Evening star., 1902-08-13
CoLoRED MANS PROGRESS.
Facts Presented by the National Negro
Business League.

The National Negro Business League, of
which Booker T. Washington is president,
has issued a circular in which Is told the
history and objects of the league. Facts
relating to the progress of the colored race
in business are also presented. The circular
rectes that:
AS unnecessary as the proverbial chap
ter on Snakes in Ireland Is what some
people may have thought of the National
Negro Business League. when it was form
ed three years ago. Booker Washington,
however thought differently. DIR. Washing
ton said that as he went about the country
both north and south-he was repeatedly
surprised and gratifed to find how many
negro men and women there were engaged
in some kind of business, and succeeding
1t Is true that these business enterprises
were usually small-often very small-but
there was very general evidence that the
race was making beginning in this field,
and showing ability to succeed.
For the purpose of bringing these people
together so far as possible, for the sake of
getting information from each other, and
for the sake of the encouragement of others,
there was organized, largely through Mr..
Washington's efforts, a National Negro
Business League. The first meetings of this
organization were held in Boston. in the
summer of 1900 Last summer the meet
irgs were held in Chicago. The third an
nual meeting is to be held this year in
Richmond, Va. August 25-27.
People who had not given the matter
thought are surprised to learn how many
prosperous negro business enterprises there
are in this country. There are five or more
negro banks, managed wholly by negro Of
GERS, supported by the money Of negro de-
pcsltors, and possessing the confidence of
the other banks and business men of the
ara lnno ofo1
the finest tailoring establishments in the
city of Boston-occupying a large store in
the busiest part of Washington Streets
owned and operated by a negro One or
more Of the best catering establishments
In Philadelphia, and another in Chicago are
the property of negroes. In almost every city
OF any size there are now one more negro
hotels In North Carolina there is a large
cotton mill owned by negroes and oDerated
by negro hands. \ good brick block in
Nashville Is owned by 2 negro LAWYER and
real estate dealer, who for twenty years has
pract1ced successfully in the courts of that
city. There is a negro publishing house in
Nashville whose plant is valued at a very
conservative estimate at $75, 600 and which
gives employment to one hundred negro
men and women. In Chicago there is a
negro truckman and furniture mover and
Warehouseman who regularly EMPLOYS forty
persons. 1t is almost impossible to men
llon any trade or industry which has not
now some negro representative successfully
employed at 1t somewhere in the country
Booker Washington has said of the ma
t1onal organization which LIS to hold It's meet
Ing in Richmond in August of this wear.
The National Negro Business League has
Set going most earnest and active in
quiry among our people as to each others
success In business and has brought to
view. from far and wide, many business en-
terprises which were not known beyond the
immediate town or vicinity in which they
are located
" This knowledge has given a feeling of
ard has tended to strengthen and encour-
age us, inasmuch as we are led to feel
that we are playing an important part in a
neld which for many years has been almost
wholly occupied and operated by other
races. 1t has strengthened us in the ewes
OF the world, in that 1t Is being shown that
we are beginning to get In hand that which
makes US brave men and women. We have
been encouraged and inspired to feel that
we are contributing very materially to the
financial, commercial and manufacturing in
tereSts OF our great country"
| The officers of the league are well known
| colored men and women and are as fol-
| lows: Booker T. Washington, Tuskegee.
Va, first vice president; Mrs. Minnie Robin
| son, St. Louis Mo-. second vice president;
| Charles Banks. Clarksdale, Miss. third vice
president; Emmett j. Scott, Tuskegee Ala,
corresponding secretary; Edward E. Cooper
Washington, d. c., recording secretary:
| Gilbert c. Harris, Boston, Mass, treasurer,
| ]. w. E. Bowen, Atlanta, Ga, national or
ganizer; T. Thomas Fortune Red Bank N
j., chairman executive committee; 8. Lang
| Williams. Chicago, ILL.,, compiler; Peter ].
| Smith, Boston, Mass. registrar.