The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1911-02-02

=
drought up under a susnanSIon7 -
the rules and at a TIME when thaa
aeoolred t~o-thirds majority, and
are still pending, ->-N
1ne Executive Committee aftar
frankly discussing all phases of tho
matter, unanimously came to tbo
conclusion that In view of the short
.'hie that remains. it would proba-
oily be impossible to hold a Natio,a,l
exposition, such as was blanna,, \
'"ae would reflect credit upon the
'"'e or snow IN any adequate way
tne progress which has been made nv
ne Negro people during their free
dom. For that reason, the Memo
randa which follow were Unanimous
~ adopted by the Executive Com NIL.
'ee' ana the suggestions contained
| therein are earnestly recommended
20 the consideration Of the Negro
people throughout the United States
namely:
National Anniversary Celebration
l. IN view Of the fact that the
congress of the United States has
mus tar failed to make provision nc
suggested by President Taft in his
message to Congress for a proper
celeoration Of the fiftieth anniver-
sary of the emancipation Of the Na-
gro in the United States:
! IN View OF the further fact TINT
s"ould congress now make an an
preparation We fear the time womb
'e-tee short-to enable us to carrv
out the celebration in the form no
first planned:
Therefore we, the Executive Com
inlttee OF the National Negro Busi-
ness League advise that the race
|snould not await the expected actibn
oi congress, and suggest instead of
inc large central exposition as first
plahned' that the celebration should
TAKE the following form: -
2. That the third week in Octo-
per, 1913, be set aside for the ca1e-
oratlon, and be known as Fift;etb
Anniversary Week.
| 8. That instead of a Centr.l Nv
position, the Schools, Churches ond
al olner societies and Organizations
III each community unite and coon
crate for the purpose of boldinp O
local celebration: this celebrate -
,ahe the form Of an exposition of
'ne progress in commercial, profess
lSinonal, moral, intellectual and re-
i'slous directions made by the race
IN that community
=. We suggest that where Il is.
POSSIBLE these expositions be held in
connection with existing county, or
state lair organizations; it will no+
oe necessary to change the reeula :
date for holding such connie a.
state fairs.
| D. Wherever it seems feasible tho
county or the state should make thu
unit or organization for the celehr.-
tion instead of the local community
| D. we advise that especial effort
oe made to secure in addition tn the
physical exposition, a program Of an
|'proprlate speeches and other 1itar-
arS FEATURES; the speakers to be as
Lar as possible the strongest and best
men that can be obtained, North and
South. III "iiu
| T. We advise that wherever nosei-
Die an effort be made to Secure c;tv
county or state aid to carry out the
pans or the local committee.
| .. We suggest that, in case monoy
} Is secured from Congress- II bo 49,
port'oned among. the states, to be-
expended under the control of tho
governor, or some other state an
| thorlty, IN proportion to the MN
DER or coiored people Residing in
'he dlher"nt commonwealth,
.. we believe that the plans here
outlined have several advantapes
over the plans previously pronosod .
va first' it makes it possible to put
'ne whole race to work in planning
ana preparing for the exposition and
lce'eoratlon suggested. CD If will
enable more people to see the nroo-
ress the Negro has made, than would
be possible If they had to travel
many miles to some Central Exnosi-
ton. N'NpoSi-
10. In conclusion, we STRANGELY
urge mat our people begin now to
plan and prepare for Fiftieth Ami
VerSary Week, and that this be made
at once means and an occasion for
gaining attention Of the world to
immense progress the Negro race in
| america has made during fifty years
Of freedom.
1t ls the earnest hope and deeiro
OF the Executive Committee of Tho
Negro business League that the
ABOVE suggestions shall be read be-
lore the various churches, lodges
ana other organizations, to the end
that the Fiftieth Anniversary Week
Oh freedom shall be generally OBJ
served everywhere.
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lkAD nD0IIHAlI0n nFrn