The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1939-12-16

AZ the annual meeting OF the
Booker T. Washington Trade asso-
citation. which was held last We'd
nesday noon at the Lucy Thurman
lWCA, President Carlton w. Gain
es delivered a masterful address in
which he summed up the years ac-
tiyities OF the Organization.
For the information OF the Tri-
bune's thousands OF readers. the
address is herewith published as
follows:
After nearly nine years OF In
tcnsiye. unscliish fruitful service.
Rev. W. II. Peck retired from the
active presidency OF the Booker r.
Washington Trade Association. This
was no surprise 70 the active mem
hers because We had been repeated
~ advised by Rev Peck. at least
three years previous. that lie de-
sired to retire knowing that his
place could rot be filled. we kept
insisting had we not known that
we could continue TO count on his
active cooperation. wise counsel.
and sane leadership When 1t was
definitely settled that he would re-
tire. In desperation 10 find a success
sor. your humble servant was
elected president. know could M
only a small part OF his shoes %
unselishness. sincerity. and unwav-
ering loyalty to the cause of Ne
gro business and the association.
II am happy that he knows. and
all others who know me, that have
never had any ambition whatever
in the Trade association other ihar
10 serve IL and the vital economic
program that IL stands for / am
also happy over the fact that for
nearly ten years have never mi =
ed a single meeting except for M
ness or absence from the CITY So
can truihfully say 10 you thar |
am not the least biz Interested In
being President Of the associa or.
but | car frankly say that am
vitality Interested as TO who should
be President No one knows bolrr
than | those who have consistently
paid the price in the promotion Of
the work OF the association.
1T was on Feb. II, that ! VAS
inauguraied Possibly one OF tAc
largest crowds ever To attend "a
meeting Of this kind was present
at Bethel church on that evening
as compliment to the retired pfr-
sident.
There is scarcely n single tli1g
that has been done during The past
year that would not have been dome
under The leadership OF my pr, le-
ccssor The only difference is tha, e
would have been done with moro
smoolhness and greater rapidly.
knew his policies. and CHANGED 10
have known his plans. so merely
set out 10 endcavOr to pursue hi.
policies and execute his plans. 10
carry oul his plans. II has made l,e
past year largely year OF re-oru9-
nization. Oftimes changes. however
vital and necessary. are difficult 10
make. aud especially so when Non
are changing from free horse" 20
a pay horse" Because OF the de-
creasing attendance at our Tues
day evening meetings. Il was ~
advisable To consolidate the Tues
day evening meeting with the Wcd-
ncsday meetings. II was also found
advisable 10 materially ana sub
stantially increase the member
ship fec. Sentiment alone dclavrd
thcsc changes. However. they were
finally adopted. as amendments toI
our constitution.
we Immediately appointed
membership committee composed
Of Il. q. Schuster. chairman. wal
ter w House. Gonzclla Porter. r.
Louise Henderson. and Herbert /.
Dudley. The immediate success of
this committee Is known TO you all.
and as successful as It's active
work was. u was even more sue
cessful IN showing us our possi
We have up 10 date 90
members. We have more bona idle
members 10 date than we possibly
ever had before. even when the
membership fee was practically
nothing. In addition to the praise
and credit that the committee de-
serves, I wish TO paw q personal iri-
butte 10 John T.. Smith. who. al
though not n member OF the COM
mliiee. turned in more memberships
than most or the committee Itself
Personally, his work taught nue. This
lesson that n YOU are really in
terestod in the Booker T. Washing
ton Trade Association. or any 9th.
or organization for that matter.
there Is plenty Of work 10 do
whether YOU are on committee or
not In many eases. those who com
plain OF not having any committee
assignments would not do much n
they had any. a real honest and con-
scicntious worker never complains