The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1915-10-02

Harry B. Miller. who was sitting on
the platoon, jumped to his feet and
waving his arms, encouraged the thou
sands to even greater efforts. He was
ably seconded by the two negro as.
sistant corporation counsls, Louis B.
Anderson and E. H. Wright. And then,
as the mayor raised his hand and the
cheering subsidized, Mr.. Miller shout
ed
whats the matter with Thomp.
SOM
And the crowd doomed back:
He's all right"
Who's all right" inquired the Gu
rious Mr.. Miller,
"Thompson" roared the thousands.
DI. lazy s.n1 aly iriends, began
the mayor. stretching out his arms,
and brought on another storm of
cheering.
More than 100000 colored men and
women he continued, "have passed
through this great hall to see this great
exposition; and yet there has been
no disorder of any sort and none of
the petty crimes which unfortunately
so often mark big gatherings of peo-
pie. I doubt if any great undertaking
can equal that record.
81 have been presented this even
ing with the Lords prayer embroid-
cred on a silk background and beauti-
fully framed. The work was done by
Mrs. Laura Davis, one of your people.
That gift will go into the mayors Of
flee of the city of Chicago, and it will
remain in that office as long as VIM.
H. Thompson mayor. l hop that
will not need the reminder; but if
do, that token will serve to recall my
oath of office to uphold the laws of
Chicago and give square deal to
ALL"
What He Didn't Say.
After the cheering had subsided the
mayor picked up his written address
and began to read. He reviewed the
history of slavery in the United
States; but after he had concluded a
discussion of the slavery question at
the constitutional convention that
formed the union, he gave up. Then
followed the summarized explanation
of his appointments.
Some of the things the mayor want
ed to say but didn't, follow:
Il know that in some quarters
have been criticized severely for ap-
pointing q few representative negro
citizens to positions of honor and
trust and dignity. am. glad to take
the full responsibility and the honor
for making every one of those appoint
ments, and want to ask my critics to
be as manly and come out into the
open light of day with their unAmeri-
can sentiments.
TOO much publicity is given the
shortcomings and frailties of the col
ored man and too little publicity is
given his genius and skill.
I'VE read in the daily prints col
umn after column of sickening detail
of crime or misdemeanor committed
by some weak. abnormal individual OF
your race, but seldom do we see ac-
counts of the contributions to the
worlds work by your sculptors. art
lists, poets; scientists and educators.
Prejudice Still Exists.
Since attaining personal liberty
you are still the victims of relentless
and unreasoning prejudice which
throws all sorts of obstacles in the
path of your advancement.
"It is considered presumptuous for
an individual of your race to aspire
to any employment other than menial
tasks, and there have been recent in
stances where even your right to be
considered among the laborers in this
city has been challenged.
Not long ago, expressions such as
this were common: Why, what dc
you think? The mayor has put some
niggers to work out at the garbage
plant! Just as though negroes are
not to be considered human beings.
CONTINUED on back page.)