A Leader Honored

Congress hosts a banquet at Manhattan Casino in honor of Charles W. Anderson, one of the first black political leaders.

The banquet tendered Hon. Charles W. Anderson, Collector of Internal Revenue Thursday evening, January 30, 1908 at Manhattan Casino, New York was a deserved tribute to a popular and worthy leader. We do not know a colored political leader in the United States, who has succeeded in avoiding the embarrassments that confront men of his calibre. The presentation of a handsome silver service was among the features. That this banquet had a significance in another direction must be admitted since leader from Mass. to Ohio were present. President Roosevelt sent a letter expressing his regrets that he was unable to be present and Gov. Charles E. Hughes of New York expressed a similar feeling. Even Dr. Booker T. Washington contributed to the expense of the occasion and was present. The question in our mind is, what does this all mean? That it has a political significance goes without saying. Is an organized effort already under way to persuade or force the Republican citizens of color in the North into the administration’s band wagon? It seems so. Well, one thing we know, -- the management could not have chosen a better method for doing it, or an abler man for leading the crusade. If Charles W. Anderson of New York and Booker T. Washington of Alabama cannot control the Negro vote then the gentlemen at Washington might as well give up the task. We can only read through from surface indications and we feel that we have an idea as to what is going on below. President Roosevelt will need missionaries and it's about time he was getting them before the colored people with fervent prayers and deep lamentation. Any Negro leader, who can explain away Brownsville satisfactorily to the citizens of color will be entitled not only to a gold medal, but also to a “high seat in the kingdom.”

“A Leader Honored,” Black Virginia: The Richmond Planet, 1894-1909, accessed April 24, 2025, https://blackvirginia.richmond.edu/items/show/513.