The bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-08-06

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meeting.
Greetings from the White
Chamber of Commerce
Another feature of this meeting was
| the manner in which the white citi-
Zcns of Gadsdcn cO-opcrated with and
the interest which they manifested in
| the movement. A delegation from the
Gadsdcn Chamber of Commerce attend
ed the Thursday afternoon session. Col.
O. h. Hood, president of the Gadsdrn
Chamber of Commerce was the princi-
ray speaker for the body. Among 9th
or things he said: at gives me added
pleasure to see that you used the word
! Negro. There is no shame whatever
| attached to that word. The word 'Nc-
gro 81 gnites one of the five great races
Of the earth-one that has made unprc-
cedentcd progress in spite of great
handicaps. There are today many Ne
groes in the state of Alabama who by
reason Of good citizenship are entitled
10 the franchise. No race that has
! made the progress that the Negro has
made in the last half century can long
be denied the right to the ballot.''
DR.. R. r. Motion Given Great Ovation
The outstanding feature of the meet
Motion, principal of Tuskegee institute,
| and president of the National Negro
| Business league, at the Thursday eve
! ming session. The house was thrilled
with eNaltation at tire sight of Booker
L. Washington s successor, the presi-
| dent of the National Negro Business
| league and the man who was the pot ent
factor III the reorganization of the Ala
! bama State Negro Business league. AS
the speaker and his party made their
! way to the platform the audience stood
waving their hats and handkerchief,
| aVplauding and cheering. The ovation
which was given DR.. Motion was unprc-
ccdentcd in Gadsdcn. He was accom-
panied by Hon. Fred r. Moore, editor
| of the New York Age, and DIR. L. b.
Moore, former dean Of Howard univcr-
sitv.
DR.. Motion was introduced bv DR.. s.
b. Innis one of the leading physicians
of Troy, Alabama.
! DR.. M oton set forth the purpose of
the National Negro Business league
and its relation to the state and local
leagues. He also related brihy the his
tory and progress Of the national or
.*anization and paid great tribute to
the founder, the late DR.. Booker r.
Washington. He spoke especially of
'hN Iii' itdSt 'tH't VI -N'Si'
business enterprises, strcssing partiru
'arlv the noticeable growth of Negro
banks as to number and capital. These
statements aroused great enthusiasm
and expressions of amazcmrnt and
pleasure, and thunderous applause in
tcrruptcd the speaker frequently
throughout his address.
"This is the Negro IS country as well
IS any other race 50 said DR.. Motion
ir his address before this meeting.
One year following the landing Of the
first Englishmen at Jamestown, Vir-
ginia, and thirteen wears before the
landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth,
Massac husetts, the first Negroes land
much toward furthering the develop
mcnt Of this count try. We fought. blcd
and died for the freedom of America in
l776, for the redemption of America in
'G1, for the honor of America on San
Juan Hill in '9S, and for the princi-
pies of true democracy as set forth
by America in the recent great world
war. We have our first time to show
the great white feather in conquest.
We have purchased our rights of citi-
zenship with blood, and America is
our country, and the Stars and Stripes
IS our flag.
L u' WOIll is HO" 2OiHS lHlpuSH d
period Of unrest, which is causing much
comment. During this time above all
others we should not talk to colorcd
people about white people, but rather
to white people about whit" people, and
tell them of the existing conditions and
reasons for our unrest and of our
wants. There should be stated in q
strai ght forward manner, with no
crInging and yet without offcnsc. Let
the white people know that it is not
our desire to minglc and intcr-marry
v.ith them. but we do want equal ac
c"mmodatons. equal opportunities, JUS
ticc, protection, and an imUHrtial en-
forccmcnt of the laws. In this we are
not asking any special rights, privi-
lcges and opportunities but we are
asking and will continue to ask for
every right, privilege and opportunity
that is accorded any other group of
American citizcns.''
Resolutions condemning lynching,
asking for impartial execution of the