The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-08-16
HOW THEY DO 1T.
Negro Business Men Tell of
Their Success.
Bankers, Merchants, Lawyers
and Land Owners Talk.
BIG CROWD PRESENT.
Five Hundred People Attend
Opening Session.
All Assert That Negroes Must
Help Themselves.

0 CLOCK Ln1S morning When Dr. >. G.
EIbert, first vice president called the
third days session of the National Ne
gro Business league to order and Rev.
E. Arlington Wilson, D. D., of Kansas
City. Kan, made the opening prayer.
DR.. Elbert said that he was delighted
to see so many present at the opening
of the session.
Jas. Shelton of Indianapolis, Ind,
| told about his success in the UNDER
taking business. He said it would not
| be long before they would have the
4 among his people.
] Geo. L. Knox spoke next. His re-
marks were mostly humorous.
John H. Adkins of New York dis
| cussed Negro Business Enterprises
in New York" He said that it was
| time for the negro to do something
for himself and race. THE negroes of
New York are now engaged in all
| can Investment company is the oldest
| business enterprise among our people
and is putting many negroes in bust
mes. Then the Golored Ameri-
Age, the National Review, the African
Trading company, the Afro-American
Realty Co., and the Metropolitan
Realty Co., are some of the other en-
terprises among the negroes of the
metropolis"
F. H. Gilbert of Brooklyn, N. Y,
one of the proprietors of the Sarato-
ga Club Co., followed with a short ad-
dress He spoke of the success of the
negroes in New York during the past
year. He said that it was a pleasure
to see how the negro was putting for
ward an effort to be something in life.
1.-The negroes of Texas are doing
business" said r. c. Houston of Fort
Worth, Tex "And we are being heard
from. We believe that in this world
we have got to do something.
Chas. Banks of Mound Bayou, Miss,
said that the negroes of Mississippi
were doing their duty in spite of oppo-
sition and prejudice. He spoke of the
session of the Negro Business league
which met last June in Meridian. In
this meeting" he said, I'VE had doctors,
lawyers, merchants, teachers, and other
men and women. 1t was a fine meeting
and it is inspiring to see how our peo-
pie are going in business and what
they are doing to build up themselves
The negroes of Mississippi are doing
much for themselves. They are not sit
ting down waiting for people to carry
them up in this world. In our state we
are trying to educate our children to
buy homes and pay for them and we
will meet other things in keeping with
our progress"
w. H Carter of Tuskegee told about
practical bookkeeping and accounting.
He is an expert accountant at Tuskegee
institute DR.. Booker Washington in
presenting
ability and his worth to the institution.
The address was of practical value of
the business negro.
Emmet J. Scott executive secretary to |
Booker T. Washington and one of the
noted Young negroes in the country was
years employed on the local staff Of the |
Houston, (Texas) Post and resigned to !
accept the present position. He is Well |
known throughout the country. While |
111f lrn,- 1o &c Gil Iny7fl
force in the development of the negro |
race and is an example for the young |
men of his race. Since the organization |
of the National Negro Business league, |
Mr. Scott has held the position of cor |
responding secretary.
The delegates from Texas met and |
organized a State Business league by |
electing the following officers: r. L. /
Smith, Paris, president; R. G. Houston.
Fort Worth, vice president; J. H. Wash
ington, Marlin, secretary; A. H. Terrell,
registrar. The session will be held next
July in Fort Worth.
Banking among negroes in the
United States,' was discussed by some
of the bankers. DIR. L. w. Manaway of
Jackson opened the discussion and he
was followed by DIR. w. r. Pettiford
of Birmingham. Ala. He said that
few years ago the negro bankers or
ganized National Negro Bankers as
sociation which was the first of the
kind in the world. He said that there
were many reasons why the negroes
should put forth an effort to handle
the money of the negroes in this coun-
try of his people. DR.. Pett1ford SAID
that the negro had reached the place
In his history where he should enter
every line of business or profession as
entered by other races. 81 am proud
of the progress we are making"
Rev. W. L. Taylor, D. D., president
of the True Reformers' bank in Rich
mond, Va. was the next speaker. He
said that since the organization of the
negro enterprise In Richmond they had
done a business of over $16,OOO,OOO
md that over a million dollars passed
through the bank every years. He De
clared that it was good showing 1or
his race, and they were nlsnIy cohn-
plimented by many
The following life members were
recorded by paying SIS each:
Bishop A. Grant, Kansas CITY,
KAN; j. w. Wright, Topeka, Kan; J.
G. Groves, Edwardsville, Kan; E. p.
McDinel, South McAllister, 1. T.; w.
T. Vernon Washington, D. C.; Mrs. X
Writ, Pittsburg, Pa; Chas. +. DAVIS
Council Bluff, Iowa; John H. Adkins,
New York, n. Y; A. c. Purdue, Mus
1ogee 1. T.; s. w. Wood, Monroe
La; C. T. Taliaferro, Perry, Okla;
Ira o. Bryant, Topeka; G. w. Shad-
we'll, Guthrie, Okla; H. H. King
Yazoo City. Miss; Attorney Henry
Chandler, Okla; G. w. Davis, Musko-
gee; Henry Avant, Helena; Chas. G.
Srove Edwardsville; w. H Simms,
Oklahoma City; J. B. McCollaugh, |
Muskogee; Chas. Nurm, Indianapolis.
Tonight the visiting negroes will hold
will be the climax of all that has pre-
.eded After a picnic at ViueWOOd to- {