The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1910-09-08
BETWEEN THE RACES WILL BE
: STRENGTHENED BY NEGRO
=" d EDUCATIONAL CONGRESS-
Jefferson Thinks
West Virginia Delegate Gives his I'M
pressions of the Meeting at Which
Over Five Hundred Delegates were
y Present.
(Parkersburg State Journal

some of the leading negro educators
of the country met in st. Louis, Mo-,
August 1921, to discuss matters of
vital Importance relating to moral
and educational uplift of the two
races. Over Ave hundred visiting
delegates from almost every state in
the union were present and partici-
pated in the meetings. This, the
first annual meeting of the National
Negro Educational Congress has
been pronounced by those in attend
ance to be one of the most significant
gatherings of negroes ever held-in
this country.
The large auditorium of the ST.
Paul A. NJ. e. church, where the
congress opened Thursday morning,
was packed almost to suffocation,
there being standing room only. The
meeting was opened by an address
by Prof. J. Silas Harris, of Kansas
City, Mo-, who outlined briefly the
purpose Of the meeting: he said that
the time was at hand when the Ne
groes must get together in order to
better their condition and to devise
plans that would place the white and
black race on closer terms of friend
ship.
Acting Mayor E. A. Rombauer,
Speaker Of the House of Delegates,
delivered the welcome address. He
paid glowing tribute to the con-
.gress and its effort. He commended
the race for the CANT strides it had
made during the short time of free
dom and gave assurance that the
sincere and sympathetic cooperation
of many Of the white race would not
be wanting in it's effort at uplift Prof.
fnman Page, former President of
Lincoln Institute responded in a very
eloquent manner. At this junction
Gov. Herbert S. Hadley, arrived. He
was greeted with deafening cheers,
the entire audience rising to their
feet, ladies waving their handker-
chiefs while the men vocferously
applauded. Prof. Harris in "a few
well chosen words introduced the dis
tinguished guest. The Governor said
in-part: This meeting which is to
take up vital questions affecting the
Negro race should be one of great
consideration and that the RESPONSE
bflity Of solving the veXed problem
rests upon your shoulders, many
states have adopted the Jim Grow
car laws and grandfather clauses and
the question Of dealing with this
kind of legislation must be eliminat-
ed and dealt with by the Negro him
self The Negro must establish his
own status in society. The burden
of race advancement rests upon its
teachers and pastors. History shows
that the solution Sf the German EN-
Dire was through its teachers" In
conclusion the Governor assured his
audience that he would lend his en-
deavors to keep the door Of oppor-
tnnity open for them
Attorney w. G.. Hueston. Of Kan
SOS. City, responded. His eloquent
address was freely punctuated with
hearty applause
The most elouent speech Of the
session on behalf of the congress was
made by DR.. Henry A. Attaway, If
Jacksonville, Fla. Dr.. Attawav is
one OF the few good speakers Of the
race and ranks as one Of the leading
citizens Of the Palmetto state.
'., Prof. Frank l.. Williams, who de-
Hyered the commencement address to
the graduation class Of Summer
High School Of this city. in June.
1908, and who is now PRINCIPAL of
the Sumner High School in St. Louis,
introduced Assistant Superintendent
OF Schools w. G. Bryan. Mr. Bryan
extended an invitation to the con
gress to visit the new $4,000 600 high
school building, the finest and mos,
complete institution Of it's kind for
co1ored people in the United States
The afternoon was taken up with
the appointing of committees and ef.
fecting a permanent organization
The rest of the session was devoted
to the discussion Of the topics out.
lined in the program. Prominent
among the speakers during the SEES
sion were: Dr. J. r. Castor, Jeffer
SOB City, Mo; Prof J. Rupert JEFF
ferson, Parkersburg; Hon. Geo