The Muskogee cimeter. [volume] (Muskogee, Indian Territory, Okla.) 1901-19??, 1911-09-02

ur 8fC6t VuS.ttOUs tUSus u. HOW mucn
OF this wealth remains in our hands in
Arkansas. how much OF II has been put
Into land. how much into houses. hoW
much into the bank. how much into the
schools. how much into the churches and
how much has gone In directions which
are calculated to make us q stronger q
more useful. Intelligent. moral and re-
lislous race?
Taking the southern states "A n whole
] find that colored farmers last year pro.
duced i5oo.0oo bales OF cotton. valued a,
about ssls0O.00 Colored farmers In the
south produced last year $50, OoO. 90 bushels
OF corn. valued a. about 90. 10000 How
many OF these millions Of dollars today re-
main Ia our hands and how much has
parted from us?
tn. colored farmers OF the south pro.
duced last year 800. 900 bushels OF oats,
valued at over 5000 90 They produced
last year $1,000 bushels OF wheat. valued
at nearly a.0ooo. ana 100000 pounds Of
tobacco. valued at about S90O,0p
IL II estimated that the total value OF
the farm products Of coIored farmers Of
the south last year amounted to 500. CO.,
GO In addition TO what was produced by
the farmers. ! am safe In saying that
those engaged In other gainfui occupa.
tion>. such as professional service, domes-
tic and personal service and trade and
manufacturing and mechanical pursuits.
earned last year at least S3O. .oU. 900. max.
ing the total earnings OF our race In the
south alone something over 500 100000
repeat again and again that " In the
duty ~ the Negro minister. the Negro
teacher the Negro business man Of the
leaders OF our race everywhere to see To-
II that n larger proportion Of the tremen-
dous amount earned by our race IL In.
vested In lands. honses. banks. schools.
Industrial Institutions colleges. churches
80 Invested that II will remain for all
time IN the possession OF this generation
and succeeding generations. II 10 per cent
only Of our annual earnings were set aside
for such Investment as I have suggested
the race would have every year $4,000 900
which would go into Its permanent en-
richnent and enlightenment
There H. another feature OF race develop
ment to which I cannot fall to call your
attention nj this time
This refers TO the matter Of seeing to I,
that the youths OF the race In n larger
measure prepare themselves for service
IN the fundamental skilled trades Too
iarg" II proportion Of youths are content
VIII littlr odd Jobs or hand Ia mouth call.
ings Too many OF our young men are
content to be mere walters or Pullman
car porters or tip takers In some easy 20.
sition that carries little with Il that II
permanent and dependable In the way OF
laying II foundation for the present or the
future The whole southland is fun OF
opportunities for skilled workmen at high
wages In Alabama. for example, there
are colored men who are earning from
to 81 day az bricklayers.
In the birmingham district OF Alabama
there are colored men who are earning
from - to so per day as skilled laborers
In the various Iron and steel manufsc-
turing enterprises OF that state What |
say OF Alabama II true OF other states
Without the least fear OF exaggeration
| would state that employment can be
found for 100 additional Negro architects.
900 Negro contractors. 100 more electrical
engineers. 800 more brickiayers. 5000
more carpenters. 600 more plumbers. 600
stationary engineers AMI 5.00 more skilled
workers In the iron furnaces.
This In to say nothing OF at least 80 900
places awaiting skilled farmers dairymen.
stock raisers and fruit growers
Attention before Il is too late TO our eco
nomic and Industrial growth will enable
the l0oo0.0o0 members OF our race In tho
United States TO escape many OF the pit
falls into which our race has fallen IN
Liberia, Haiti and elsewhere.
Just In proportion as our race gives
heed to the development OF It's economic
and Industrial opportunities VIII every
school. college. university and chu.ch be
rengthenedN Just In proportion hs we
seize hold OF and use the tremendous eco
nomic and material opportunities that are
at our door viii every journalist. teacher.
minister. lawyer and doctor share in the
benefit and bo strengthened.
In all the respects TO which have 70.
ferred and many others a rich and bounti.
ful harvest awaits us as n race and In
proportion az we enter II We shall lind
friends and supporters among white peo
at no fhAn
race everywhere turn our faces away
from the setting sun OF gloom and despai,
toward tho rising sun Of hope and deter
mlnstton