The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-11-06
NEGROES WANT WILSON B
T0AT'TEND EXPOSITION
President Receives Giles b.. Jackson
Il and Delegation ut WIito
House. -s
lie WILL COME II POSSIBLE

ibkprcSSeS interest In Object OF En-
position, but Makes No Definite
I'rOmise-Jackson Confident That
lie VIII Be Here on July A, 1915.
President Wilson yesterday indicated
That he would visit tho exposition to
be.held next summer at Fort Lee. four
auspices of the Negro Historical and
Industrial Association. The invitation
WAS conveyed to the President by q
large delegation of representative
negroes from all !scctions of the coun-
try, headed by Giles Is. Jackson, of this
city. president or the nssociati ton.
The President early fast week In
formed Senator Thomas S. Martin that
ltc would receive the delegation at
noon OH Thursday. and promptly on tho
minute the negroes were there. Presi-
dent Jackson on behalf Of tho COM
nittee, said In part:
On behalf Of the Negro Historical
and Industrial Association. "A corpora
ton. under whose auspices the expo
sition and celebration of the fiftieth
anniversary Of the emancipation and
achievement. -: the negro Will be held
III Richriond. In 1915, tho committee
now irSyour presence came to ask you
To accept an invitation 10 visit the
exposition come time during It's ex-
istancc; preferring. If possible, to have
you visit 1t on the opening day, tenta-
lively fixed at July 4. But In order
to have your presence, tho day Will be
changed to suit your convenience
JACKSON MAKES APPEAL
FOR MEMBERS OF RACE
ON behalf of the col9red people Of
the country, as far as this committee
HAS authority to speak we feel author
ized 10 speak for them all OH this
occasion. they VIII esteem 1t the great
ext favor that could be bestowed upon
"A struggling people to have your pres
ence ut the opening OF this exposition
II would indeed stimulate and encour-
ago them to know that the chief ex-
ecutiye of the nation will come at the
time and place where they are trying
10 slow the marvellous progress made
by them in the last nifty years, and
TO hear fall from his lips words of
encouragement to press forward in the
1uturc development of the race.
They feel that since your Inaugural
tion you have not had the opportunity
nor occasion to speak to n race whose
position TN tho nation Is so different
from others. and this will be the op-
perfume time Tor you to say word OF
encouragement to the negro race, which
constitutes IL per cent OF the nation
over which you Justly and salts
factorily preside. large per cent of
this race resides in the South, where
their relations arc different from those
who reside In other sections of, the
country. and who are solving their own
problems. with the assistance OF their
white neighbors who reside with them
in the Southland.
NEGROES ACCUMULATED
s54,0G0.0OO SINCE WAR
Should you accept this Invitation,
we VIII show you the product of tho
race. which would be astounding. we
VIII have upon exhibition evidence or
The thrift and progress of the race
within hfty years, Of which you and the
{. nation you represent Will be proud. You
VIII have an opportunity to view the
exhibits of the negro of this country.
tor which. we believe, you would COM
a,end them as having done what no
tthcr race could have done, similarly
situated and within that short period
OF time r tt
" 1t was pointed out to the President
that the colored people OF Virginia
alone pay taxes on S34,00o.O00 worth
of property, and own scho and church
property to the value of $26.00O.O0O,
which Is free from taxation. The ac-
emulation In fifty years has been S5t.-
100000. or more than 81 100000 n year.
At the close OF the appeal. the Presi :
dent made brief address in which he
told OF his interest in the exposition and
his desire to be present. He explained
that he would be i'm the West for sew
'cral months. and the uncertainties OF
politics made II impossible for him to
give q definite answer. He said In part:
PRESIDENT SAYS HE
WILL COME If POSSIBLE
Your invitation is a most attractive
one. but cYn make no definite prom
Use SO far ahead. II nothing turns up
TO prevent certainly shall be there.
hope TO he with you on the opening
day, or some other time, for l am sin
cerely interested in the object of the
exposition. and 1t isany earnest wish TO
attend st."
The committee which waited upon
the PRESIDENT was composed OF colored
men from many walks of life. but who
arc true representatives of the best of
the race Among those preesnt were:
Theodore w. Jones, Chicago, former
member of Cook County Commission;
ernest Lyon, former minister to Libe-
ria, and now representative OF that
country to the United States; Judson
w, Lyons, of Georgia, former registrar
of the treasury; Rev. w. IT. Hall, Phila-
delphia: Rev. James IS. Churchman,
Orange N. j.: Walter II. Land. Nor
folk: John w. Lewis Washlngto ton;
James III, Anderson, of New York, cdi-
tor of the Amsterdam News: Rev. T..
NJ. Mitchell. of this city, and c. II. Will
.iamson. Of Raleigh, y. c.
GROUNDS ARE
NOW BEING CLEARED
Tho exposition will be financed by
FUNDS appropriated by Congress-, which
has given $4,000 for the purpose. Pri-
vate subscriptions will help out on
othcr expenses. Fiftyfmcn arc, now en-
gagged In, clearing the grounds upon
which the buildings will be erected. and
exhibits are already being made ready.
Jackson returned last night from
Washington. He is highly elatcd at
tho success of the delegation.
II am confident that the President
will find an opportunity to visit our
cNposluon." he said we are going
10 have creditable exhibition, and
enc Richmond Will be proud off,"
ENTERS PLEA OF NOT GUILTY