The Colorado statesman., 1911-12-16
SUCCESSFUL NEGRO FAIR
SUCCESSFUL EXHIBITION HELD
AT MACON, GA, BY PROGRESS
SlVE coLoRED CITIZENS.

Macon, Ga.-The fifth annual Geor.
gia state negro fair which in many re-
spects is the greatest organization of
It's kind in the country among colored
people, closed a successful exhibition
here. The fair had been In progress
ten days and had been witnessed by
large crowd of people from all sec
tions of the state
In every respect the fair is declared
to have been record breaker. on
opening bad weather was encountered
but even the most disagreeable wealth
er did not prevent the people from
Georgia from showing their apprecia-
tion for the remarkable work done by
the management in making this mann
moth fair possible.
The exhibits can be said to be great
er and larger than any former collec-
tion OF negro exhibits, whether at
state fairs or at world expositions, and
the presence of the mammoth United
States government exhibit lent color
and dignity to the occasion.
The success of the Georgia state ne
gro fair in its five years history will
ever stand to the credit of President
r. r. Wright who more than any
other one factor, is responsible for its
high character.
Although disappointed in several
ways by men who had promised to be
present and who had been advertised
as features of the fair, none of these
things served to discourage attend
ance at the fair. President Wright left
no stone unturned to carry out his
word. When c. Wesley Peters, the
negro aviator, held out for cash ad-
vances approXimating more than
$4,000 above his contract; when the
colored balloonist, F. II. Bradford ut
terly failed to put in appearance with
out any explanation; and when
white aviator, DR.. Henry E. Walden,
from New York. who put in appear
ance and received a cash advance of
$3.50, refused to carry out his contract
and left town. President Wright kept
the wires busy until he located an
other man, by the name of Peters, in
Atlanta who came to Macon and made
three pretty successful flights before
big crowds.
Opening day was stormy and wet.
and yet the people of the state went
manfully on with their parade. The
address by the registrar of the treas
ury, J. C. Napier. was well received
and appreciated as were later ad-
dresses by w. T. Vernon. supervisor
of schools under the department of
the interior; DR. j. ID. Hammond,
president Paine college Augusta, Ga;
Or. John e. White, pastor of the First
Baptist church (white), Atlanta DR..
p. James Bryant. pastor Wheat Street
Baptist church, Atlanta, and Hon.
George Hillyer, member Georgia rail
road commission. Atlanta, Ga.e
or particular interest was educa-
tional day, when addresses were made
by DR.. j. II. billiard of New Orleans.
secretary OF the Jeans and Slater
funds. and DR. ]. w e. Bowen of Gam
mon theological seminary; and Eek
slave day." when all the old ex-slaves
of Georgia who could come had gath
cred to enjoy huge barbecued dinner
and to listen to an address by a we'll
known friend, Judge Hillyer. A pecul-
lar kind of sentiment was attached to
this day. Like the army veterans,
these old heroes were found to be fast
dying out. Their lines were getting
thinner. their steps less elastic and
buoyant.
It was perhaps this feeling, more
than anything else. that prompted
President Wright in his introductory
address on "EX-Slave Day to give
vent to eloquent and forcefu remarks
wit tn Of
the fiftieth anniversary of the emanci-
patton of the negro. He had just read
telegram of regrets from Mr.. Roose
welt, who had referred to ex-slave day
as unique celebration. Mr.. Roose-
welt is right" he exclaimed. Ours is
indeed a unique celebration. In fact.
the situation in the south is unique;
and the southern people. white and
black. will, working together, be able
to handle It. We mean to show to the
country what during the past fifty
| years the black people and white
people are getting together in the de-
velopment of the resources of the
| southland.
81 want a semi-centennial celebra-
ton that will show to the country the
progress the black people have made
since freedom. | want this celebra-
tion in the south, where the black man
has made his progress. | believe the
white people all over the south will
aid us. just as the white people of
Georgia have helped us to make the
Georgia state fair a success. be-
lieve there is no place in the world
where the negro will receive greater
consideration than he will receive
right here in his own home, among
the people with whom he has lived
and wrought during these more than
800 years.
Judge Hillyer of Atlanta was the