The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-08-11
WHAT NEGROES ARE DOING.
Statement to National Negro Business
Men on Behalf of Topeka.


Topeka stands in fair way to be
chosen the city in which the seventh |
annual meeting of the National Negro
Business league will be held in August,
1906. The local league has sent out a
great many letters and much 1nforma-
ton concerning this city, and their eff
forts are bearing fruit. This morning
two favorable replies were received
from members of the committee of
eleven which will determine the next
meeting places. or
THESE two were BookerT Washing
ton, the noted negro educator and
Theodore w. Jones of Chicago Both
placed themselves on record as favor
ing this city and saying that they will
do everything in their power to bring
it here.
The meeting is a great affair This
summer it gathered in New York city
1t has a great deal of influence in the
negro race, and has done very much
to help upbuild that peoples
The letter which the local league is
sending out concerning the advantages
at Topeka, the number of negroes liy-
tremeIy interesting. 1t contains in
formation not compiled before. A
sample of the letter follows:=
In behalf ofsthe Topeka Negro Bush
ness league and the citizens of Topeka
and Kansas. respectfully petition and
urge the selection of Topeka, Kansas,
for the seventh annual meeting of the
National Negro Business league.
The National Negro Business league
| is national in the scope of its work
and influence. 1t has held one annual
meeting in the north, viz, at Chicago,
Ill After August Is it will have held
| two meetings in the east, at Boston,
Mass, and New York city, N. Y. It
has held two meetings in the south,
viz, at Richmond, Va, and Nashville,
Tenn, and it has held one meeting in
the central east, at Indianapolis, Ind
Inasmuch as it is customary and
equitable for all national organizations
of this nature to distribute their places
of meeting evenly to all sections of the
country and especially when par
ticular section needs the meeting, I
most earnestly insist on the 1906 meet
| ing for Topeka.
> The negro population of Kansas is
| $4,000. In one-half of the state the
negro population is from one to seven
per cent of the whole. In the larger
part of the remaining half it is from
seven to seventeen per cent, and in the
remaining portion it is from seventeen
to thirty-fiVe per cent. These negroes
are thrifty and prosperous. They help
| to produce the wealth of our great
state; and they own and control a
good portion of it. II 1890 there were
4 1924 males engaged in agricultural
pursuits and 1sz56 of these wers farm
ers. These farmers raised, a good por-
ton of the rs, 100000 bushels of
wheat just harvested in our state. In
1900 there were $50, male negroes in
professional service, 1902 in domestic
and personal service, ], 661 in trade
and transportation, and 1895 in manu-
featuring and mechanical pursuits.
Eliminate the negro stock and poultry
raiser and truck gardener of Kansas
from the market and the prices in
these lines go sky high.
In 1900 5, 4S9 negroes owned homes,
and ssh of these were not incum-
Aa,, - L. -
which we are not engaged creditably.
Kansas is the home of John G. Groves,
the potato king" and financier; the
home of Foster Williams. the mer-
chant. 1t is the home of Robert Tur-
ner, the great truck gardener and the
| Cooper family. No other state has
developed negro concern as the
Hygfenic Manufacturing company of
Kansas City, Kansas, turning out bak-
ing powder which completes with the
Calumet baking powder, and extracts
which sell with DR.. Prices favoring
extracts. This company employs three
travelling statesmen, paying them fiat
ter1ng salaries to introduce it's products
in Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Indian
TERRITORY and Texas.
Topeka, Kansas, is centrally located
and is easily and cheaply reached from
any section of the country. 1t is on
the main lines of the Santa Fee Rock
Island and Frisco systems the Union
Pacific and Missouri Pacific. Tt is a
most beautiful city. She has broad
and level streets shaded by pretty
trees which stand as worthy tributes
to the efforts of the pioneer settlers.
Her streets are also adorned with
homes as equally handsome. No por-
ton of the Inhabitants rightfully enjoy
and appreciate these homes, more than
the negroes, for they own one thous-
and of them scattered through the best
resident portion of the city-750 of
them are not incumbered.
70
you have the use of the city auditor
ium, with a seating capacity of 5000.
and for whief-tfl negroes directly
helped pay, free of charge. We viii
banquet you in the largest and best
hall in the city. the propertysof the
Topeka colored Masons. We will pro-
vide carriages and tally-ho coaches
and carry the visitors to see negro
homes and business houses.
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