The Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1931-1952, 1937-05-07
First Goodwill Delegation Of American
Negroes To Haiti Returns; Possibilities
OF Country And Tourist Trade Cited

NEW YORK, (c)-The first
Goodwin Delegation OF leading A.
merican Negroes ever to visit the
Republic Of Haiti for the purpose
Of seeking ways and means of pro
noting the economic interests Of
the inhabitants Of the two eoun-
tres. and especially seeking way
Negro Americans can cooperate
with their brothers of the carib-
bean. has returned with glowing
reports Of the possibilities Of the
country, and vowing that they have
decided to promote, as far as pos
sible. the tourist trade of American
Negroes to Haiti, and the sale Of
Haitian products and particularly
coffee, IN the United States.
Led by Major R. R. Wright. ST..
president of the Citizens & South
ern Bank and Trust Company Of
Philadelphia, who three years ago
visited Haiti and decided that the
country offered splendid economic
and commercial opportunities for
the American Negro and immed-
lately organized the Haitian Cof-
fee and Products Tracing Com
pany." the delegation was COM
posed of c. c. spaulding, banking
and insurance executive OF Dur
ham, N. c.. Attorney WHO. ErcEa
Of Newport News. Va, Elder L. S.
Michaux of Washington, d. c., At
torney S. D. McGfll and A. L.
Lewis, insurance executive. both
Of Jacksonville, Fla. Major Wright
who has become the largest dis
tributor Of pure and unblended
Haitian coffee in the United States
began organizing the party last
December when c. F. Madsen OF
Port-au-Prince, one of the largest
Haitian exporters of coffee, wrote
that his company had long tried
to find an American market for
Haitian coffee, but without sue
cess, and it looked like Major
Wright might be the one to do the
job successfully Mr.. Madsen and
other Haitian exporters hailed with
pleasure the visit Of prominent A.
merican Negro businessmen on
their visit or tour of inspection.
The party sailed from New York
on the S. S. Columbia on April 1,
April 5. Before sailing. however,
they had visited President Roose-
welt at the White House in Wa
shington, spending nearly an hour
with him. President Roosevelt
congratulated the men on their
decision to make the tour, and in
wishing them bon voyage, he
told them he had enjoyed a pleas
ant isit to Haiti himself, and pre-
dicted great things for HaitPs flu
ture. He sent by the delegation
his compliments to President Stem
10 Vincent Of Haiti, so that the
party went directly with goodwill
from the President of one country
to the President of another.
When the S. S. Columbia ar
rived in the harbor of Port-au-
Prince, President Vincent sent the
Governments own cutter under
the command of the Chief of the
Protocole, to bring the party a.
shore. Then the American Lega-
ton, headed by Hon. George A.
Gordon, Minister Plenipotentiary,
sent the Second Secretary, Hon.
Harold D. Finley, to show the par
ty every courtesy, interviewing
them, instructing them, and even
showing, later, a personal interest
in their health when a member of
the party contracted a cold. It
was interesting to note that the
official car of the legation came to
the hotel to bring sympathy, and
the Minister'S card was left at the
hotel during slight indisposition
Of one of the party. This was
noted with much satisfaction by
the delegation
But the chief interest, however,
was manifested by President Vim
cent, who sent his Chief of the
Protocole and his own private auto
mobile and other cars to conduct
the delegates to their hotel. There
upon, President Vincent immed-
lately made an appointment with
the party on the morning of their
arrival for an interview soon after
they had been safely ensconced in
the Hotel Splendid, reputedly the
finest in Port-au-P Prince. Tuesday
morning was set for the formal
Introduction to President Vincent.
American Minister Gordon gra-
ciously performed the service. At
torney WHO Brown made the
Introductory response for the dele
cation following the introduction
by Minister Gordon. Then each
member Of the party spoke to
President Vincent. following pre-