The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1911-05-18

street, N. w.
Washington, D. C., May 1.-THE
failure OF Congress to take the ex-
Pected action with reference to the
commission to inquire into the feas-
ability of holding central expost-
lion IN 1913, commemorative Of the
Negroes freedom will render it i'm
possible to carry out the original sug-
sestlon OF the, National Negro Busi-
ness. League looking to the develop
ment Of the big exposition plan The
idea set forth at the Louisville con-
Vent1on IN August, 1903, comprehe end
ed great national display at some
convenient point, showing In detail
the progress the Negro has made in
the arts and sciences during his half
century OF freedom. The bills ask
Ing the appointment of a commission
10 take up the question IN systematic
1ashicn were not acted upon by Con-
gress at the last Session.; and, al
though approximation measures look
Ing to this end are still pending. the
officers Of the League, at It's SEMI
annual meeting, expressed the opin-
ION that 1t Is now too late, even if
Congress extends aid, to prepare an
exhibit Of naticnal proportions that
Will reflect the proper credit upon
the race. Hence. the National Negro
- BUSINESS League, to Insure q cele-
bration, that will be at once moder-
ate In cost and which will fittingly
observe the. sacred occasion, makes
the following suggestions:
That the third week in October
1913. be set set apart for the cele-
bration. and be known as "Fiftieth
Anniversary Week"
That instead of Central Exposi-
tion the schools, churches and var
1ous societies in each community unto
In local celebration. to take the form
OF an exposition Of the progress Of
the race in commercial, professional
moral. Intellectual, religious and in
dustrial direction, or a public meeting
Of some kind presenting facts bearing
upon the Negroes rise since emanc-
patton. bringing forward the strong
est and best speakers
THAT wherever, feaslhle the ce1ebra-
,,'<o~ .heIa tirs conjunction .wltR.>se1ne
existing fair Or general gathering Of
the race making tho county or state
the unit Of cooperation.
-case-money- is obtained
from Congress, the same be appor
toned among the States, to be ex
pended Under the control of the Gov
ernor or some other state authority
the division to be. based MpOn tho
number of colored people resi1ing IL
the different States.
That the colored people be urged
from now on to prepare local celebra-
tions in accord with these suggestions
and that the matter be kept constant
ly before the people through notices
read in the churches, the schools, So
Cieties ald other organizations of the
race, to the end that the Fiftieth An
niversary Week shall be generally OBJ
served everywhere.
The League is Of the opinion that
this plan offers better results than
would cntral exposition at this late
day, as the larger portion OF the ex-
pense Of gathering exhibits is avoid
ed and no cost Of travelling long dis
tances Is involved.
mammoth celebration is planned
for Washington, to be held in Septem-
ber, 1918, under the direction OF the
Interdenominational Bible College, OF
which Prof Jesse Lawson Is presl
dent. 1t is expected that President
Taft will take part in the program
and there will be a,a exhibit Of an at :
tractive character. The Washington
celebration will be model for the
guidance of many other communities,
to be worked out on such scale as
local conditions will permit. The
suggestions Of the Business League
has the hearty approva! Of DR.. BOoke
n. washington and he will exert him:
self to see that the celebration every
where Is in accord with the spirit OF
national development and racial up
lift.
MC-sO- LIT CLUB HONORS MEM
ORY or DUNBAR.
The famous MuLSo-Lit Club, made
I'D Of WashingtoD's most representa-
tive men of affairs, closed It's season
with a memorial function in honor
of the races poet laureate, Paul Lau-
renee Dunbar. The exercises were
held Tuesday evening May 8, at
True Refortnefs' Hail. The spacious
auditorium WAS flied with beautiful:
ly goWneu "oiueh anu "'e"'y i''"
and the fair sex enjoyed TO the limii
their only opportunity Of the year tc
participate in the session of this
unique Organization. .: .
The formal program was as follows:
Welcome address, Or. Arthur S
Gray, president Of the Club; music
piano solo, Miss Mary l.. Europe;
Some Accompaniment of Poetic
Genius" prof. e. G.. Williams, princi-
.,.i of Al StrAat TIT oh School. rpCita