The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1911-03-16

The effort to revive the Negro
Business League is both timely and
commcndable. The white merchants
are united in their chambers of
commerce and other associations for
closer relations, and the Negroes
should be also.
When the League was first orga-
nized in this city there was a lack
Of unanimity which arose from a
misconccption Of the objects Of the
organization There were those
who believed, or pretended to be-
licvc, that the promoters were seek
ing personal ACKNOWLEDGMENT COM
mcrcially, but more particularly, po-
litically. The knockers, of whom
there Is great number in Charles
ton, got out their little hammers
and proceeded to do tho "Anyil Cho-
rus stunt. They laughed in ghoul-
ish glcc at their success. THAT was
Il gricvous fault, and grievously
hath Caesar paid it,"
Negro business men can no more
do without a business league than
can the white merchants get along
without chambers of commerce.
Here, where the business and pro-
fessional man Of the opposite race.
willingly receives, if he does not ca
ter to, Negro patronage, there must
be more general, a more wide
spread knowledge that the Negro
doctor can prescribe for diseases,
the Negro dentist can pull teeth and
make bridges, the Negro pharmacist
can fill prescriptions, the Negro mer-
chant sells merchandise just as well
and just as good as the white man
engaged in the same business or
profession.
Then, too. the Negro who wants
any of these services rendered must
have it impressed on his mind so
deep as to be enforceable that in
patronzing members of his race, he
is helping himself. He must be in
structed how his purchases and
those Of Others will go toward in
creasing the business Of the Negro
grocer or druggist TO the point
where additional help will become
necessary. The additional help
must Of necessity be Negro, thus
making place for some of the
graduates OF our schools who are
now porterS or dOmesticS.
The Negro professional man has
overcome most of the prejudice ar
rayed against him by ignorance, bui
there is still need of concerted ac-
ton to the end that he may have a
wider field Of usefulness, that he
may get a larger share Of that pat
ronage which is his by right and
merit. This, The Advocate thinks,
VIII come to him through cam
palSn OF education wagcd by a Ne
gro Business League, one of whose
duties would be to hold public meet
lngs where it would be- told how a
demand for stenographers, book
Keepers and Office boys and girls
would arise if warranted by the in
creased patronage Of the employing
class of Negroes.
Under conditions which now OBJ
tam, the white merchant gives en-
ployment to Negroes only in mental
capacities; in the store he is a port
er' IN the office he performs the
same services. What's the good of
continuing to send boys and girls to
hlgh and normal schools to fill such
places, when positions commcnsu-
rate with their ability may be Gre
atcd by spending every dollar with
mat black man who is able to give
service equally as good as any other
man in the same line?
nat IS said here may appear.
ana Is, simple, but it is because of
us very simplicity that it is given so
NIUE thought. Instead of hermit
ing our people 10 waste more time
wondering why this or that Negro
ENTERPRISE docs not succeed, those
VINO arc engaged in business should
Ec' together and point out to each
o'ncF and 10 the public the duty one
owes 70 IN" other. Revive the Bust
ness League aud get the business.
GETTING, "EASl >JnH,,n., .,