The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1913-11-07
,vitation to attend this meeting

invitation to attend this meeting !
was pleased. / have been long inter.
ested in the commercial development
of this city, and now as Mayor / am
more interested in its civic and moral
advancement. A city Is made up Of
the different extremes; the most
virtuous, the most moral, the most
vicious, the most immoral. It Is hard
task as Mayor to suit all the people
in any city. No city can be much
better than the average Of its citizenry.
I want decent things to prevail in
this city, and want to promote the
things that are moral and decent. l
shall be thoroughly disappointed If I
fail to lift Minneapolis to higher
things after having served in my Of
ficial capacity. Therefore. welcome
J this organization that Is to promote
things that are good for this city. You
as a people, have been weak because
you have not had any voice. A man
as Mayor can't listen to the voice OF
any one man. He canno. say on the
advice Of citizen that things are
not right" but he will say so to an
Organization. am interested in things
that interest, amuse, instruct and de-
velop our city. I feel sure from the
men interested in this organization,
that it will be helpful You will have
every encouragement from me, as an
executive or a private individual and
will 60 just as far, to give you what l
can, as any man.
| It seems almost unnecessary to In.
troduce the next speaker, for believe
that he is known and loved by every
colored man in the Northwest; I am
certain that he has done more prac.
tical good for the colored men Of this
section than any other single individ.
ual: Gentlemen, the Honorable e. ].
Westlake.
NSps .. v. "GSIIdkes
Mr.. Westlake had been for several
years in the employ of the Pullman
Co. The Wagner Co., and N. P. Ry.,
in their Dining Car department. In
recent years he has been secretary OF
the Commercial Clubs of the Twin
Cities. In all that time he has been
In the close touch with Negro en-.
ployees, and has been effective in
securing their services in various
places. Mr.. Westlake is now a mem
Der of the legislature, and took this
occasion to thank his colored friends
for their support. He said in part,
II can count among my friends, no
better friends, than the colored men.
I know that they were made by the
same God and all men were created
equal. There are good and bad among
all races. Once in a while one of the
colored boys will get a five. and for
get to come back, but they are the
exceptions" Mr.. Westlake spoke of
the days in 1875, when he worked
with the late Phil Reid on the first
hotel car running out Of st. Louis, also
told of his respect for the late Fred.
McGhee, who was a member of the
Commercial Club of st. Paul. He was
glad of the opportunity to come and
talk and congratulated the men for
their effort, assuring them that the
League could always count upon him
for support. Mr.. Nye and Mr.. West
lake left a directors meeting Of the
New Athletic Club to attend the
League opening and Immediately re-
turned thereto after their remarks.
The next speaker who will adj
dress you, gentlemen, is a Judge of
the District Court Of this district, who
Is known and honored alike for his
learning, probity and never-failing
courtesy, The Hon. John H. Steele.
Judge Steele said 1.-THE life of a
man, unless he is broad man, is
limited. Organization is the life OF
man, and unless you are keeping pace
with the commercialism of today You
are not in it. Some day we will have
to return to the soil to support this
country. We must reach the basis
OF production. You men, or any
people, are not at home in the CITY.
and the best place for any body is on
the farm. Any man who takes up a
homestead will be independent. Get
away from the jobs and become self
supporting. Be independent. You
have progressed more rapidly than any
other race. II you can do that you can
do anything any race on earth can do.
We people of this country are begin.
ming to realize that white heart NAV
be in black man and black heart
In a white man. This il no time for
prejudice on account Of inheritance.
A man whether black or white. what
ever his religious beliefs is a man.
Why should there be a difference?
Sen. A. ". Rejke.