The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1910-08-18

| ""hy tiheS petter 10 start III the
humblest way, the simplest way, and
gradually gather experience as one
grows in business than 1t Is to start
With a big flourish Of trumpets q
complicated business enterprise that
can only live a few days for want of
capital or want Of experience.
There are too many organizations
apringing up here and there that
have for their object the deception
OF the public, the cheating Of the
public, and especially the common.
ignorant masses, out Of their hard
| earned money. This deception Is
usually practiced by individuals or
by organizations parading them
selves before the public as represent
Ing business enterprises that are go
Ing to make poor people rich people
within a day or year, that are, in
short, going to make something out
Of nothing.
1T is practice that Is too fast
growing, that Of selling worthless
shares of stock and other securities
that have nothing back Of them ex-
cept-'promists and talk - 1t Is a
practice that should be condemned
by all honest people. Every time
one of these false and deceiving or
CARNATIONS get a dollar from the
masses which is either squandered.
stolen, or never returned to tho in
Vestor, 1T is made harder for legiti-
mate business enterprises to sue
ceed. The practice Of promising to
pay large dividends on money in
vested in these fake enterprises
should cease; if it does not our peo-
PIE will be retarded many years in
their business and industrial pro-
gress. We must make it understood
from this time forth that the mem
bers> Of the Business League will
stand for nothing but that which has
an honest and straightforward pur-
pose back of it,
At our session held last year in
louisville, KY, an effort was started
to bring about the celebration in
1913 Of the fiftieth anniversary Of
the freedom of the race. The bill
recommended by President Taft pro-
Viding for a preliminary commission
to investigate and report, upon this
subject failed of passage at the last
session of Congress. Those in charge
OF the measure promise at the next
session Of Congress to get a bill
through making direct appropria-
ton toward the expenses of a cele-
bration of some character. Whether
such a bill passes Congress or not,
the agitation Of the subject on the
part of the Negro Business League
and other organizations as we'll as by
i!n.diYiduals> has accomplished great
good, and Whether r" CONGRESS-
assists or not, in some form, in some
manner, we as race should not fail
to call attention in 1913 to the pro-
gress that our race in the United
NNN~'>o Ae'o AA"oS Qul ING us uIly years
of Freedom
At our last annual gathering, rec
ogn1tion was made of the fact that
the secretary of this organization.
Mr.. Emmett J. Scott, had been made
a member Of the American Com
mission Of Liberia.
1t is now fitting that this League
should rejoice with our race every
where that as a result of the work
and recommendations of this Com
mission to Liberia and as a result of
the deep interest and practical help
OF President William H. Taft and
Secretary Knox Of the State Depart-
ment, plans have been matured by
which Liberia is to receive a loan of
a million and half of dollars from
this and other countries which it is
believed will result in putting It
nrmly upon its feet financially, and
We hope in other constructive direc-
lions.
In the last analysis the fitness of
race for freedom, the ability Of a
race to make progress is tested by
whether or not-individual- members
or the race have the ability in their
own com munities, in their own sur
roundings, to sink personal, selfish
ambitions in the interest Of bringing
about the general good and larger
progress Of the whole people TOO
often progress is delayed and hinder
ed by reason of the fact that the
Tstrong man and women in each COM
munlty find 1t impossible to throw
ASIDE, to put their feet upon their
personal views and petty ouarrels
and enter into strong constructive,
progressive work for the benefit Of