The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1912-11-23
Progress Made In Plans For
Holding Big Celebration
OUTLINE OF LEADING PARTS.
Committee on Plan and Scope Of Semi
centennial Of Freedom to Be Held In
Philadelphia In 1918 Issues State
msnt Foreesstins Pertinent Features
of Extensive Program.
BY WHITTIER II. WRIGHT.

BY WHITTIER II. WRIGHT.
Philadelphla.-Thec committee having
charge Of plans for the proposed cele-
bration in 1913 of the semicentennial
Of the freedom Of the colored race in
the United States is making commend
able progress. The colored people OF
Pennsylvania are taking a lively inter
est In the work as IL Is being outlined
bv members OF the committee.
The mechanical, trades and manu-
featuring departments will reflect the
skill and efficiency of the race along
these special lines. II is proposed to
build a house, construct an engine.
paint a picture and serve a dinner, all
in the presence OF those who come. A
great concert with smaller recitals will
show the progress Of Negro music.
1t is hoped to have a chorus Of 5000
voices to sing daily only the Negro
melodies. while the drama will be rep
resented by a play entitled Fifty
Years Of Freedom" by a Negro author.
Congresses OF Negro business and pro-
fessiOnal men, such as the National Ne
gro Medical association, National Negro
Bankers association, National Negro
/ Press association, National Negro Bap-
fist convention and National Negro Re
ligious congress, will be held.
What will be the civic benefit OF the
exposition? The exposition. which has
been planned, will not only encourage
and inspire the colOred people, but 1t
will be lasting civic and national ben
eft in that It will help to allay preju-
dice, for II will inspire higher respect
on the part Of the community at large
for the cOlored population when it
sees assembled in one place the prod
ucts of its handiwork. The white
people Of the country know too little OF
the good work Of the Negro.
It will encourage the more despond-
ent ones OF the race to renewed efforts.
It will show them opportunities that
they have overlooked, and II will open
up opportunities for them to make
themselves better wOrkmen. Too many
Negroes are discouraged because Of
the still existent race prejudice which
they must face.
Where shall this exposition be held?
1t seems fitting that an exposition
should be held I'm the state OF Pennsyl
vania and in the city Of Philadelphia
for many reasons. Pennsylvania is by
tradition the state most favorably dis
posed 10 the cOlOred race. Here there
existed the miIdcSt form Of slavery,
Nnh Ind tn
ditions farther south ,OTId hardly be
called slavery ut all. Here was uttered
the first protest against slavery I'm this
country, I'm loss 10y the German
Friends. Here the first society for the
abolition OF slavery was organized and
is still in existence. The il!ustriouS
Benjamin Franklin was its first pres
ident
Here the first law for the gradual !
abolition OF slavery was passed. Here |
the first anti-slavery meeting was held |
In this state the underground railroad |
had fits beginning. Many Of the most |
Ilustrious names Of Pennsylvania his |
tory devoted themselves TO the advance |
Of the colOred people OF this state, from |
William Penn TO Rudolph Blanken- |
burg. including Francis Daniel, Paste
rious. Benjamin Franklin. DIR. Benja-
min Rush. Bishop William White, Will
liam Severn. Joseph Clark. Lucretia
Mott, Thaddeus Stevens.
Indeed Pennsylvania is rich in Negro
history. The first schools for higher
training Of cOlored people. the first ex-
pertinent Of cOlOred churches, was be-
gun, and the first independent colored
churches came into existence within
the bounds Of the state OF Pennsyiva-
MIA. Indeed the first record OF prop
erty holding among colored people Is
In this state, while there are some OF
the largest businesses operated by
these people. Here are found the
largest secret orders. the oldest news
papers and magazines.
Pennsylvania has the largest colored l,
population north Of Mason and Dix
On's line, and in proportion to this
population its colored people have
made a greater advance possibly than
the colored population OF any other
state. The city Of Philadelphia and
vicinity includes one OF the largest
communities Of colOred people to be
found anywhere in the world
II there is any place. therefore, in
which the progress OF the race can be
shown to advantage IL is in the city Of
Philadelphia. And If there is any city
In the Union which should give an APP
to the colored people to do
this IT is the city OF Philadelphia Col
pred Philadelphians are known to have !
taken part in the Revolutionary war. I
and as far back as 1913 the records !
show that the bravery OF eolOred men !
under most distressing circumstances
ELECTED the highest praise and CON- :
from one OF Philadelphia's
mayors. And in the war Of 1872 IT
was a Philadelphia battalion which
fits service for the protec- Z
ion OF this city. And from that day s
o this signal service has been done by
ha eolorad noDulgffon q