The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1914-08-28
MuSk0GEE HOST
OF BUSINESS men
National Negro Business League
Holds Big Meeting,
PRESENTS FINE PROGRAM.

President Booker r. Washington's An
nuaI Address Is crownins- Event Of
First Days Program at Fifteenth
Annual Meetins-Time to lnausurate
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. 21, 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 larger measure than is 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 is said, If there is any place
where the Negro has a chance to show
his mettle it is right here in the Unit
ed States.
"FOr this reason, as well as for the
sake of ourselves, 1t Is matter Of ex-
treme importance that we not disap-
point ourselves nor those who are
studying and observing us. Within
the fifty 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
go forward.
Before beginning the body Of my re-
marks there are few simple but fun
damental things to which wish to d.
rect the special attention of each local
league. These things I 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 too
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 our
race In that community.
"Third.-Have a regular time Of
meeting and always have meeting at
that time.
"Fourth.-Strive. to have a regular
place Of meeting, one that shall be at
tractive and convenient.
"Ffth.-Have for each meeting a
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. -.-
II 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 I want to suggest wheth-
er the time has not come when we
should get OF the defensive in things
that concern our present and future
and begin to inaugurate everywhere
an aggressive and constructive pro-
gressive policy in business, industry.
education. moral and religious life and
in our conduct generally. We must
follow the teachings of the Master,
when he said, Overcome evil with
good
"A general, however able. who con-
tents himself with merely holding the
territory that he occupies or merely
devotes himself to defending himself
against the assaults Of the enemy is