The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-08-04
CoIored Residents Of keokuk and
Neighboring Cities Observe tho
Day In kilbourne
Park.
PROGRAM IS PRESENTED
Mayor Ed s. Lotion Gives Welcome to
Visitors and Traces Rise of the
Negro In United
States.


colored residents of Keokuk and sur
rounding territory in Kilbourne park
today
At noon dinner was served in the
park, and in the afternoon addresses
were given by prominent local resi-
dents and program fitting the occa-
sion presented and this evening the
celebration will close with an enter
tainment in the Masonic hall at
Twelfth and Johnson streets.
The meeting was officially called
the first annual emancipation procla-
nation celebration Of Alexander Clark
lodge No SO, Wisdom Temple No. 113,
Gate City Tent No. 10, Star of the
East Royal House No. Of Missouri
jurisdiction.
Many Visitors Here.
A large number OF visitor. from
surrounding Illinois. Iowa and Mis-
souri, towns were present, and the
day was thoroughly enjoyed. The aft
ernoon program began at 2:90 o'clock.
The Rev. j. H. Helm of Pilgrims
Rest Baptist church, introduced the
speakers and addresses were made
by Mayor Ed S. Lotion. Hazen I. Saw
yer, F. H. Overton, the Rev. Boiling.
the Rev. S. B. Moore, George Smith
and Rev. ]. H. Helm.
Other numbers on the program
were the reading of The Emancipa-
ton Proclamation, by Mrs. Jennie
Freeman, Lincoln's Gettysburg
Speech by Miss Imogene Wilson;
readings by Miss Thelma Smith and
Mrs. M. Amos Scott; vocal solos by
Miss Irene Bryant and Mrs. Georgia
Caldwell, music by the Hannibal Bluff
City band and orchestra and a drill
by the women of Gate City Tent of
Keokuk.
I. E. Willis was chairman Of the
arrangements committee; Alice Wicks
OF the social committee: Imogene
Wilson of the program committee; w.
Fl. Taylor. secretary; F. D. Holmes,
w. NJ, and Jennie Freeman, w. P.
Mayor Lotions Address.
The following address was delivered
by Mayor Lotion:
Fellow Citizens, Ladies and Gentle
men: 1t affords me great pleasure
on this occasion to be present at the
celebration of your splendid organiza-
ton and to add few words upon the
anniversary OF Emancipation day.
81 will not attempt to cover all the
story of the economic progress of the
negroes during their half century of
freedom. No other emancipated peo-
pie have made so much progress in
so short @ time writes Monroe N.
Work in The Southern Workman, the
monthly organ of the Hampton Insti-
-tute, and the Syracuse Post-Standard
thinks that not even the emergence
of the children of Israel from slavery
in Egypt and their wonderful rise in
to a powerful nation in the Promised
Land is more significant than the
growth Of the negroes from 'illiter-
acy, restitution and helplessness.
Mr.. Work, whose article is summary
of census reports. says the total
wealth Of the negroes Of the country
has increased from $4,000, 900. to
500 100000 since 1863. the year they
we're freed; and he attaches special
importance to the rapid growth in
their wealth in the south during the
past ten years, particularly in farm
property. From 1900 to 1910 the total
value OF their farm propertyin the
south rose from $4,000, 6SS to $492,-
S9S,218, or TT per cent, and it Is es-
timated that the increase during the
past three years has been even more
rapid. They now operate tn the
south S90,140 farms. and negro farm
laborers and negro farmers cultivate
100, OOO,G 600 acres of land, 42,500,00O
of which is under their control.
Many Own Land.
when, at the close OF the civil
war, the negroes started on their ca
reers as farmers. they had no land
and no experience as farm owners or
tenants. None of them became farm
owners by inheritance, nor did any OF
them inherit money with which to
purchase land. or the million and
half white farmers added since 1863,
a large number were the children of
landowners, and inherited farms or
the wherewithal to purchase them.
When the great difference in the con-
dition Of the white and black farmers
fifty years ago IS taken into account
the fact that the relative number Of
owners among the negro farmers in
the south Is now more than one-half
az great as the relative number Of
owners among white farmers, makes
a very oommendAble showing The
negroes OF this country now own TO-
600 600 acres Of land, or 1000 square
miles II all the land they own were
placed in one body, 1t would equal
the area Of the states Of Vermont, New
NJ, re pbpJo