The Denver star., 1914-08-29
MUSKOCEE HOST
OF BUSINESS men
National Negro Business League
Holds Big Meeting.

President Booker T. Washinston's An
nuaI Address 10 Growing Event Of
First Days Program at Fifteenth
Annual Msstine-Tims to irausurats
New Policy, He Says.
Muskogee. Okla.-The fifteenth an
nual meeting Of the National Negro
Business league was held in this city
at Convention hall from Wednesday.
Aug. 10, to Friday. Aug. 81, inclusive.
The sessions were attended by dele
gates from local business leagues
from all sections of the country. The
program bristled with interest through
out the meetings as those who took
part outlined their struggles and
achievements in the various lines of
business.
The climax of the first days pro
gram was the Wednesday evening ses-
sion, when DR.. Booker T. Washing
ton, president Of the league. delivered
his annual address. He, in part, said:
Throughout the world ten millions
and more Of black people in the Unit
ed States are being observed and stud
led in a larger measure than IL true
of any similar group of black people
in existence or perhaps that has ever
existed. People from all parts of the
world interested in the civilization Of
black people are coming to the United
States to study the condition and the
progress of the American Negro; for,
after all IL said. II there il any place
where the Negro has a chance TO show
his mettle It il right here in the Unit
Cd StAtes.
For this reason, rs well ~ for the
| sake Of ourselves. 1t b matter Of ex-
t1sne impestAnce that we net dasap
| point ourDelves NOR fhose who an
studying and observing us. Within
the nfty years Of our freedom and
even before physical freedom came
! great and almost marvellous progress
has been made, but we must not rest
| upon the past. We must continue to
| so forward.
Before beginning the body Of my re
| marks there are few simple but fun
damental things to which wish to di
! rect the special attention of each local
league. These things l ask In order
that the usefulness Of the league may
| be still further felt among the 10000,
600 Of our people.
| First Of all, do not fritter away toe
much time in your meeting in techni
calities known as parliamentary rules
"Second.-Let each local league
study the condition and needs of our
people in its community and devote It.
self to doing that which will promote
the commercial. industrial. education
| al, professional and moral life of oul
race in that community.
| "Third.-Have Il regular time OF
meeting and always have a meeting al
that time.
"Fourth.-Strive to have regular
place Of meeting. one that shall be at
tractive and convenient.
"Fifth.-Have for each meeting {
carefully arranged program that shall
strike at some definite thing. A gen
eral program means little. Serving re
freshments often helps.
"Sixth.-Each local league should
strive to gather into its membership
every man and woman who is interest
ed in any kind of honorable business
no matter how humble that business
may appear to be-
"Seventh.-Each league should have
for one OF its objects the bringing OF
the white man. by whose side we live
into friendly and sympathetic contact
with the progress of the race. One
way to do this is to invite successfully
white men to visit and speak to the 10
cal leagues. The white man will help
and We will be helped.
Il believe that the time has come
when We as race should begin pre-
pairing to enter upon new policy and
a new program. In plain but in EN-
phatic words l want to suggest wheth
er the time has sOt come when We
should get OF thS defensive in things
| that concern GU. present and future
and begin to inaugurate everywhers
| an aggressive and constructive pro
gressive policy in business, industry
education moral and religious life and
In our conduct generally. We mus
/ follow the teachings of the Master
when he said. Overcome evil will
good
"A general. however able. who con
tents himself with merely holding tn.
territory that he occupies or merel,
devotes himself to defending himself
against the assaults Of the eHsmv l.
not the general who gains renown fo'
genuine leadership OF gains the con
Adencs Of the world. A general wht
occurs~s much 1t his time in exnietn