Richmond planet., 1904-10-22
New York Age, Sept. %, 1904

John Mitchell, Jr., president Of the
Mechanics Savings Bank of Richmond.
Va, and editor of the RICHMOND PLAN
ET, which has just forced the Richmond
street railway into bankruptcy by in.
1ucing Afro Americans TO BOYCOTT its
"Jim Grow" street cars, had the dis
tinction of being the first and only Ne.
gro delegate 10 attend the National
Bankers Convention, which met in New
York last week. AS the daily press in
this city in reporting Mr., Mitchell's ad.
dress before the convention imputed to
him sentiments Incompatible with the
manly position always assumed by the
PLANET, representative of the AGE
called on Mr.. Mitchell at the Murray
Hill Hotel, and received an authentic
report of his speech.
During the session of the convention
on September 10. young banker from
Georgia, probably stung by the presence
Of Mr.. Mitchell dragged the Negro ques.
ton into his address with the remark
that he was opposed to ali forms Of Ne
gro equality, either social, business. or
other, and that il the Negro would lust
keep in his place al race trouble would
be Cbviated. Mr.. Mitchell bided his
time fer replying TO this attack until a
large audienCe gathered ON the morning
Of Sept. l6 TO hear the address of
d.
erts, and the II arose TO question Of per
sonal privilege.
''After the remarks made Yesterday
BY the distinguished gentleman from
l"orgia, said Mr.. Mitchell, II was nm
Ang 10 return home without explain
sStr' - hcr" rs = luOnLer at
ssmvemlOn. i compnr ent the gen
tienian from Georgia on his musical
style, which pleased while be abnsed
Yorrf l hnva fnprtA Al ll.e
line In busir ess. The Negro of the
South is respected n proportion as he
INCREASES his wealth, and the amount
Of his taxes. Ii Is the loafers OF both
racts who cause ali of the trouble. and
who are an incubus upon our progress
as "a people. We despse cur hoodlum
el1men' as much as you do. According
60 the latest census reports there are
over nine millions of colored people in
the United States today, and Of these.
over four millions are bread winners.
1--WE knocked first at the door of reli-
gion, ana wher we had entered found
that il led directly TO Heaven; but we
are net ready as yet TO depart thither
We neAtrpplied at the door of politics
and when we had entered we found so
many stumbling blocks that we were
forced TO retreat. You told us TO leave
politics and we have had to do so. We
dAt HON hAOChiLS ~ the uOOF OF nNanCp.
We have entered its lGbyrinths, anC the
white men of the South are now serving
as cur guides TO the point where we
hope TO be able 70 shift for ourselves.
The Negroes of this country NOW
have ten savings banks, of which only
ten are in the South. They own S49g :
600 coo worth of farms and farm nro-
ducts, ana $100. .000, 900 worth of prom
erty. Do you know Mr.. President, that
the Negro produces Sl7S, 12S, 600 worth
of cotton per year? Do you know that
he produces tobacco TO the value of
1886. 351 per year? Do you know. sir
that he produces each year wheat to the
value of 81 las, ,939; oats to the value of
$40,356; rye valued at $2I5, 926: sweet
potatoes TO the value Of 81, ,69I, ,939, and
corn to the value of $40, 6S7, ,493? Do Won
know, sir, that the total annual products
of the Negro, excluding rice, hay and
Z buckwheat, amount TO $685., ,437, 5l5 80.
"Tnese are the class of people, Mr..
President that i represent here to day.
aver that this record entities us to at
least some consideration at the hands of
the people Of this country.
''You viii find thaS there is no antap
onism towards the better class of colored
people on the part of the better class of
whites. We are toiling hand in hand
for the material prosperity of the South
Men of the Senator John w, Daniels
Eype, seated as he is upon the Andes of
material prosperity, have no feeling of
jealousy against the Negroes who are
struggling up the heights. 1t is only the
lower classes of whites who stir up race
prejudice and seek to hamper our ef-
forts. We are determined to rise on our
dead selves TO higher things. When |
CONS TO die, my prayer for those who
have attaceed us Will be in the words of
the Savior: Father, forgive them, for
they know not what the do
Mr.. Mitchelps address was received
with enthusiasm, and constituted one of
the memorable features of the conyen-
tion. The Southern delegates were
genuinely pleased and one of them said:
MIR. Mitchell's speech will do a great
deal of good for his race and serve 10
dlsPel the current opinion in the world
tnat the business men of the South de-
Slre to Cypress the colored man. am
glad Mr.. Mitchell spoke''
NCol. Lowry, President of the lowry
q National Bank, of Atlana, Ca, replied
20 Mr.. Mitchell. He said
There Is no trouble between nv race
and his race N Georgia; both the Ioafino
White men and loafing black men ara
desplsed IN my State, I am glad Mr..
Mitchell has spoken, and given il ON
iecord that the Bankers Association
draws no color line, and welcomes sno.
cesSfnl bankers, be they white or black
IS members.
Mr.. Bigelow, the President. thanked
pm speakers for putting the conven.