The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-08-30
STORES FOR NEGROES
PLAN OF COLORED MEN TO SECURE
TRADE OF THEIR OWN RACE.
Incorporation of the Capital Invest
ment and Supply Company-State-
ment by a Promoter.

NEW DIRK Aug. 29.-Articles of incor-
poration have been filed in the Office of the
Secretary of State in Trenton by the Capt.
tai Investment and Supply Company Of
New Jersey. All of the seven incorpora-
tors are colored men. The articles of in
corporation of the company permit the
corporation to furnish supplies to families,
establish stores, deal in real estate and
engage in commercial pursuits. 1t is fur
Their said in the papers that the company
will carry or a portion of its business out
side OF New Jersey and the places where
the business is to be conducted are New
York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washing
ton, Chicago. Cincinnati, st. Louis. VIII
mington, Del, and Richmond and Norfolk,
Va, and in such other places in the sew
eral States and Territories of the United
States and in such foreign countries as may
be found necessary.
The capital stock was placed at $4,000,
Of 81 and the amount paid at the time of
Incorporation was 81, 400. These were the
incorporators: Albert E. Holmes, of Jer-
sey City, DR.. Joseph G. Weaver, of Orange.
and James w. Freeman, James W.. Holmes.
Joseph H. E. Scott, Elisha Weaver and
Alfred B.. Cosey, of Newark. An office of
the concern has been established in New
ark, N. j., another in Washington, and
negotiations are pending for carrying the
company's operations into Cuba.
One of the incorporators outlined the
purpose as follows: For years the intel
ligent colored men all over the country
have devoted their time and money to
the solving of the problem of raising the
race to a higher intellectual and social
plane. The question Is q momentouS one,
but L believe at last the keynote to the
whole situation has been sounded. For a
better understanding of the present condi-
ton of the colored man in this country.
however, / ask the question:: What is to
be the future Of the present generation of
colored citizens who are being educated in
the public schools to become good and
educated citizens?' In the past we have
found that they, through force of circum-
stances, have been compelled to take the
mental positions Of the noneducated, SIM
ply because the business man, no matter
how high the colored applicants qualifica-
tons may be, is averse to placing him in a
position where honesty, sobriety and intel
ligence are the essential features required,
Every year thousands of dollars are paid
over the counters of the stores, large and
small, by the colored people for the neces-
sarieS of life, yet you never see a colored
man behind the counter or in the counting
room. Instead of their benefiting by the
profit from their own consumption 1t goes
to somebody else. Consequently those who
nave studied the problem have come to
recognize that business and enterprise are
essential to the prosperity of the race. Let
the colored man realize that fact, get him
to strive for 1t, and when he has attained
it the social conditions will adjust them
selves. That is our ultimate aim. 1t will
take a long time, however. before it is
realized and it has got to be begun in a
small way"