The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1915-11-20
A MAN OF IDEAS.
Rv L A WILSON

Washington this must not be omitted
that he "a an intensely practical
man who did not believe in shams or
mere appearances. Everywhere he
| went his eyes were open for prac-
| teal ideas and knowledge and all for
| the purpose of elevating and better
! ing mankind. He saw in the course of
his life that hamlets, villages, towns,
| cities, states, countries and empires
were made possible mainly thru bust
ness and commerce, and that the men
who controlled these affairs were po-
tent and to be considered then APP
| peared to him the clear and unmis-
| taxable vision-this is what my peo-
| pie need.
The encouraging of Negro business
/ and enterprise, preaching the doctrine
| of race patronage and support and the
| organization and development of the
National Negro Business League was
added to his life work. Tuskegee,
| which is the result Of his first vision,
is conducted on strictly practical bust
ness principles. It's influence extends
! outside its boundaries to surrounding
| communities where men and women
/ desire to learn how to do things bet
ter. Its students are taught to use
the means at hand, to utilize the pres
ent time, to 'let down your buckets
| where you are" and not to sit idle with
| folded hands dreaming or wishing for
| things which can only be obtained by
work and toll.
When a few years ago the Negro
press agitated changing the name Ne.
| gro on account of the o%pprobrium at
| tached to it and offered in its place
certain high sounding names, Mr..
| Washington counseled against the
| change, claiming that the name had
been linked with the history of the
race since its advent in this country,
that it was the heritage of men of the
race who had c~reditably added to the
worlds history and that it vas bet
ter to so conduct and build up our
| selves hat we would rob the lame of
! its odium and win for it instead re-
| spect.
There is no man of the race who
has merited such a world wide rec
| ognition and praise as Booker T. Wash
ington, and no man who has been
more abused than he by those of his
own race who did not or would not
understand him, but his practical mind
caused him to waste no time in re-
plying to his critics but strengthened
his resolution to continue doing some
thing for the good of mankind. But
a few years have gone by since the
first meeting of the National League,
and it's members have been imbued
with hope because they see in a clear
er light the advantage of industry and
business to the race, the organiza-
ton aided by Mr.. Washington's mag
netic personality has encouraged hun
dreds to enter the business world
where some have gained a foothold,
it has drawn into it's ranks the best
men of the race, it has attracted the
attention and won the interest of the
potent men of other races, it has com
handled municipal favor so that cities
have appropriated hundreds of dollars
to welcome black men in the annual
gatherings. And then comes that in
scrutable mystery Deah, and a good
man, a noble man, a loved man, a use
full man, our matchless benefactor and
leader is stricken while working.
1t is as we like a child were lost
in the forest and could find no path
leading out. Depressed in spirit it
heard a voice which said: Come, ]
will show you a way" and then a
stranger appeared with smiling face
and outstretched hands, but his offer
was met with childlike suspicion and
mistrust, petulant, scolding and way.
ward abuse. But the stranger still
smiled and said Come" until at last
he secured the hand of the child and
led it out and put it in the path for
home. And now with confidence
gained and travelling ~joyously on the
road, he who has now become our &C
cepted friend stops and says: Here
we must part; l must go another way;
there is your way, follow it."
i Our race is the child in economic
knowledge. and We fain would sit
awhile and mourn the departure of
our friend, but the future is before
us and the path is dear to our eyes
let us continue on our journey and
make such progress hat our success
will be a fitting memorial to the mem.
DRY of him whose revered name will
be honored as long as the memory
of man survives.