Franklin's paper the statesman., 1912-09-07
BY n. BARNETT DODSON.


BY N. BARNETT DODSON.
Chicago. - The thirteenth annual
meeting of the National Negro Busi-
ness league, held for three days in this
city recently. proved to be school of
thought and a beehive of thrift and
industry. The sessions We're attended
by reputable business and professional
men and women from all parts of
America and some from foreign coun-
tries.
The sessions were held day and even
ing at the famous institutional church.
Dearborn street. near Thirty ninth,
and the spacious double auditorium
was packed by an eager throng every
time the doors were opened to the
public. A cordial welcome was ex-
tended at all times by the genial pas
tor Rev. A. J. Carey. and his capable
corps of officers. \ committee of la
dies served luncheon each day, and the
ushers, in charge of Mr.. Evans, did
their duty in fine fashion.
The opening address was delivered
by DR.. George G. Hall. chairman of
the local committee on arrangements.
and a cordial welcome was extended
by Counselor S. Laing Williams. as
sstant United States district attorney
of Chicago. felicitous response was
made by Professor Harry T. Pratt of
the Baltimore public schools. owner of
the Baltimore Times
Program of international Scope.
The program. prepared with unusual
care by Corresponding Secretary EN-
NETT J. Scott, embraced every form
of business and professional activity in
which the Negroes of the country are
engaged. and the speakers, without ex-
ception. represented the highest type
of the men and women engaged in the
commercial work of the nation. The
printed program. which has had wide
circulation in the race press, is familiar
to all. and a study of its personnel and
line of discussion will bear out the
statement just made.
The annual address of Or Booker T.
Washington. drawn from the immortal
Bard of Avon. There's a tide in the
affairs of men which taken at its food
leads on to fortune emphasized the
necessity for the Negro to take advan-
tage of his manifold opportunities in
the world of labor ana TO do his share
of the worlds work. with guarantee
of reaping his proportionate share of
the rewards that follow faithful serv-
ice. As has been said in all previous
years. this was the keynote of the en-
tire session and embodies in nutshell
the purposes and policies of the Ma
tional Negro Business league. 1t was
"the speech of Or. Washington's ca
reer' and established him anew as the
veritable Moses of his race" The ad-
dress has been printed in pamphlet
form and will he given n nation wide
circulation.
Rosenwaid Leagues Special Guest.
The leagues special guest of the Sc
ries was Mr. Julius Rosenwald. the re-
nowned merchant prince and philan-
thropSt, a member of the firm of Sears.
Roebuck & Co. who has become ia
nous the world over because of his
open handed generosity Of liberal gifts
10 the building funds of the colored
Y. NJ. c. A. Of the country. In his speech
Mr.. RosenwaId took an optimistic
view of the future of the Negro people
and found infinite satisfaction in the
study of the progress of the colored peo-
pie from slavery to intellectual and
economic success. rising in forty nine
years from absolute poverty to the pos
session Of millions of dollars in proper
ty and presenting population Of 10,-
100000 6S per cent Of whom can read
and write-G development that reads
like romance. Mr.. Rosenwald's plain.
businesslike talk brought down the
house. and his lessons of life, pointing
out that only through honest. straight
forward methods and rigid habits of
punctuality. loyalty to employer and
fidelity to patrons. can a permanent
business or other career be built up.
was received with enthusiastic ap-
proval.
1T pays to be honest" declared Mr..
Roscnwald. Give an honest dollars
worth OF service for every dollar re-
ceived. and your success is assured.
Be OF service TO some one else. Give
yourself for the good of mankind, and
you will be happy. Determination,
hard work. keeping everlastingly at it
these bring realization to what seems
dream. Victory will come to the Ne
gro. as it comes to every other people.
through the struggles well fought out
bringing triumph as the legitimate out
come of well directed influence and
sterling worth
'The Negro is growing stronger be-
cause he has learned the lesson that
color counts for little if merit is be-
hind the man. The world little cares
who does its work. but 1t wants that
work done in the very best way" He
laudcd the work Dy. Washington is do