The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1910-08-04

And Its present status explained BY
Dr. Booker 4. Washington In let
ter TO The Advocate. /,
To the Editor Of
The Advocate,
Charleston, w. Va.

charleston, w. Va.
My Dear Sir:
Various members Of our race, and
many organizations, have been so
very kind in assisting to get the bill
through Congress appropriating S.
900 to be used in defraying the ex-
penses Of preliminary com mission
to investigate and report upon the
wisdom OF holding a Semi-Centennial
of the Negroes freedom in 1918,
that 1 feel that a perfectly frank
statement OF what has been done and
the present prospects, for the Ex-
position ought to be- made.
l ought to state in the first place
that the idea of preliminary COM
mission was first suggested by Presi-
dent Taft, and this idea, as Is we'll
known, was urged upon Congress in
his annual message. 1t seemed to
all Of us at the time that the course
urged by the President was the
Wisest one to pursue, and If Con-
gress had seen its way clear to have
carried out Presidents Taft's wish,
matters would have been by this
time we'll under way. Unfortunate
ly, however, there was so much i'm
portant business before Congress,
that it seemed impossible to reach
the Exposition bill In the regular
course OF committee reports before
the adjournment of Congress. Hon.
w. A. Rodenberg OF Illinois, with the.
consent and cooperation Of Hon. e.
l.. Taylor, Jr., of Chicago, both Of
whom had charge Of the bill, thought
1t wise to have the bill called up
under 4 suspension Of the rules In
order to expedite the matter. When
bill is called up under suspension
Of the rules, two-thirds majority is
required to pass 1t. Unfortunately
when the bill was called up, certain
Democrats thought the Republicans
were simply trying to pass the bill
IN order to make political capital out
of 1T. Consequently, it was made
party measure, practically all the Re-
publicans voting in favor Of 1t, and
practically all the Democrats voting
against 1t. 1t will be seen that
largo majority Of the members of the
lower house favored the bill. The
exact number was 1S9.
l ought to add'that Senator w. L.,
Qpfh Of >WRss!hf i4pgts9}ps chfiFFpap of
the Senate Committee on Expositions
did all he could in favor of the bill,
along with Congressman Rodenberg
and Congressman Taylor: resident
Taft also manifested the deepest
interest and did all he could to bring
about the passage Of the bill by Con-
gress. All who are interested In the
Exposition are greatly obligated to
him, to Congressman Rodenberg, to
Congressman Taylor, and to Senator
Jones, who from the first have shown
the deepest interest in trying to get
the bill through Congress. There
are also other members Of Congress
who deserve the thanks of our race
for their activity and interest In be-
half Of the bill.
In order that the race may see Just
how matters stand at present, / give
portions Of letters received on the
subject.
In recent letter, Congressman
Rodenberg Says I, -
"As you are probably aware, my
resolution providing for the appoint
ment Of a preliminary commission to
Investigate the question Of the
advisability Of holding an exposition
ITO commemorate the semi-centennial
of the Negroes freedom in America
was defeated on Monday, as it failed
to get-the necessary two-thirds- vote,
The vote stood 1879 to 81. The votes
in opposition to the resolution came
entirely from the Democratic side.
/ will state, however, that we have
aged. 1t is my purpose to bring out
bill at the short session providing
For holding an exposition Of this
kind, and securing consideration on
Calender Wednesday, when only a
majority will be necessary to pass
tthe bill. I believe it will be an easy
matter to get this majority in a Re-
publican Congress-"
| Congressman Taylor writes as fol-
lows:-
Il have your letter Of June 22d
THE bill has not failed. In order
that you may understand the situa.
ttion and not feal that we have lost
Ea good fight, I will say that the reso