The Denver star., 1913-10-18

| Proved Intelligence and Handiwork
of Many individuals to Overcome
pifficuIties-Editor Perry's Views.
Philadelphia The emancipation proc
lanation exposition held here from
Sept. u to Sept so inclusive is over.
For the past year the public has been
kept informed ON the purpose of the
celebration and what it meant to those
who have made the struggle upward
through many difficulties for the past
| fifty years. Taking all things into con-
| sideration. the efforts of the commits
! sion intrusted with the task were sue
| cessful.
The festival proved the contention
that under given circumstances we
have men and women among us who
are capable of bringing things to pass
| which count for equal worth and
| achievement similar to the progress
made by those whose opportunities
have been more favorable. The pro
gram rendered from day TO day show
ed merit The end of this great event
brings relief to the managers. who
! hpIkt'n ldiluluIlN lpT
months TO present some of the marked
achievements which the race has made
since its freedom.
But of those who toiled amid great
! handicap to bring about the results
obtained no man had Il more difficult
/ task to perform than William(J. Rob
/ insun. the contractor. under whose di-
rcctions the buildings in which the ex-
| position WAS held We're erected. OF
| Mr.. Kobinsou's struggles Chris ]. Per
ry. the venerable and long time editor
OF the Philadelphia Tribune. tells the
! following story.
Mr.. Perry says: 1t so happened that
the emancipation commission appoint
ed by the legislature was composed of
white men with one exception in the
| person OF the Hon. Harry Bass The
! gentlemen Of this commission. not be-
| ing familiar with the ability which
colored men possess threw ont the
| hint that ;,ll the work. even down to
| tie erection of the proposed exposition
| buildings. ought to be designed and
erected 10y colored mechanics.
/ As soon rs this gauntlet was thrown
| down Mr. Bass Immediately sprang 10
J his feet and in an earnest manner as
! sured tie gentlemen of the commission
| that our people had men who are thor
orouGnly qualified to do all the work
| necessary Ia bc done. All they asked
WIS to he furnished with the means
After this meeting Mr.. Bass sent for
! Mr.. W. j. Robinson. the well known
| contractor. and Informed him of the
views OF the commission. Mr.. Bass
then told Mr. Robinson where the plot
of ground was located upon which the
buildings were to be constructed
The following day Mr.. Robinson sur
veyed the ground drew up his plans
and submitted his price for erection.
| all Of which were speedily accepted
! and word was given TO the contractor
10 go ahead. Ii did not take long for
him' to have tons OF lumber and other
| material on the ground. with a large
force of colorea artisans ready TO
work. But another hitch halted the
operaiion-viz. the lease had not been
signed.
This was followed by some log roll
ing between the mayor and the city
solicitor, one declining To sign this
lease until the other had done so. Then
came cessation OF hostilties. caused
by the mayor leaving the city for "a
rest In the Pocono mountains Day by
day the contractor visited the mayors
office to get his signature, only to hear.
In dulcet tones. The mayor is out of
town" But the director was in town.
and he kept an officer on watch at
Broad and Oregon streets day and
night to see to it that not even the
skeleton of II building should be erect
ed until the much sought for permit
was signed
In this way tie erection of the build
ings WAS retarded. Thus weeks passed
by. Things were discouraginy. it is
truc. but persistent man was Mt the
helm in the person of William ]. Rob
inson. and eventually success crowned
his efforts. he secured the long looked
Tor permit hut received It at Il time
that lert i.!.G only five weeks 10 com
nence and complete his work. Grave
doubts We're expressed on all sides
concernin. Mr.. RobinSon's ability TO
get the buildings ready IN time for the
opening of the exposition.
But with Il snap of the eye and the
curl of defiant lip he replied. Get
me some good lamps and will put
day and n nicht force mt work" This
was done aud for weeks this deter
mined contractor labored with his men
day and night and ut the beginning of
the fifth week he saiu. ''Gentlemen
your buildings are ready to receive ex-
hibits.'