The bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-08-26
Negro Bushes. League
Principal Of Tusksgee Instituts Re-
elected President by Philadedphia
Session.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Aug. 20.
DIR. Robert R. Motion, principal of
Tuskegee institute was reelected pres
ident of the National Negro Business
league amid cheers and most wonder
| ful outburst of enthusiasm at the Fri
day morning session held in the aca-
denny of music. Wednesday evening
DR.. Motion delivered his annual ad.
dress which attracted keen attention
and intense interest from all in attend
auce.
Outstanding Statements from the
Address Of d.. Notion
1t is now twenty-one years since the
wisdom and foresight Of one of the
world g most useful as well as most
distinguished citizens brought the Ma
tional Negro Business league into be-
ing. The inspiration that has been re-
ceived by Negroes, high and low, as q
result of this movement and the conf
dence that has been inspired in the
r:inds of thousands of people as to the
business capacity of the Negro race,
and the high service that has been rem.
dered to human welfare in general,
cannot be accurately recounted, but
must be left to time and succeeding
generations to fully comprehend
The influence Of tho Press.
Speaking of the influence of the col
| cred newspapers, DR.. Motion said:
They have worked against great odds
with the greatest handicap and some
times fear, the least appreciatisa. We
must stand behind them and strengthen
them with subscriptions, advertise
ments and support. There should be
ct least one Negro newspaper in every
Negro home of this country, Without
| such public support, our newspaper
cannot expand or render the service
that we expect Of them. Besides sub
rcriptions, Negro business must adver-
tise in Negro papers. Advertising
makes business, both for the advertiser
and for the newspaper. The benefits
are mutual; the cooperation should
te mutual. Negro newspapers have
gwen most loyal support to the gov
ernment in all its publicity work in
connection with the war program, and
from purely commercial an gle, they
have demonstrated that they can carry
e, message in an effective way to the
try.
Yes, this is an organization to stimu-
lrte business, and this is very import
ant and necessary as I have said again
and again, but, friends, the biggest and
most important business that the Unit
ed States government has is to guaran-
tee to its citizens life and liberty in
the pursuit Of happiness. Deep down
in the heart of hearts of practically
every Negero, whatever his business,
whatever eminence he may have reach
eed, whether farmer or professional
man, and however much money he may
1 Inv 14An
heart Of hearts of the American Negro
is the unquenchable desire for absolute
justice and fairness; he wants for him
self and for his race the liberty and
Justice which other Americans enjoy.
| am glad of the strong auxiliary Or
ganizations that are allies of this
league, such as the Bankers associa-
ton, the Undertakers' association, the
Bar association, the Press association,
the Insurance association and Others
hope there will be more. 7 wish we
could affiliate with this league every
worthy movement among the colored
people in the nation, in some associa ted
capacitv.
This league enters upon q new era
Of usefulness and power and our op
pcrtunities for service to our race and
to the country are unlimited If we keep
our feet on the ground, and our heads
level. And whatever the development Of
the future, hope it will always remain
a dignifed, respected organization; that
it will always stand for the highest
and best in the race and in the coun-
try; that it will adlways throw the
weight Of its influence against all
forms Of wrong and injustice, and
that it shall ask for the Negro not pity
or privileges not enjoyed by other
! worthy American citizens; bat it does
aGk and will continue to ask that
Negroes to the same degree as others,
shall share the blessings and privileges
LOT American citizenship in every line
Of human endeavor-no more and no
less. ,.. l