Oakland sunshine., 1915-07-17

ftdnnEQ " SHS" eitS ~ - -
Race Since 1S65-Nesro Historical
and Industrial Association Asks City
Councils Aid.
Richmond, Va.-The commissioners
In charge of the plans and arrang-
ments for holding the state and ma
tional exposition In this city to snow
+ the progress which our people have
made during the past half century
have selected Monday, July ., as open
Ing day.
\ The celebration will run for three
weeks, closing on Tuesday, July u.
The Negro Historical and Industrial
association. under whose auspices the
exposition will be held, has petitioned
the finance committee Of the city coun-
ell through its president, the Hon.
Giles B. Jackson, for an appropriation
of $4,000 toward the general expenses
of the celebration.
The text of the petition as presented
by Mr.. Jackson is as follows:
''To the Honorable Board OF Aldermen
H and City Council of the City of Rich
mond. Va:
"Gentlemen-There will be held in
| the city of Richmond at the state fair
grounds from the 9TH of July to the
| 9th of July an exposition and celebra-
| ton In commemoration of the tiftieth
| anniversary of the emancipation and
| achievements of the Negro. We lay
| emphasis upon the word achievements
| because the main purpose Of this expo
/ sition is to show TO the world the mar
| velous progress made by the Negroes
| Of this country, especially in the south
| ern states and the state of Virginia,
/ within the past fifty years.
"This exposition was conceived by
= the brain of those most anxious for the
Il white people of this country and espe-
i cially those of the north and west, to
view the progress of the Negro and see
Il how much he has advanced in the last
Il fifty years. We want to dispel the idea
Il that exists in the minds of some who
II are not so well acquainted with the
i black man and the relation of the two
Il races in the south. We want to show
II that the Negro is not hindered from
II making industrial progress in this Sec
Il ton.
il "It is for this reason that the Negro
Historical and Industrial association,
Il under whose auspices this exposition Is
II to be held, appealed to the national
\ government for the means by which to
II create this exposition. and in answer
to their prayer an appropriation OF
II 500, 600 was made at the time we ap-
|! piled for the amount. At that time we
II had the promises of certain large cor
II porations that they would contribute
largely to the fund we were raising
an additional sum of $4,000, but nc
sooner had the appropriation been
made by congress when the European
war broke out, and the corporations
which made these promises asked to be
excused because Of the financial de
preston which affected their business
II affairs; hence we fell short of the
II amount we hoped to realize.
II 'It is needless for me to say that tG
u
4 ter, which embodies all the states IL
the Union, would OF itself cost within
the neighborhood of $4,000, including
the shipping and returning of the ex
VI hibits, therefore you will see that WI
\! are in need of an additional fund II
III carry out the purposes of our associa
ton. Then the fact that Presiden
III cd fnnnoifflo Uhinl
waited on him on Nov. 5, 1914, tina
he would be present some day during
the existence of the exposition if no
at the opening, causes us to make
special efforts to make this exposition
q success.
"We have extended invitations to tn,
governors of the different states dnt
also tot number of senators and rep
resentatives of congress who hav,
II promised to be present. Therefore W.
.Il will have number of distinguished
white gentlemen to entertain. Will,
they will come upon our invitation
yet they must be entertained by you
Now that the exposition will be hell
In the city Of Richmond, bringing t.
this city thousands of white and col
ored people. and when the peopl,
come to the exposition they come t.
H spend money among the citizens O
Richmond we will need an additiona
fund to carry out the scope and plaI
II Of our exposition.
III 1--WE feel that, whereas the Negro
pays tax on $3,1S0,662 worth Of prop
erty in the city of Richmond, which Il
direct tax and contributes so largely
to the indirect taxes of this city, We
would be justified in asking that yot
1 appropriate at least $4,000, to be ex
pended through the same channel al
$55, 900 Is being expended by the Ne
Y gro Historical and Industrial associa
tion, under the direct supervision o.
the governor of the state Of Virginia
and also an additional amount to b.
expended by your committee for en-
tertaining the president and the othel
visitors above referred to.
1--WE hope that you will see your wa,
clear to make this appropriation, al
this is the first time in the history o.
the city of Richmond that the coloret
man has asked for such an appropria
ton, and we feel that the occasion
i sjustifies not only the amount of SIC.
600. but more"
with the conventi,- "a desire to do &C
should communicate with the CORE
spending secretary. Miss w. d. Moss
at 346 Grand avenue. Brooklyn, N. Y.
In reporting the activities of our peo,
pie In Savannah Ca. Mr. j. C. Lind
say, representing the local business