Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-07-06
MAYOR OPENS BIG
NEGRO EXPOSITION
Pledges Colored People Support
and Cooperation of White
People Of South.
HOLIDAY CROWD ATTENDS
Thousands Inspect Marvellous In
HOLIDAY CROWD ATTENDS
Thousands Inspect Marvellous In
dustrial Exhibits and Enjoy
Attractions on Midway.

fort, the negro race has risen in nifty
years to degree of accomplishment
that only those who have closely and
with sympathy followed the trend of
its achievements can know, and to such
an extent that the negroes themselves
and their white friends who yesterday
visited the Negro Historical and Indus
trial Exposition being held at the State
Fair Grounds were surprised at the
result of half ccntury's hopeful
labors.
1t was the opening day of the expo
sition. which is TO continue to July 81.
Several thousand negroes visited the
grounds and toured the Administrative
Building TO look upon what their hands,
their minds and their hearts have
brought about since the day the negro
was freed from the house of bondage
and, with the good wishes and financial
support OF those people in the South
who knew and understood him best,
went forth 10 fare for himself.
MAYOR AINsLIE MAKES
ADDRESS OF WELCOME
His white neighbor who visited the
exposition yesterday was as proud OF
the negro achievement as the negro
himself and no one voiced this senti-
mcnt more emphatically than Mayor
Ainslie. who. in his welcoming address,
urged the negroes TO go forward and
pledged TO them the support and sym
pathy of the white population OF the
South.
The gates were flung outward at 9
o'clock, and hundreds who had risen
carly surged in to enjoy the holiday
and TO give expression to the gladness
with which they welcomed the first
negro exposition ever held in the South
land The visitors were led to the
grounds by a big parade. headed by
Giles r. Jackson, which started from
Second and Leigh Streets. Five bands
took part in the procession The
Southern melodies they played drew
into line hundreds who were doubtful,
and President Jackson was proud
man when he looked back upon the
throng which followed him
PARADE CROSSES GROUNDS
To ADMINISTRATION BUILDING
grounds. through Midway, which is
tented from end to end with vaudeville
attractions and booths OF every variety,
Il
Administration Building. in which the
exhibits of the negro people are housed.
Mayor Ainslie arrived in the afternoon
a, I o'clock, and Jackson led his peo-
pie into the comfortable auditorium
which had been arranged for the ad-
dresses, and in which he hopes the
negro visitors may hear Woodrow
Wilson.
Simon +. Drew, D. D.. one Of the lead
ing negro pastors OF Washington, D. G..
Giles Jackson spoke in introduction Of
the Mayor. He outlined the brief his
tory OF the negro race in America,
and told of its struggles to lift itself
above the position in which the custom
and law OF other days had placed 1t.
or that struggle Jackson knows, for
he is Of the old school, and his own
effort raised him 10 leadership among
his race in Virginia and the South
JACKSON TELLS OF STEPS
TO SECURE OFFICIAL AID
The speaker told Of the steps taken
TO secure appropriations from the Cen
eral Assembly OF Virginia, from the
Federal government and from the State
of New York. He was deeply grateful
TO the white men who accompanied
him to Washington and secured for
him an audience with President Wilson
and to Governor Stuart for the earnest
support he gave him when he made his
appeal before tho Finance Committee ee
of the Virginia Legislature He re-
GREETED that Governor Stuart was un-
able to be present. and said that he
had secured from President Wilson a
pledge that he would come il he pos
sibly could. Then ne delivered thanks
for the friendship of the Richmond
people and for the Justice which here
has generally been accorded to him
and his.
Mayor Ainslie commented on the va
riety and scope OF the exhibits. and ma i'd
tribute to the man to whom so much
is due 70: the success OF the exposition.
He referred to the spirit of amity and
concord which exists between the two
races. The relations between the
races" he said, should be one OF con-
cord rather than of conflict, one Of
amity rather than enmity" He ex-
pressed n desire to aid the exposItion.
and said that the Richmond people
would give it their heartiest support.
The Mayor was then conducted on n
tour or the exhibits. and expressed him
self as being tremendously pleased
with the general display.
MIDWAY is PEOPLED
WITH USUAL. ATTRA CTIONS
Practically all the exhibits were in
place yesterday, and the opening was
real opening. Midway is peopled
with the usual variety Of attractions.
the majority of them being negro
vaudeville artists of pleasing ability
One OF the shows consists OF several
white diving girls. who display the
usual sort of aquatic agility. Then
there are wild Western show and
ring circus and number OF side shows
and tents in which are housed all sorts
Of wonderful and alarming freaks. Mid
way was we'll patronized yesterday. and
bids fair to be a success. There was no