ided
over the last session of the league held during his lifetime. This
meeting also was held in Boston. There attended it seven hundred
delegates from thirty different States. Mr. Washington in his annual
address as president summed up what had been accomplished by the race
during the fifteen-year interval and projected what they should strive
for in the future. He also took occasion publicly to thank his
foremost colleagues in developing the work of the league, particularly
Mr. Scott, the secretary of the league. Undoubtedly he fully realized
that it was his farewell meeting. He practically collapsed before the
sessions were over. In less than three months he was dead.

Among other things he said in this speech: "Since the league met in
Boston fifteen years ago, great changes have taken place among our
people in property-getting and in the promotion of industrial and
business enterprises. These changes have taken place not solely
because of the work of the league, but this and similar organizations
have had much to do with bringing about this progress. Let me be more
specific.... In 1863 we had as a race 2,000 small business enterprises
of one kind and another. At the present time, the Negro owns and
operates about 43,000 concerns, with an annual turnover of about one
billion dollars. Within fifty years we have made enough progress in
business to warrant the operation of over fifty banks. With all I have
said, we are still a poor race, as compared with many others; but I
have given these figures to indicate the direction in which we are
travelling."

Later he said: "A landless race is like a ship without a rudder.
Emphasizing again our opportunities, especially as connected with the
soil, we now have, for example, 122 poultry raisers; the number should
be increased to 1,500. We now have 200 dairymen; the number should be
increased to 2,000.... We now own and operate 75 bakeries; the number
can be increased to 500. From 32 brickmakers the number can be
increased to 3,000. From 200 sawmills we can increase the number to
1,000."

And so he continued giving the present achievement and future goal for
many more industries. After giving these estimates he said: "With our
race, as it has been and always will be with all races, without
economic and business foundation, it is hardly possible to have
educational and religious growth or political freedom.

"We can learn some mighty serious lessons just now from conditions i