The bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-09-06
A BIG MEETING.

l AtlanL1c Clly, aug. A4.--- W Hdt - Ic-
garded as one of the most significant
|events Of the year and an epochal one in
the annals Of the race is the Nineteenth
l Annual Session Of the National Negro
Business League, which met in this
city this week beginning August q and
ended Friday evening with one Of the
most notable social functions of the
flseason among Afro Americans. The out
standing features of the sessions were
the addresses Of welcome by Governor
w. E. Edge, Mayor Bacharach, DIR. r.
r. Motion and Hon. Emmett J. Scott,
Special Assistant to the Secretary OF
War.
In delivering the welcome address on
behalf Of the state of New Jersey he
spoke of the great progress made by
the race in the face Of the blind preju-
dice which confronts it, He said that
the attaining of education first was the
stepping stone to branch out and be-
come a part Of the business Of the coun.
try. He gave a clear definition OF
democracy and said that it must be en-
phasized at home as well as abroad.
Continuing he said:
"We are talking democracy and writ
ing about it, but getting further and
further away from it. We are going to
understand one another better.
"This is the way it is going to be
developed, as see it. New Jersey is a
great center of war activity, proud OF
her history and proud of her activities.
She has in her camps men who are
Catholic, men who are Protestants, men
who are Jews. We have among the
troops white and colored and men OF
every nationality, now all Americans, OF
course. We have nearly every race
thrown together and properly so.
They are going to be more tolerant OF
one another's viewpoint when they
come home to take up again their civic
responsibilities. I hope then that this
class prejudice will be eliminated for
all times. prolonged applause and
cheers.) This will be a recompense for
some Of the sacrifices through which we
are going. (Applause.)
Governor Edge referred farther on to
the work that has been done for the
Negro in New Jersey. He spoke Of the
lColored Welfare League and other ac-
tivities which seek to ameliorate the
conditions Of the colored citizens of the
state.
81 feel,'' said the governor, that
New Jersey, since she has been first in
so many other forward movements, is
going to be first, likewise, "A giving you
greater opportunities" lApplause.
Mavor ~acharacn.
Mayor. Bacharach followed the gov
ernor. After paying a high tribute to
the Negro as citizen he dwelt upon the
men Of color who readily responded to
the present draft and also when a call
for 20 or more men was made 80 or
more always responded. His rendering
of the poem entitled, A Little Ser
vice Flag moved many Of the visitors
to tears. His gift Of the key of the
city to the league was greeted with ap-
plause which lasted FIVE minutes.
President Napier in accepting the
key said that since the organization Of
the league, in its annual sessions from
city to city, Atlantic City leads, as this
is the first key that has ever been pre-
sented to the National Negro League.
Dr.. Moton's Response.
With his native witticism and elo-
tquent manner Of reaching his audience,
DR.. r. r. Motion, the recognized leader
3of his race, ably responded to the vel
come address Of Gov. Edge aud Mayor
EBacharach he sin gled out inspiring