The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1914-11-20
PLANNING FOR NATIONAL
EXPOSITION IN VIRGINIA.
President Wilson Asked to Speak on
Opening Day, July 4, 1915.

Washington.-The plans for holding
q big industrial exposition mt Fort Lee.
Va. for one month. beginning July 4.
1915. to show the progress Of the race
since 1855 have been fully mapped out
The exposition il to be held under the
auspices Of the Negro Exposition asso-
citation. Of which the Hon Giles B.
Jackson Ii president 1t Ia the wish of
the society tn have President Wilson
deiiyer an address on the opening day
Of the exposition With this purpose
In view delegation Of prominent men
from various states called ON President
Wilson at the White House the tirst
week In November and extended the
limitation In person. IT,.
Speaking for the delegation. Presi.
dent Giles r. Jackson In part said:
mir. President. on behalf Of the
Negro Historical and Industrial asso.
citation. corporation. under whose
auspices the exposition and celebration
Of the fiftieth anniversary Of the eman-
cipation and achievement Of the Negro
will be held In Richmond in 1915. the
committee now in your presence came
to ask you to accept an invitation to
visit the exposition some time during
It's existence. preferring II possible to
have you visit II on the opening day.
tentatively fixed at July 4 Put in or
der to have your presence the day will
DO changed to suit your convenience.
ION behalf Of the colored people of
the country. as far as this committee
has authority to speak. we feel author
ICED to speak for them all on this occa-
sion. they will esteem II the greatest
favor that could be bestowed upon q
struggling people to have your pres
ence at the opening Of this exposition.
II would indeed stimulate and encour-
age them to know that the chief exec.
utive Of the nation will come ut the
time and place where they are trying
to show the marvellous progress made
by them In the last fifty years and 70
hear fall from his Fps words of encour.
agement tn press forward I'm the future
development Of the race. .E
They feel that since your Inaugural.
ton you have not lad the opportunity
nor occasion to speak to q race whose
position In the nation IL 80 different
from others. and this will be the op
perfume time for You to say word Of
encouragement to the Negro race.
which constitutes II per cent Of the
nation over which you SO justly and
satisfactorily preside. A large per
cent Of this race resides In the south.
where their relations are: different
from those who reside In other sec
lions Of the country. and who are solv.
ing their own problems with the as.
sistance OF their white neighbors who
reside with them in the southland
"Should you accept this invitation
we will show you the product Of the
race. which will be astounding We
viii have upon exhibition evidence Of
the thrift and progress Of the race
within fifty years. Of which you and
the nation you represent will be prOnd
You will have IN opportunity to view
the exhibits Of the Negroes Of this coun,
try. for which we believe you would
commend them as having done what
NO other race could have done similar
~ situated. and within that short peri
cd Of time"
1t was pointed out to the president
that the colored people Of Virginia
alone pay taxes on $34.OOO.OOO worth
of property md own school andchnrch
property to the vaIue Of $20.OtUOOO.
which Is free from taxation. The &C
emulation in fifty years has been
$54.OOO.O 600. or more than $1.0OO.OOO a
year.
At the close Of the appeal the presi
dent made a brief address. In which
he told of his interest In the exposi
ton and his desire to be present He
explained that he would be In the
west for several months. and the nm
certninties Of politics made It impas
sible for him to give definite answer.
He said In part:
"Your invitation IL a most attractive
one, but ! can make No definite prom
Use SO far ahead II nothing turns up
ID prevent certainly shall be there
I hope to he with yon on the opening
day or some other time. for am sin
cerely interested In the object Of the
exposition. and It IL my earnest wish
to attend It."
The committee which waited npon
the president WAS composed at rolored
men from many walks Of life. hut who
! are true representatives ut the best Of
the race. Among thOse present were;
Theodore W Jones. Chicago. former
member of Cook county commission
Ernest Lyon. former minister TO Liberia
and now representative of that ronn
try to the United states: JudsOn "
Lyons of Georgia. former registrar Of
!, the treasury: Rev W T Hall. Phila
delphia: Rev James E Churchman
Orange. N j.: Walter Fl Land. Nor
folk: John W. Lewis. Washington
james Fl. Anderson of New York. edi
tor Of the Amsterdam News: Rev I
4 NJ. Mitchell of this city and c. Fl. WI
| hanson Of Raleigh. y C.
chsrubin Lodge to Give Big Reception