davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Richmond planet., 1904-10-01
THE Chicago Ill. Post, (white) Sept
II, 1904.
The Negro as Banker.

John Mitchell, Jr.. president of the
Mechanics Savings Bank of Richmond.
Va. displayed rare judgment in the
time he selected TO address his fellow
members of the Bankers Association
He was the only colored man in the con-
Ventlon, sole representative of the Ne
gro banking interests of the South, and
he waited and listened until the busi-
ness OF the convention was practically
over and when the assembled financiers
were in humor for something besides
the discussion Of banking problems.
Mr. Mitchell secured instant attention
by the statement that "there is no clash
between the white men of the South and
the Negroes of my class" OF course
the white bankers, in common with
most intelligent white folk, know that
there are good, bad and Indifferent Ne
groes, just as there are good, bad and in
different whites. The bad of both races
cause trouble, but an error too often fall
en- INTO by unthinking whites is to blame
the entire Negro race for the sins of the
shift ess and criminal element.
As Mr.. Mitchell noted, there is no
clash between the best elements of both
races in the South. The self respecting.
industrious. progressive Negro does not
consider himself Tart of the race prob
lem. He simply asks the opportunities
given to citizens of this country in gen
era, and Is quite prepared to work out
his own salvation.
That he is doing this is evident from
the ten Negro banks of the South with
their aggregate capital Of $3.50, 900 and
deposits of $500. GOO, no less than from
the fact that the total production of the
race IN the South for "a single year
amounted TO S232 437 5I5
LetuS pay little more attention to
the Negro IN business, the Negro as a
factor in industry, and in making our
estimates of the race in America, let the
occasional crimes and misdemeanors OF
the shiftless add the criminal be offset
to its full value By the praiseworthy
ach evemonts of the Industrious and in
telligent element which is giving final
character to the race.
Richmond planet., 1904-10-01
Personals and Briefs.

Miss Dolly Adams has returned TO the
city, after a pleasant trip TO Goochland
90, visiting relatives and friends.
Miss Myrtle B. Howard of Dapyille.
Va. is in the city, the guest of Mrs. b
II, Peyton, IOlI1@ w. Catherine St.
Miss Letitia Dabbs returned 20 Provi.
dence, r. l. after spending pleasant
stay with her relatives at 30S E Preston
st.
We return thanks to the Virginia
State Commission for an invitation TO
attend the Virginia Day exercises at the
Louisiana Purchase Exposition, Friday.
Sept. 23rd at st: Louis, Mo.
.SCoTTsvH.LE, Va, Sept. IS, 1904.
Miss Beulah s. Lewis left TODAY to
enter her sister Minnie O. Lewis i'm tbe
HartshOrn Memorial College. Her
friends wish he much success il school
Mrs, Matte f. Mckenzie of Bridge.
port, Conn. who has been visiting her
mother, Mrs. a. Il. Carr has returned
home.
S. A. 7 Watkins, assistant prosecu-
ting attorney of Chicago, was duly au-
thorzed 70 represent Mayor Garter II
Harrison at the opening of the Country
FAIR, IN the rear of ST. Marks Church
nth, and State streets last Monday
evening. IJ is the first instaace in the
history of Chicago that an Afro. Ameri-
can has been selected TO represent it in
such an official capacity
Richmond planet., 1904-10-01
4 NeMsnaner Man 10 Meh

New York, Sept. 21:-The engagement
Of Miss Josie o. BrOckett, of Yonkers
to Milton Lawrence Davis, Of Philadel
phla and Virginia, is announced and
they Will be married during Yuletide
"Milt" Davis is well known as a bril.
liant newspaper writer, and a printer of
some ability, and his sketches. "Sean
and Heard in Many Places" now run.
ming in Philadelphia Sunday paper
are widely read. He is one of the few
coloIed men that has worked for Asso-
Ciated Press
Richmond planet., 1904-10-01
kniekerbocker E:;press. lite) Alba
N.Y. n Y, Sept. Is al
An EnIightened ~.

John Mitchell, Jr a Negr.. takes an
enlightened view of the rae question
IN the South. Mr. MitcneI VIII, is
president of the Mechanics Savings
bank OF Richmond, Va, was ,de,egafe g
to the recent convention 1f Che ,neri-
can Bankers Association in Ne York
city, During the cor-safT the
colored banker oisclaimea th9ta, s,elor-
line was drawn between the class
OF whites and better class Ks i'm
the South. In his opinion. slack
loaiers cause the troubles x.s.l q .s,,,u-
tlons OF their race.
MIR. Mitchell seems TO be risht n is
the vicious, ignorant, inscieIst eli nent
among the blacks of the South II Il is
largely responsible for freouerr race
wars The honest, industrious eonrhous
Negro is treated with consideration bv
the white people of the States b,lovy
Mason and DlXOn's line. An inner.
nent black looking for troCble -er lv
gets what he seeks. The rac les.on
would soon settle itself, If sucn reS as
Booker Washington and Johu Mitchell
Jr could reform the great mass OF Idle.
ignorant Negroes, who are fienafainy
equality instead OF the wSrk which
should bring them Comfortable homes
ana more secure place on the social
plane.
Richmond planet., 1904-10-01
$4,000 Endowment Paid

Norfolk, Va, Sept. 2ith. I90i.
This is to certify that have received
from John Mitchell. Jr., Grana Chan.
cellor of the Grand Lodge of Virginia.
knights Pyth'as, n. A, s. A., f., A.
A. and a. (sl50 COZ One Hun lred an
Fifty Dollars in payment of the death
claim OF Sir Willis Wright, who was a
member Pythias Lodge, No. 81 of Nor.
folk, Va,
Signed;- CAROLINE WRIGHT,
Beneficiary
Witnesses:-John Gibson.
T. Thomas.
Paid on above date.
w. II. MILLS, Deputy
Richmond planet., 1904-10-01
philadelphia Christian Recorder, Sep
tcmbrr 22 1904

tember p. 1901
AT the American Bankers Associa-
ton held in New York last week, John
Mitchell, Jr., President of the Mechan-
les Servings Bank and Editor of the
PA L IL -hmoEd l., scored a happy
hit Tor himself ano the race, as be was
the only colored dele.ate present
Among other things the dispatch made
Mr.. Mitchell say: ''It is the black loaf
erS in the South that use the trouble
and persecution of our race, and we do
despi 'e them as well as do the whites -
To this Col. Lowry, of the Lowry Ma
tlonul Bank, Atlanta, Ga, reiOined
There Is no trouble between my race
and his race IN Georgia; both the loaf
ing white men and loIfing black men
are desplSed in my state. / am glad Mr..
Mitchell has spoken and given 1t ON re-
cord that the Bankers Associ .tion
draws no color line and welcomes sue.
cessful bankers be they white or black
as members
Mr.. Mitchell is fearless and outspoll-
en- champion of his peoples rights and
an uncomprOmISluS enemy Of lynch law
as the columns of the Planet testify
from week TO week. AS business man
we also congratulate him, and point to
hlm as SHINING mouel for the Younger
men of the race. Mr. Lowry is a splen.
did type Of the best blood of white
Southerners and is highly esteemed by
men Of the race who have business rela.
tlon with him. It is the bad elements of
both races that brew trouble between
the races and because they are aggressive
and n the majority is why the race
question Is so acute.
Richmond planet., 1904-10-01
ECHOES FROa THE BANKERS
MEETING.
A Ringing letter. President Spen-
GER Sends Greetings.

The press Of The entire country has
published the proceedings of the Ameri-
can Bankers Association and the speech
of John Mitchell Jr, President of the
Mechanics Savings Bank of Richmond,
Va Under the rules Of that body, its
members are allowed but five minutes
for the discussion of any subject. save
by unanimous cor sent.
Mr.. Mitchell spoke fer half an hour
and stopped only when he had conclud
ed his remarks. No colored person has
ever occupied a seat upon the floor of
the American Bankers Association dur
in the thirty years of its existence and
nc cOlorsd person has ever before deliv-
cred an address TO its members.
This III measure accounts for the
widespread interest in the affair The
following letter from Mr. 4 spencer, Jr.,
President Of the Aetna National Bank
OF Hartford, Connecticut, with a CAPT
tai of over half million dollars will ex-
plain itself:
AETNA NATIONAL BANK OF HARTFORD.
Hartford, Conn. Sept. 2l, 1904
Mr.. JOIN MIT' HE'LL, JR., President.
Mechanics Savings Bank,
Richmond, va.
Dear Sir
1t was my good fortune and great
pleasure 70 be among those who heard
your eloquent and fine statement at the
meeting of the Bankers Association III
New York last week, in which you COW
cred so ably the ground of progress
shown by your people in recent years.
wish to congratulate you and them
on the showing made. 1t was a great
pleasure TO near your statement of con-
dltions and progress so ably made
Please accept hearty congratulations
ON conditions and favorable outlook and
may the present showing be but the be-
ginning of much better things.
Wv rru' y mrs
Richmond planet., 1904-10-01

Wan TED special representative in this
county ana adJolnlng territories, TO rep
resent ana advertise an old established
business mouse OF soud financial stand
llg' SaIary vi weekly, with Expenses
advanced each monday by check
dlrecJ from headquarters. Horse
anu . pusSy lUth'shed When n cessary;
PosleoH Permanent. Address Blew
Bros. " Co, Dept A, Monon Bldg.
Chicago, IN.
Richmond planet., 1904-10-01
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Of some kind
for man and wife.
Add-ess;-Mrs. ANNA ROBINSON,
293 Douglass ST.,
Jamaica, L. l.
Care Mr.. Bell
PLOT TO WRECK WARSHIP
Distractions Found On Ways to Be
Used to Launch the Connecticut.
Care Mr.. Bell


Used to Launch the Connecticut.
New York. Sept 2S.-With the in
tention OF running the hull of the bat
tleship Connecticut, which will be
launched at the New York navy yard
tomorrow, some person or persons
placed an obstruction on the ways.
When il was placed there or by whom
is not known, and il was not discov-
cred until divers We're sent down to
make an investigation This investica-
ton was made as matter of precau-
tion, and the naval officers then learned
that an obstruction had been placed
on the ways that would have destroyed
the work Of months.
Officers at the navy yard would not
discuss the matter at all yesterday. and
it would not have become known if, IN
addition to the special guard of ma
rines, two watchmen had not been sta
toned at the stern in the vessel, with
loaded reNolNers and instructions to fire
at any suspicious objects in the water.
1t is believed that the obstruction
was brought TO the yard and placed in
position from a boat
While the naval officers would not
discuss the nature of the obstruction
found on the ways, it is known that it
was not an explosive, and it is also
known that if il had not been found
and removed it would have either torn
a great hole in the bottom of the ship
or would have thrown it over on its
side. None Of the naval officers or men
who have worked around the large
ship yards can recall another case
where malicious attempt was made 20
wreck a battleshlp.
Richmond planet., 1904-10-01
RECEPTION TO TIE HON. JOHN
MITCHELL, JR.
Grand Time at the Pythian Castle.
Friends Do Him Honor.

The Pythian Cas- le Hall. 727 n. 3rd
street presented a rare scene of liveliness
and beauty Monday Sept II, 1904. even
the glow of fincandeScentlig lights adornine
the front gave evidence that something
unusual was going on within its walls.
The board Of directors Of the Mechan
les Savings Bank, together with the
Grand Lodge and Grand Court Officers
and the staff rendered to their honorable
Presideut and the official head of the
~ THAN Order, one of the finest recep.
tlons ever given in Richmond, on the
above date, in honor of the good be ac-
mplished by his timely and well re-
celved speech made at the American
Bankers Association that met in New
York several days ago
From all directions in the country con-
Rratu ations were being heaped upon
him and they felt that they would ONLY
do themselves and him justice to show
TO the world that though loved and hon
ored abroad 1t could not exceed the low
atty, devotion and appreciation at home
A fine programme was rendered:
DR.. Graham offered prayer; Mr. G.
q, Williams. sang Star Spanglt d Ban
ner; Mrs. Carrie Hawkins, sang sweet
ly two selections, Mr. WYATT and his
Mandolin and Guitar Club won a h,gh
place in the hearts OF the audience while
Mr. Thomas NJ Crump distinguishe
himself as sOioist. Miss Eva c.
Davis recitation was entitled. Il Point
You 80 the Fuiurt.' It was fia. selac
ton and admirably rendered. Mr. II. (.
JoLatnan was Master ofCeremonles and
eNpla ne1 In "A crvditabls manner the OBJ
ject of the meeting.
The chief feature of the evening was
the address cf MIR. John Mitchell. Jr
Mr. L. VI. Crump read the account in
che Me- Hogk Times-after which Mr.
Miicht II gave graphic description of
I ths frtl. He said, among other things,
S-N special good haC beea accomplish.
rs srec'arbs be y-n7 ver--- -'-ors 70
aot des., aE,rity mat
osause' % . q 5tS lla,s .>.-s,,lisno1s .le.
cisi0n of tae Board Of Directors after
personal invitation rom important Off
clitls ot the National Association urging
hil1 10 come and assuring him of wei.
come. he said he had received letters
OF cougratula;ion from all parts Of the
| country and he was gratified.
He described the beauty of the pala.
tlal hotel, the courtesIes extended ON all
sides, enumerated chief events of the
session and details of his now famous
| speech.
AT the close of his remarks he was
presented with handsome French
| plate mirror IN n solid gold gilded frame
20 ndurn his mantle as n memento of
TINS occasion on behalf Of II ladies Ii
was received with many thanks, after
winch al! retired to the spacious dining
hAlI and partook of one of the finest sup.
pers ever served i'll Richmond The ta-
Dle was beautiful to behold and did full
Justice to the two experienced caterers
VINO had arrangedit. The handsome sou.
Vehr programme containing the menu
wele priced by al present.
| LOO much praise cannot be given to
Messrs. I. NJ Crump, HI. f. jonathau
and 4. =. Wyatt for the management OF
the affair.
Richmond planet., 1904-10-01
$4,000 Endowment Paid.
Clifton Forge. Va. Sent 26- 100.

Clifton Forge, Va, Sept. 26, 1904
This is to certify that I have received
from John Mitchell, Jr., Grand Chan
cellor of the Grand Lodge of Virginia
Knights of Pythias, n. A, s. 4, E.
A., y and A. (?l5O.OO) One Humid red
and Fifty Dollars in payment OF the
death claim Of Sir Chas. II. Taylor, who
was a member of Olympia Lodge, No.
40 of Clifton Forge, Va.
Signed:-REsSE TAYLOR,
Beneficiary.
Witnesses:-E +. Scott, d. D, c.. Q.
E. z, Cvnnor, NJ. D., G. Q.
Richmond planet., 1904-10-01

Mr, Mltcheus parents .ycs,
and his childhood was iu tie
household of one of the fine families
of Henrico County, Va. lie b adj the ad-
vantage of good normal edu,aaon. In
addition TO his business interest he has
given much of his time TO the interests
of the colored race. The bank of which
Mr., Mitchell is president is one of ten
panks IN the country controlled
by Negroes, and its business is increas
ing constantly. Personally, tn colored
oahker Is tai, hight Negro, with small
put thoughtful and alert face. He talks
with business mans brevity and di.
rectness.
Richmond planet., 1904-10-01
Postmaster,s House Robbed.

Harrisburg, Pa, Sept. 27.- During
the absence Of the family robbers
forced an entrance to the home Of D.
Q. Rho2los, postmaster at Eummels-
town, east Of here, and took from bu-
reau drawer on the second floor a wal
let containing over $500 in promissor-
notes, $50 in cash and a ladies' solC
watch, the whole aggregating nearly
$1,000 in value. II is believed that the
robbery is the work of a gang, an al
most Identical one occurring but
few nights ago.
Woman Shot at Trenton Fair Grouno.
Trenton, N. J., Sept. 20. - Gouol
Mink. Of this city, shot Mrs. Frederic
Adamcsli at the Interstate Fair
grounds, where he had rented q boota
and where, with the assistance OF HI
vile auL -..s. Alamesd. he was ge-.
ting things in order for business. The
injured woman is at St Francis hl..
pital in a serious condition, as the bu-.
let entered one Of her lungs. Mil.
made his escape. No reason for t4-
shooting is known. ,
Richmond planet., 1904-10-01
PRICE, FIVE CENTS
STOLE $s8sa7 FROM THEIR sIsre
Received Only $4,000 Of Her Inhe
snce Of Over sfOC 900.

SHCS OF over : tlC,OOO.
New York, Sept 2S.-Charged VI <
the larceny Of sSS.937. John +. Gin
81 years old, Of Wiuiamsbridge, Az
his brother, Christian f Gljmm, sE
commission merchant OF this city, warg
locked up in police headquarters on TIA
complaint of their sister, Mrs Nz.s-
garet c. Weinholz. also of this city.
1t is alleged by Mrs. Weinholz thek
when her father died in 1883 he leFs
an estate valued at $3.50 600. which. shs
alleges. was TO be divided between hsa
two brothers and herself Since Aeg
fathers death she states that she hss.
only received $4,000 of her portion
Richmond planet., 1904-10-01
ACTED on ADVICE.

81 came 70 this convention" said the
Negro banker, after / had consulted
with white men. / would not have
come, If You please, unless they had ad-
ylsed 1t. l love the white man. There
Is no quarrel between me and him. |
want 20 say 70 You, gentlemen, that /
expected the best treatment here.
81 am proud Cf the South. / have
served on the Democratic couucil at
my home. You men of business told us
Negroes 20 eschew politics, and take TO
business. Before that we had tried re-
hglon first, but we found we weren't
ready for heaven. Then we had tried
politics, but after thirty years you drew
Us out OF that. Now we have tried fl.
nance ana business. Here we expect
no dis cT1ml---i) y man is Judged by
his worth
'Ihe co o-ed man is respected lust in
proportion as he respects himself. That
Is SO IN the South, as II is elsewhere.
We have found that the way for US to
reach success and respect is through fl.
nance. Nowhere in the domain of busi-
ness nave found the white man other
than ready TO help Us upward. There.
lore l expected q welcome when l came
mere among you. I found myself here
/ wondered ii az last had reached heav-
en-GXcep- that they say the streets of
heaven are golden, while here the chairs
are gold.
Kaislng ms hand TO stop the laughter
ana applause he continued.
tne Negro loateTs are the ONLY
block 60 o-r advance. We'd like to run
them ogt. TO throw them into the trash
neaP, There is LO fight between tbe
IIIo4. GENT N-lte man and the lnteli-
gent Negro. Listen TO Mr Brown :
great eratory! l1Ir. Brown was y
North Carolina speaker at previous
session OF the couvention.l Does NOT
the Negro love iJ? Does not he love to to
near the voice of that distinguished Ken
tucA-an lCo.. Fowers) who spoke i'm the
light we had over the bonding plarg
when you hear a white ma, cr.t NV,
mere and talk about the Negro with n
1GtuEe to solve, be means the Ioafn@
Negro. lie doesn't mean the Negro Of
our klna. We are just as much a@ainst
the otnor kJ9d as he is, want You to
he said there were ten Negro banks
Richmond planet., 1904-10-01
COlOred Man a Banker
[PhiIa. Press. lwhitel SOM = ,oo.

LPhi'a. Press, (white) Sept. Is. 1904 I
John Mitchell, Jr., of Richnisnd. Va.
Negro, has the honor of being the first
one OF ms race to attend meetings. of the
American Bankers Association He was
present at that Associatiou'st n. n.t.etinys
III New York recently. and nDase a short
speech Ihat created an exceileaf IN pres
Son, he is a fine example 0s a self
made colored man. He sf:trts.l In hnei
ness more than twenty yeats n, -x,i.h a
capital of $50 To-day he Sp,s Drs.,t
ing business worth SI0 ,ce s,s,sf. ,,,,J
uabie pieces of real ssai
defit of the N~-h-<.
Il s.s,-s5tgs,fs
Richmond planet., 1904-10-01

MANTED:-A cook for a small family
Apply at lOl W. Main Street. A good
home for the right person,
Richmond planet., 1904-10-01

tn lle N-
a. ..,---... rsJct w.
- miCtos -opic .rami.. 81.
compared TO an enlarged pic,t-e oil tb.
boil weevil issued by the departm en-
Of agriculture, and il IS alleged waE
found 20 be practically identical with
the Mexican boil wccvil. The insect
have become quite numerous.
Senator Hoar Near the End.
Worcester. Mass, Sept. ass epstJ-
George +. Hoar remains in the sa.-
OF coma into which he sank durirs
Sunday night. He is unable to sv-.Z
low and his vitality is almost gOuE-
DR.. Warren r. Gilman said the sepatc.
might live the day out
Porto Rico's Schools Opene d.
San Juan, p. r., Sept. 27.-PO--
RicO's 1907 public schools opened, wit
$4,000 pupils enrolled. In the fi.s.
school year during American oc,,
patton there were 500 schools, VIZ
$4,000 pupils.
Richmond planet., 1904-10-01
"KiIties" Play For Kinq Edward.

London, Sept IS. - The Canadian
''Kilties" band gave a command con-
cert before King Edward at BalmOraI-.
The party included the Prince and
Princess Of Wales, the Duke anL
Duchess of Connaught, the Duke and
Duchess of Fife, Premier Balfour and
Captain Scott, of the Antarctic eXplor-
ing ship Discovery. At the close Of the
concert his majesty expressed himseI;
as delighted, and personally compll
mented Conductor Robinson, whom he
decorated with the Victoria order.
Richmond planet., 1904-10-01

London, Sept 2S.-A dispatch frocx
Walmer Castle to a local news agencg
says: 1T is learned on good authority
that Lady Curzon has undergone 4
change for the worse and that her coz
ditton is critical"
Richmond planet., 1904-10-01
IN. Y. Times, Sept. II, l9O4.)
BANKERS CHEER NEGRO
DENYING RACE HATRED,
John Mitchell, Jr, of Rich.
mond, Makes Eloquent
Appeal 90 Convention.
NOT READY FOR HEAVEN.
SO, Speaker Says, CoIOred Man. Hay-
ing Tried Religion, Turns To
Finance International
Clearing House.

"There Is no clash between the white
man of the south and the Negro of nv
class"
The members of the Bankers Associa-
tion turned as one man to see the sneak
er. The proceedings Of the convention in
the Waldorf Astoria ballroom We're about
to end. From the very last row of seats.
where for three days he had remained
unnOticed among the hundreds of dele
gates, light.cC mplexioned Negro had
risen to talk. Without waiting for the
Chair to recognize him formally, he had
launched two or three rapid-fire sen
tences before the big audience realized
It was listening to an eloquent appeal
by man who could hold his own
against any of his auditors.
The speaker was John Mitchell. Jr.
president of the Mechanics Savings
Bank of Richmond, Va. For half am
hour, except Ia Che intervals of applause
that followed almost every period, he
spoke of the Negro problem, the friend
ship Of the best elements in both races.
the rise Of the blaC k man in recent wears,
and his hopes for the future of the
South. And when he had finished and
was being cheered aud congratulated on
n sides, the bankers were reused To
new enthusiasm by response from one
OF the SoIth's best known financiers.
Col, Robert J. Lowry Of Atlanta.
81 am delichtod e. heer fror, ny
Snutherr brother /" sai6 he white =
There is
" class 80.
auv >nere else z am glt 5ar ,hiy
->htleman from Vir.i,n.. ann a
Southern man bred and born but / love
one part of this country as we'll as anoth-
er. The gentleman is right in what he
saws
Mr.. Mitchell's speech was entirely
outside the program. 1t would never
have been made but for remark in the
address OF an Atlanta banker, r. f.
Maddox, on Thursday, In speaking of
Southern conditions Mr.. Maddox had
aid:
We people of the South believe there
n a middle course between social equali.
ty and lynching. The one is contrary
10 the law Of nature, and the other con
trary to the law of the land. Both tend
to elevate the Negro above his sphere
and separate him from his friends
The bankers, when they heard this on
Thursday, manifested no inclination to
smile at the play on words, and it was
thought that the incident had been pass
ed unnotlced, or at least unaccentuated
Mr.. Mitchell however planned to make
his associates take notice that his race
had defense, and while he neither
abused nor took direct exception to the
views of any Southern white man. he
made II plain that he was Ieproving Mr..
Maddox