The Denver star., 1917-10-27

League Governor Rye Says We Are
All American Citizens Now-Compa-
ny G's Fine Record.
BY WILLIAM H. DAVIS.
In welcoming the eighteenth annual
meeting Of the National Negro Busi-
ness league to Chattanooga, Tenn, at
its recent session Governor Tom G.
Rye in part said:
l am deeply and profoundly CRATE
full for the compliments that have been
paid me by the different representa-
dves Of your race, and permit me to
say that l sincerely hope and trust that
SO long as l am permitted to hold office
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 l feel deep
down in my heart l do not fully deserve
l have tried and am determined 20 be
the governor of all the people. lap
plause.] l expect to be the governor of
all the people so long as l serve in that
capacity, and when the time comes
that cannot SO far as can see it and
understand it discharge my duty to ali
| regardless of race, creed or other af
| fliation, 1 shall step down and out and
go back to private life. [Applausel
am here-today to bid you welcome
to the greatest state in the Union. lap
| 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 be doomed to utter despair
and absolute failure did his footsteps
! lead not to Dixie. Laughter and ap-
plause.1
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-
he would not understand his job II he
did not likewise welcome and establish
an altar for you here at Chattanooga,
lApplause.l This am sure he will be
only too glad to do.
Now, you have heard reference
made to Company G. company Of
! Negro troops organized in the state of
i 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 he
proud. Recently l was looking over
/ the accounts Of this commonwealth,
| which are OH Tie in the state depart
ment. and noticed that the state
! OF Tennessee had been required to pay
over to the war department at Wash
ington the total sum Of $50 600 as REIN
! bursement 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 organiz-
ed in the state of Tennessee or in the
entire south, Tennessee has never lost
dollar through Company G. [Hearty
applause
| Now. my friends. l have 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
Ere the star OF Booker T. Washing
ton had reached its zenith In this coun-
| try the clouds OF prejudice between
the races. referred to here today. had
rolled away and had disappeared be-
fore the sun burst OF his eloquence, his
! wisdom and his constructive states
manship as mists retreat before the
rising sun. IApplause.l
His great and useful life. as reflected
| In Tuskegee institute as well as in this
/ splendid business organization, should
be a 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
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 his
race and country. you should be in
spired by the noble motives and pur-
poses that guided his life. and you
should stand up and thank God for
Booker T. Washington. prolonged
applause and cheering.l
Now. in conclusion, let me sa, that
the old formality of welcoming people
or conventions to our state has passed
away. You know the mayor used to
turn the keys of the city over to every
visiting leleUNfiOn or con ycptirn grhot
always used to be the custom. But
there's nothing In the city now that we
want to lock up. Hearty laughter and