The Colorado statesman., 1911-09-16
Opportunities Should Be Seized
Rather Than Disadvan-
tages Advertised
SITUATION IN ARKANSAS
ADDRESS DELIVERED BY BOOKER
T. WASHINGTON BEFORE THE
NATIONAL NEGRO BUsI-
NESS LEAGUE.

Little ROCK, Ark.-Tne National Nc
gro Business league held its twelfth
annual session here. Chicago was Sc
lected for the place OF meeting In
1912.
Preaching the Gospel of optimism
that has made him famous. and incit-
Ing the members of his race to econ
omy, thrift and the highest point OF
excellency In Industrial and CONNER
cial pursuits, Booker t. Washington,
leader of the negro race, principal OF
the famous Tuskegee Normal and IN
dustrial institute delivered the twelfth
annual address before the National
Negro Business league. which potent
organization he founded twelve years
ago.
Assembled in the Kemper theater
to hear his address was an audience Oh
about two thousand people. composed
of a large number of the best white
people of the city and state, and mem
bers of the organization In the
course of his remarks. Doctor Wash
ington said:
This session marks the twelfth
year of the existence of the National
Negro Business league. While II ls
among the youngest of our natlonal
organizations, | think We have just
cause to feel proud of It's growth, sue
cess and influence. Starting in SIM
pie way, 1t has now grown to the point
where it brings together at these an
rual meetings the strongest and pest
men and women of our race. In con-
nection with the national organization
there are now in existence about SIX
hundred local leagues scattered
throughout the United States.
"The peculiar value of this league
however, is not the size of the ma
tional organizs lion nor in the NUMBER
of local leagues, but in the work and
influence of the league in turning the
attention of members of our race 10
the rich opportunity that is right about
them in their own communities for In
dustrial and business growth. Inc
value of this league consists mainly In
the new spirit that turns the impossi-
BILE to the possible, from that which Is
artificial and unstable to that which
is natural and enduring.
THE National Negro Business
league, too, is unlike many other or
ganizations in the fact that 1t Is not
a secret organization; it has no grips
and passwords, and offers no sick
and death benefits. Nor is this in any
sense a political organization. Let me
add. too. that the Business league Is
not in opposition to any other organ
ization that is meant to help and CO.
operate with all other worthy organi-
cations.
81 am glad that we are holding this
national meeting in the city of Little
Rock and in the state of Arkansas. In
no other state has the league had
more loyal and active workers than
in this state From the first we have
had the support and influence of that
honored and successful man, ]. e.
Bush, and his comrades in Arkan-
sas.
For another reason l am glad that
we have assembled in the state of Ar
kansas. because in few If any other
states have the negroes made greater
progress. and there are few If any
communities where the white citizens
are more Just in their treatment OF
the negroes than Is true of the city
of Little Rock. The interest of the
white people in the colored people OF
Little Rock Is shown In the fine school
system provided for our race, and the
numerous opportunities afforded our
race to secure and to promote busi-
ness and industrial enterprises. With
out firm and loyal white friends the
negro could not have made the prog
ress that he has made In Little Rock
and throughout the state of Arkansas.
81 sometimes fear that too many or
our people are so active in advertis-
ing our disadvantages that they fail
to rightly appreciate our opportunities.
I would not, however, be understood
as meaning that on proper occasions
and in a proper manner, that we
should not protest against wrong; that
we should depend mainly for our sue
cess upon constructive efforts, rather
than mere protest. For few minutes
permit me to go into particulars as to
the conditions and opportunities and
the progress of our race in the state
of Arkansas. Let me use the state or
Arkansas as an example of what is
possible for the negro In practically
every one of our southern states, to
say nothing of opportunities that are
open to us in northern and western
states / repeat that my experience
and observation convince me that with
few exceptions. where the negro Is try
ing to live a decent life, Is willing to
work, to save money, to advance In
all the fundamental things of life, that
he will find in the southern communi-
ties as elsewhere white friends who
are anxious and willing to encourage
him.
'In rkansas. for example, l find by
the official records that there are
about 400, 900 negroes. that they con-
stItute about 81 per cent. of the total
,onuJati tinn nj the state These 400 900