Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-15
URGED TO ORGANIZE
Booker Washington's Plea to
C0Iored Race.
DELIVERS ADDRESS HERE
Speaks at Business League Gather.
ing-Attends Meeting of Jeanes
Fund Trustees.

Booker I. Washington made a strong
plea for the organization of the colored
race In all its lines Of endeavor last night
In an address before a large audience
at the Howard Theater. He and several
other colored members Of the board OF
trustees Of the Jeanes fund, which held
Its annual meeting at the White House
yesterday afternoon, were the principal
speakers at a gathering at the theater.
under the auspices of the Negro Business
League of Washington.
]. c. Napier of Tennessee, register OF
the Treasury. also a Jeanes fund trustee.
preceded DR.. Washington, with an ad-
dress in which he urged his hearers to
forget the failure Of the Freedmen's Bank.
and to start another bank for colored
people in Washington, declaring that II
is easier to run a bank than a barber
shop. He told Of the work of colored
people. and their success, in Tennessee
A similar address was delivered by r.
L. Smith of Texas another of the Jeanes
fund trustees, in regard to the financial
and business success of the colored peo-
pie in Texas.
Successes in South.
DIR. Washington declared that these
the fact that the colored people there
have begun to organize. He said. in
part:
81 had hardly been in your city three
or four hours before I found what the
Negro Business League is doing for
Washington. There is a place here for
this league and its work. We must re-
member that this Is the day Of organiza-
ton. especially specialization. in business.
can give you a concrete example OF the
truth Of this when l tell you that there
are such things as organizations of men
who will collect money for any one, for
any purpose, as a business. On Staten
Island the other day some gentlemen who
wanted a hospital there sent for pro-
fessional organizer, a professional collect
OR, who inaugurated a campaign on a
percentage and salary basis of collecting.
and raised $4,000 in few days for that
purpose Organization, specialization in
organizat ion-that makes success possible.
The meeting was under the direction of
Daniel Freeman, president OF the league.
and DR.. j. p. H. Coleman, secretary, DR..
Charles H. Marshall being master OF
ceremonies.
Talks to Seminary Students.
Earlier in the evening DR.. Washington
spoke before the Washington Foreign
Mission Seminary students.
1HeTe Is NItIe nope IOr tue negro or
any other race until it has learned the
disgrace Of idleness and the dignity of
labor" he said. 1.-The spirit of not want
ing to work because they know how to
read and write is fast disappearing from
among the colored people"
At the close of the civil war, he said.
only per cent Of the negroes could read
or write, but now 6S per cent can both
read and write, and they own 2O.O0O,O0O
acres of land, 100000 houses, numerous
stores and fifty-seven banks.
Final Meeting of Board.
At the final meeting of the Jeanes
board of trustees at the White House the
old officers and committees were re-elect-
ed. These officers are: President. James
H. billiard, New Orleans: vice president,
Walter H. Page. New York: treasurer,
George Foster Peabody. New York city;
secretary. Robert R. Notion. Hampton.
Executive committeeLBooker T. Wash
James H. billiard. II. b. Frissell. Samuel
c. Mitchell. J. c. Napier. Robert l..
Smith, r. r. Motion, secretary.
Finance committee-George Foster Pea
body, chairman; Walter III. Page, Bolton
Gilreath.
This meeting. which President Taft.
who is one of the trustees, pointed out
was the last they could hold in the
White House. drafted resolution OF
thanks to him for his courtesy in al
lowing the meetings to be held there
from time to time during his admins
tration. George Foster Peabody, the
treasurer. presented his report. show
ing the present market value Of the
I,002, 900 of securities belonging to
the fund and how they are invested.