New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-08-25

l., -osfder+ Of the Kansas branch Of the Business
League and Of the Kansas Negro Farmers AsSoci-
alton On his arrival from Genesee ne oeeS
working in Wyandotte County, han-' III A0''' ~
q farn, Iaborer at 40 cents day By dint OF the
hardest labor and the strictest economy ne Sooh
had sufficient saving to buy land ana oesih iar
ing for himself Since then his rise mas peel con-
tinual until to-day he is the largest raiser Oh i
notatoes In the world and owns twenty-seVeh A1"
dred acres Of valuable Kansas land Although Ho
ono can extract from plain unassuIning farmer
a statement to his wealth. II Is geheraiS e''
mated at near the million-doiIar mari
cr.prs RANK AS REFORM AGENCY
.o.,.r equally interesting figure in the con-
,,on+,o, "a w r Pettiford. OF Birmingham. pieSi
dant of the successful Alabama penny Sa'Ae'
Bank He started the banking --,
moral reform agency among his peopi0.
enlistment OF negro banks has now become
o,,anoon+ IN the South. thanks In large measure
% tho influence of the National Negro BUSINESS
o.,,o and the efforts of Mr. Pettiford. He con-
ducted q symposium banking IN the cohVeiiloi'
tor no ia president Of the National Negro BANKERS
Association and the father of negro banking
In +his same connection should be mentioned
William H. Carter. of Tuskegee Institute. MI
Carter is a clever young man. being the ch'el ac
countant for the Tuskegee Institute Inc iiisu
,ute'e finances have been investigated TWICE re-
Gently and hatterng concentrations OF the rnethod
OF accounting have ensued each time The ex-
arniner for the state of Alabama, In his report
declared the method 20 be a model of perfection
Mr. Carter delivered address OF much practical
value TO the business negro, entitled The Place or
Accounting in Business Enterprises.
Another interesting and distinguished personality
at the convention is Isaiah T. Montgomery. the
founder of the negro town and colony OF Mound
/ Bayou. Miss He conducted a symposium on ne
Establishment Of Negro Towns and Comnunl-
ties" Representatives from other successful negro
towns such as Boley. Ind T. and Buxton City.
Iowa reported steady prosperity for their towns.
/ Increasing populations. liquor licenses and no
crimes All the towns reported have full staffs Of
negro officials. although Buxton has out Of a
total population OF 60co white population of i50o
Another negro delegate attended this convention
mention of whom cannot be omitted That Is the
popular Kansan and Register of the Treasury. w.
T. Vernon He thrilled his audience with his
declarations Of hope and optimism and belief that
the OF justice and fair play IN the American
people would bring about the ultimate solution Of
the present problem.
Among the than hundred successful
negroes who came delegates there were other
conspicuous examples. such old and rich Judge
Mif1in W. Gibbs and j. f. Bush United States Land
Receiver. both of Arkansas; George W. Gross.
the successful sugar beet grower. OF Rocky Ford.
Col: s. Laing Williams lawyer and oil dealer. OF
Chicago: Gilbert Harris. treasurer of the league
and proprietor of the largest wigmaking estab-
lishment in New England; Mrs Belle Davis. tho
woman of Indianapolis. and ]. X Langford.
the architect and builder, of Washington.
ALL LOYAL TO THEIR LEADER.
II should be asked. after having attended the
conventions sessions. what the chief feature
Of the gathering. without a doubt he would name
the enthusiastic loyal earnest spirit OF the dele
gates. A peculiar enthusiasm has pervaded the
convention since 1t first gathered After the
| addresses of welcome and responses T. Thomas
Fortune. chairman of the executive committee and
editor of THE New York Age" rose remind the
7 Ill. .La,s
Brown. and suggested that something should be
done invoke the spirit Of anti-savery upon the
assembly. Some struck up the tune OF John
! Browns Body so sacred to every negro's heart
and spontaneously the whole audience took up the
inspiriting song Bishop Grant. in deep and PEN
etratng voice, then invoked the spirit OF the hero
upon the assembly and the league again settled
down to work sll$}Nt.,1syx ,mt - $ss the
veation free from the inspiring spell upon il
! by the incident.
| There factions in the league or at least
none is apparent. and no parliamentary wrangIes
points of order enter it's sessions. There
! is manifest everywhere and all occasions the
| greatest feeling of cooperation and mutual help
| fulness and generation for their leader. Mr.
Washington diplomatic and tactful firm and
positive yet witty. and. to a judiciOus measure.
indulgent, and he makes the closest insstence on
accuracy in all matters Ct financial import. For
this reason this we'll organized body of business
men transacts it's business with almost cocklke
precision. Booker Washington elected
leadership again. while the convention will meet
In Baltimore next summer.
While this league seeks the Industrial develop
ment Of the race. 1t in nowise condones injustice
and oppre Neither does 1t seek to have the
Intellectual political civil rights the race
neglected. 1t simply leaves this to other organza-
lions. believing. however that ths negroes them
selves must be the prime in their own sal
walton through a development of the fundamental
factor OF racial development and the economic
factors wealth and industry