The Denver star., 1917-09-15
By WILLIAM H, DAVIS.

meeting OF the National Negro Busi-
ness league to Chattanooga, Tenn, at
its recent session Governor Tom C.
Rye In part said:
, 4 am deeply and profoundly crate |
full for the compliments that have been
paid me by the different representa-
uves Of your race, and permit me to
/. say that sincerely hope and trdSe that
, SO long as l am permitted to hold office
y and represent the people OF this com.
monwealth that somebody can with
some degree of truth say some of those
nice things about me which feel deep
down in my heart do not fully deserve
l have tried and am determined 20 be
the governor OF all the people. lap
plause.] / expect to be the governor OF
all the people so long as serve In that
capacity. and when the time comes
that cannot so far as can see 1t and
understand it discharge my duty to ali
the citizens of the state OF Tennessee.
regardless OF race, creed or other af-
filiation, shall step down and out and
go back to private life [Applause]
i am here-today to bid you welcome
to the greatest state In the Union. [Ap-
plause.l And l want to say to you
colored people, In the commendable eff
forts along various lines OF progress
which you are making rapidly, that If
some ambitious and determined young
man OF your race should sally forth to
find fertile field for the investment
OF his business capital or professional
skill and should be imbued with the
idea Of discovering a lost paradise
serve notice on him here and now that
he would he doomed to utter despair
and absolute failure did his footsteps
lead not to Dixie. Laughter and ap-
plause.l
Here In the southland is your races
opportunity. and right here In the south.
Land your race has made its greatest
progress. Not only do bid you hearty
welcome ON behalf OF the common
wealth OF Tennessee. but standing here
In the presence OF this city's splendid
chief executive, the mayor of Chatta-
nooga, l viii go further and say that
ne would not understand his Job II he
did not likewise welcome and establish
an altar for you here at Chattanooga.
tApplausc.l This l am sure he will be
only too glad to do.
Now. you have heard reference
made to Company q. company OF
Negro troops organized In the state OF
Tennessee. and l wish to say they de-
serve the special mention and compli-
ment which have been paid to that COM
pany. They have made record of
which any military unit might well be
proud Recently l was looking over
the accounts of this commonwealth.
which are on file In the state depart
ment, and l noticed that the state
OF Tennessee had been required to pay
over to the war department Mt Wash
!ngton the total sum OF $32. 600 as rcim-
bursemcnt for property lost by our
national guard. and be 1t said to the
honor and credit OF Company G. the
only Negro company thus far organic
ed In the state OF Tennessee or In the
entire south. Tennessee has never lost
dollar through Company G. GHear.y
applause.1
Now. my friends. have a Pc
culiar pride and pleasure in welcom-
ing to our state this splendid organ
ization. which was founded about eight
cen years ago by your races illustrious
leader DR.. Booker T. Washington
prolonged applause and cheering.l
Ere the stnr OF Booker T. Washing
ton had reached Its zenith In this conn
try the clouds OF prejudice between
the races. referred to here today. had
rolled away and had disappeared be-
fore the sunburst OF his eloquence. his
wisdom and his constructive states
mnnship as mists retreat before the
rising sun. Applause
His great and useful life. ms reflected
It,,tn n q
splendid business organization. should
be n Mecca to the colored people OF
this country. and when you journey
there and stand upon the campus OF
that great institution OF learning that
b he founded. whenever you attend the
annual meeting OF this league. you
should remember his eloquent words OF
wisdom, you should remember the
= practical services he rendered TO MS
<aca and country. you should be IN
spi,E by the noble motives and pur-
noses that guided his life. and you
should stand ,Yp and thank God Tor
Booker r. Washington. tProlonged
applause and checring.] .-
Now In conclusion, let me sA! that
rho old formality OF welcoming peopl"
or conventions to our state has passeo
away. You know the mayor used t"
turn the keys of the city over to every
visiting delegation or convention Ihat
always used to be the custom. h"t
tbern's nothing In the city now that we
want to lock up. Hearty laughter anu
npplnuso. Conventions or TINS N'l'u
were formerly invited to drink II. our
ozone md sich-like." hut now. whi'e we
hnve plenty OF invigoratins m",'''u''
afr ana ozone nt our disposal u'e
,ch.iike'. has disappeared forever.