain that a suitable site could he Sc
p cured at a reasonable figure on the
line Of the Baltimore electric road,
upon which adequate buildings could
be erected and afterwards retained
for permanent show purposes. Wash
1ngton, as you all know, Is the Mecca
for sight-seers, both native and for
etgn. Travellers come here automat-
ically,' and less expensive advertising
would be necessary here than any
where else ON the continent. More
people would journey to Washington
than to any other city to inspect this
wonderful marker of Negro progress.
/ further believe that the location of
the proposed exposition near Wash
tngton would appeal with convincing
force to Congress and that with the
evidences Of aggressive purpose be
fore their very eyes, there would be
little difficulty in having Congress
grant an appropriation Of half a. mil
lion dollars to guarantee it's success
This figure may seem high, but
am not sure that the amount could
not he placed at q million without
frightening the nberal-minded men
at the capital who could be made tt
sec that the achievements Of the
emancipated Negro in the arts Of civ
tlizatlon is the best possible vindica
ton OF the craftsmanship Of Lincoln
and the hosts Of far-seeing humanta
r1ans who FOLLOWED him through The
terrible fight against slavery.
Although am for Washington,
can not blink the fact that strong ar
guments can be put up in favor O
Richmond, Louisville, Baltimore, Chi
cago and one or two other places
which have hean mention In fbfa CON