The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-08-11

OF getting information from each other
and for the sake OF encouraging others,
there was organized. largely through Mr..
Washingtons efforts, National Negro
Business League. The first meetings or
this organization were held in Boston IN
the summer of 1890 Last summer the meet
ings were held I'm Chicago. The third an
nual meeting is 10 be held tHs year IN
Richmond. Va, Aug. 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
officers, supported by the money of negro
depositors, and possessing the confidence
Of the other banks and business men OF
the cities in which they are located. one
of the finest tailoring establishments IN
the city OF BOstOn-occupying large
store in the busiest part of Washington
streets owned and operated by negro.
One or more of the best catering establish
mentS in Philadelphia, and another IN Onl-
cago, are the property of negroes. In al
most every city of any size there are now
one or more negro hotels. In North Caro-
lima there is a large cotton mill owned by
negroes and operated by negro hands.
good brick block in Nashville is owned by
a negro lawyer and realestate dealer VINO
fer twenty years has practiced successfully
in the courts of that city. There is
negro publishing house in Nashville whose
plant Is valued al a very conservative eSti-
mate at $4,000 and which gives employ
ment TO one hundred negro men and
women. In Chicago there is a negro truck
man and furniture mover and warehouse
man who regularly employs forty persons.
1t is almost impossible TO mention any
trade or industry which has not now some
negro representatives successfully en-
ployed at it somewhere in the country.
Booker Washington has said of the na-
tional organization which is to hold its
meeting in Richmond in August OF this
year: The National Negro Business
League has set going a most earnest and
active inquiry among our people as 10 each
others success in business and has brought
TO view from far and wide, many business
enterprises which were not known beyond
the immediate town or vicinity in which
they are located.
This knowledge has given feeling OF
fellowship among our people in business,
and has tended to strengthen and encour-
age us, inasmuch as we are led TO feel that
we are playing important part in
wholly occupied and operated by other
races. 1t has strengthened US in the eyes
of the world, in that ii is being shown
that we are beginning TO get in hand that
We have been encouraged and inspired
to feel that we are contributing very ma
terially TO the financial, commercial and
manufacturing interests of our great coun-
try"
The officers of the league are well-known
colored men and women and are as fol-
lows Booker T. Washington, Tuskegee,
Ala, president; Giles b. Jackson, Rich
mond. Va, first vice president Mrs. Minnie
Robinson st. Louis. Mo, second vice presi-
dent; Charles Banks, Clarksdale, Miss,
third vice president; Emmett j. Scott, Tus-
kegee, Ala, corresponding secretary; Ed
ward E. Cooper, Washington. d. C. record
ing secretary; Gilbert c. Harris, Boston.
Mass, treasurer; j. w. z. Bowen, Atlanta,
Ga, national organizer; T. Thomas For
tune, Red Bank, n. j.. chairman executive
committee; S. Lang Williams, Chicago. Ill,
compiler; Peter ]. Smith, Boston, Mass.
registrar.