New-York tribune., 1903-04-13
SAYS PROBLEM Is SOLVING ITSELF.
Excellent Work of United Order Of True
Reformers, a Negro Organization.
To the Editor of The Tribune.

TO the Editor OF The tribune.
Siri One of the best signs Of the steady but sure
advancement of the negro along business and
industrial lines is the showing made by the United
Order Of True Reformers negro organization
established at Richmond, Va. twenty-three years
ago by an uneducated negro of Habersham County
Ga who was born a slave In that State He or
eanzed the True Reformers with one hundred
members and $50.
To-day the organization numbers $500 benefited
members holding policies in the insurance depart
r1ent Of the order valued at from s24 80 to S,US
each. The total amount of insurance carried py
these negroes is s7.716.o00. The order has PAID
death benefits to the amount OF SSlO.Noo, ana IoF
the relief OF it's sick 100000 In 1881 there was
only one branch OF the organization; since that
time it has been found necessary to procure
charter for the savings bank. established in 1855
which has 1900 depositors and $30000 on deposit
representing the savings OF small wage earners
Its capital stock of 100000 fully paid up
In 1899 the Reformers Mercantile and lnoustla
Association was chartered. under the laws OF the
State of Virginia. This association conducts
hotel for negroes with a capacity for loO gues's
a newspaper with 5000 subscribers and system
Of FIVE stores located at Richmond, Manchestei'
Roanoke Portsmouth and Washington, D. L Inc
cash business OF these stores for the year eloeo
September 1902 amounted TO $4,000 In 1885 the
Old Folks Home Department for the care OF the
old and INDECENT members CT the organization was
incorporated This property is loceteo at "e9'-
ham, Va, and is valued at $4,000
The organization furnishes employment TO ABOUT
three hundred persons clerks, bookkeepers' safes
men, porters, etc. who receive good salaries ana
who are giving satisfactory evidence of the negro 5
ability In the business and commercial world Inc
bank connected with this organization came 10
the Of the city OF Richmond during the
Cleveland administration when there was a money
stringency by cashing the checks of the city gov
ernment TO pay city employees; other banks elther
did not feel equal the demand or did not nave
the available cash. SO as joke the City Ireasurer
directed that the negro bank be requested to 1ur-
nish the money The cashier was called up on the
telephone and asked if his bank could casn tne
city's check for an amount which he named, anu anu
that II SO Inesse.ger Woe W. nrSrnnt and direct
Yes, with pleasure Glad to aceonlInoaaate YOU
In the 1892 the organization distributed IN
death benefits SIS It - the - richest aTid and and
| it does not owe any of the success which II mas
aheyed lev H the ai6 OF ones Wes eer into its Work
It is sustained wholly by the small means OF the
race, and BY the various enterprises which it sue
eessfuy conducts and which give good ~ Pch
mond va, which is the headquarters for the or or
hail attached ana lodge rooms, while on the first
hooE located the be- bank and GthsT hero
was the late William " Brown A. CONVENTION Taa2a
Of the 0Td hsd IN in o Of hs s0e
working of his plans for the ameoraton OF the the
| him s50oOo to be paid in yearly instalments So OF
EACH This 5 sum 4a2das the S orPsc Pay With the
dsfranchisenent Of 124 100 negroes in the state OF
TEs ts rs not csag 5aa f 2 aegoe5
| make such magnificent showing with the odds
| AGAINST them in nearly every State in the South
/ what would they not 90 If they had white man
| chance not only in the South but IN many par's
! of the North? =.
The figures here given are official and may aTs %
relied on absolutely. The problem Is SOWING llseIi
| and there is higher power at the helm than al
! the trainers of disfranchsement laws and otnsl
repressve and oppressive measures rolled INTO one
| Forty years ago these negroes were poor lsnorat
| helpless creatures They owned no land or houses
| some OF them could not read. Since the wal
| closed they have given in round numbers toWaro
| their education $4,000 900, and they ray taxes OF
one-twenty sixth of the land where they were once
slaves Is It possible for prejudice 20 crush ou.
race which thus gives evidence of its sef-redeeI-
! ing qualities? The negro is the OnTetJe OF t.e
centuries Charles Francis ADAMS ap{7y ply sala = ~
| the House of Representatives in 1850 Wy e cailuo!
| put the negro out" None realize the Iorce @ amo
| truth of this statement more than negroes them
selves The negro is in. and he intends to stay IN
'nal all JOHN EDWARD BRUCE.
| Ynnkers Y. Y, April 10. 1909.