Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1912-08-30
THE NATIONAL NEGRO BUSINESS
LEAGUE, A SUCCESS.

LEAGUE, A SUCCESS.
The 18th annual session of the Ma.
tional Negro Business Mems League
which convened at the Institutional
Church., Chicago; Ill.,, Wednesday
Thurs day and Friday August 21st to
23rd, was the most successful and
most enthusiastic meeting the league
ever held. The attendance was large
and interest was keener than ever be-
fore. On Wednesday morning at 9
o'clock DR.. Geo. c Hall, President OF
the Chicago Business League called
the National League to order, prayer
by Rev. e. ]. Fisher, song America.
Address of Welcome on be half of the
Chicago Negro Business League was
delivered by Hon. S. l.. Williams after
which DR.. Hall introduced DR.. Booker
T. Washington the National Presi-
dent. After a short address DR.. Wash
ington invited the Presidents of the
following organizations to take seats
upon the platform. President of the
National Press ASSN, President of
the National Bar Assn, President Of
the Bankers Assn, President of the
fA6l al ADD IL ACA l. :.
Pratt Of Baltimore, Md responded to
the welcome address as also did DR..
Preston Taylor Of Nashville, Tenn.
and then the regular Program as
printed heretofore was carried out.
There were many very interesting and
Instructive papers read and addresses
delivered. It was, indeed, a revolu-
ton to note the many insurmountable
obstacles that many of these men had
to overcome In their various localities
on account of small means and their
colour. OF course. we cannot give
brief synopsis of each man that
spoke, yet we will give synopsis Of
a few of the leading men who appeared
upon the program.
Mr.. E. H. Green of Fayette, Miss.
delivered an address, subject Of which
was Making farm pay. Mr.. Green
said that he was the manager for a
man who owned $40 acres of land.
The man wanted to sell and gave him
the first chance At that time cotton
was only six cents per pound. He
said at that time he had only $1,000
in cash and pair Of mules. He then
bought 280 acres of land two mules
and two yoke Of oxen and by the hard
work of himself and wife he made
that year 16 bales of cotton. He next
bought 1SO acres of land and began
raising horses, mules, hogs and sheep
until today he has 1000 acres Of land,
II families in attendance upon his
plantation, 70 working people en-
ployed. He sold last year IA mules,
$175.00 per head and 400 hogs. He is
married man with three children.
This man said many other helpful
things which l am unable to repro
duce. IT ..t.S,.. l......
Another interesting character was
Mr.. Watt Terry OF Brockton, Mass,
who addressed the people. His sub.
ject was, What j have accomplished
as Real Estate Dealer" He said
he came to this town IL years ago
with capital Of only SIS. He worked
as a coachman, then as janitol Of the
Y. M. G. A. leaving that to become
a railroad porter. He did not like
this latter job and remained only one
month. Returning to town he entered
as a workman a new shoe factory at
$500 per week. He continued in this
employ until he received $500 per
week, after which he went into the
real estate business. His first trans
action in the real estate business he
received a commission of $4,000
which was the beginning of his pheno.
minal success. He now ownes 22
houses and lots among them are 2
large frame houses with $50 suits.
He also has a lease Of ten years in
the U. S. Government for a building
which he rents for Post Office, Pub
lie Library and has monthly income
of between and thousand dollars.
He is estimated to own real estate
and other valuable property to the
value of $25O,O0O.OO all made within
the last 10 years.
Mr.. Lawrence H. Farribee of Chica-
go called to deliver an adress on
What 1 have accomplished as Real
Estate Dealer, which showed great
development in Real Estate in Chi
cago.
Mr.. Andrew ]. Offord of Chicago
delivered an address subject "Manag-
ing a Motor Car Machine Shop"
which was very interesting.
Mr.. j. Alexander Mckenzie of Port
Antoine, Jamaica told Of his 20 years
experience as General Engineer for
the United States Fruit Company.
Mrs. J. H. P. Coleman of Washing
ton, D. C. read a very interesting
paper on "The Manufacture Of Hair
Preparations and condemned fake
preparations" Mr.. J. Andrew Will
liams of Tampa, Fla, spoke on "Ci-
gar Manufacturing. He gave his
tory of the development his factor
from nothing until today he has the
largest Cigar Manufacture in the Unit
ed States owned by colored people.
Mr.. w. F. Bledsoe Of Marshall, Tex.
spoke very Interestingly upon the
subject Fraternal Insurance as also
did w. II. Jenkins of Roxbury, Mass.
"The Heavy Moving Business was
the subject of J. J. Johnson Of Grand
Rapids, Mich, as did Walter Jameson
of Indianapolis, Ind, and w. H. Bell
of Evansville, Ind. Mr.. Joseph l..
Jones, of Cincinnati, Ohio spoke very
enthusiastically of his 'Ten years in
the Regalia Business. Hunter C.
Haynes of New York told the League
about his experience in the Mail Or
der Business. Anthony P. Overton
of Chicago. ILL.,, spoke on '"The largest
Negro Manufacturing Enterprise in
the United States"
Conducting a Retail and Wholesale
Coal Business was a very interesting
address by Samuel Welch of Indian
apolis, Ind. Mr.. e. w.. Chenault,
,eyin pton Ky one OF the WealthieSt