The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-08-18
GRAND LODGES ARE N
| FULL SWING HERE TODAY

entertain a national convention. When
1t is so called upon, the honor is the
more notable and l assure you 1t is
appreciated accordingly.
I'VE have here a city with his
tory and we hope you will become
acquainted with some of the most in
terestnig of our local features during
your stay with us. In Rand park you
will find monument erected in honor
of Chief Keokuk, after whom the city
was named. 1t is surmounted with
statue of heroic size Of that famous
aborigine. At Third and Main street
is an equestrian statue Of General
Samuel R. Curtis, Keokuk man who
was one Of the three major generals
furnished by Iowa to the union cause
during the civil war. At Fifth and
Main is the Estes house, which was
used as hospital during those trying
times. In the western part Of the
city Is a national cemetery maintain
ed by the United States in which are
buried nearly thousand defenders of
the flag. During the same great
struggle and later, Keokuk contributed
three cabinet ministers, a justice of
tbs supreme court of the United
States and number of statesmen
whose names are writ large in our
country's history. The residences
they occupied can be pointed out to
visitors.
"But I would not have you under
In irn1v
in the past. We have much that is
of present time interest. Chief among
objects, OF interest are the power
house and the dam that spans the
mighty Mississippi river at this point.
You should not fail to see this great
engineering accomplishment. In con-
nection with the dam is an immense
lock built by the water power COM
pany and presented by it to the Unit.
ed States government. 1t may inter-
est you to learn that this lock is as
wide as any lock in the Panama canal
and had much larger lift than any
of them. Next to the Panama canal
the dam, power houss, dry dock and
lock here constitute the largest con-
crete construction Of modern times.
1--WE used to hear considerable about
what was called the negro problem.
That problem has been solved as Tar
as Keokuk IS concerned. AS you
know. the man who has nothing to
sell except unskilled labor Is at
serious advantage. His sole asset Is
ability to furnish power, and he has ,
to compete with power in its cheapest
forms. He has toNpft himself against
steam, water power and other mani
festations Of energy. The remedy
for this is to acquire special know
ledge or skill, which always commands
q premium in the labor market. Many
colored people in Keokuk awoke to a
of this fact many years
ago. Since then we have had in keo~
kuk colored men in nearly all the
skilled trades-carpenters, stone ana
brick masons, plasterers, blacksmiths'
painters, sign-writers and
the like. This assures better wages
shorter hours and improved conditions
Il am glad to note that
along this line is becoming
nationwide with colored people.
Training schools are being esta ollsheo
which will aid largely in making lot
the betterment of your race. Let me
ADVISE you to give them every encouf
agement as means to an important
and highly desirable end.
"But I have no intention of monopo-
lizing your time when you have SO
much demanding your attention.
am here simply to say that we are
nleased to have you with us and we
hone YOUR STAY will be both pleasant
and profitable to you. l thank you.
The response to the mayors ad-
dress was made by DR.. j. L. CASTOR.
grand master. DR.. Castor expressed
for the visiting delegates their sim
cere thanks for the welcome that mas
heen accorded them In keokuk ana
PREDICTED one Of the most successfdi
the order has ever held.
He spoke briefly of the strength OF
the growing organization and OF the
GOOD work it already has accomplish
ed among the negroes OF this coun-
try He stated that in one sense the
was still in its infancy
and that the good work it has done Is
with what it hopes to
accomplish in the future.
DR.. T. H. Phillips made the address
of welcome on behalf of the lodges in
this city. He expressed the immense
pleasure of the local bodies in being
able to entertain the national conven-
ton and said he considered 1t a very
great honor to the local chapters as
,yeu as to the city. A response was
made by T. H. Tandy. !
Mrs. Thomas Freeman delivered
short address of welcome in behalf
~ the temple. Her address was re-
sponded to by Mrs. Arvilia Mckenzie.
O. q. Towne's Address.
Manager o. B. Tpwne OF the INDUS
trial association welcomed the visi-