The broad ax., 1912-08-24

I the natiohal resoayees~ OF She earth in
\ pEometing wealthy intelligence, hAPli
ness and justice.
If can, I want tOSsound q note OF
warning to the ten millions Of Negroes
Throughout our country. We are now
ten mIlionS strong. This means q
4 PoPdlatica nearly twice as1largs as the
ipopulstion Of the Dominion. Of anadA-
/ Il Il a population three million gFeGtez
tAah that OF Belgium. L 10 greater
than shat OF Holland and -Switzsrlaid
combined, on the combined population
OF Norway Sweden and Denmark.
We have the advantage Of many of
the races Of the old world in that we
are citizens Of q comparatively new
country whose natural resources are
Just beginning, as it were, 10 be dis
covered and developed Our country is
new and our race is new so far as free
dom Is concerned. Now is the time
not in some far-Of future, but now is
the time-for us as q race to prove to
the world that in q state Of freedom
we have the ability and the inelina-
ton to do our part in owning, develop
ing, manufacturing and trading in the
natural resources Of our country. If
we let these golden opportunities slip
from Us in this generation, I fear they
viii never come to us in a like degree
+agai-. 81
+ At the present time there are over
27O, O00, 900 acres Sc unused and unoe-
cupied land in the South and West.
In fact, one-half of the land in the
South and two-thirds Of the land In
West is stin unused. Now is the time
for Us to become the owners and users
Of our share before it is too late.
From ownership of the soil comes indie
pendence, seh-support, happiness and
real manhood rights. Land that can
be gotten at ten dollars an acre now, q
few years hence cannot be gotten for
two and three times as much. If the
white man from America and Europe
can, establish and operate q saw mill
and gain wealth and indepsndenee
from the use of our millions of acres
of forest land, why not more Negroes
do the same thingi
If the white man can secure wealth
and happiness by. owning and operat-
ing a coal mine, brick yard, or lime
kiln, why not more Negroes do the
same thingi
If other races can attain prosperity
by securing riches on q large scale
from our seas, lakes and rivers in the
form Of fish, and other. sea foods, thou
sands Of Negroes can do the same
thing. Activity in all these directions
finds no race or color line.
This year our country produces
I, l25, oo0, 900 bushels Of corn, Sos, AGO.
900 bushels of wheat, 1,136, zoe, 900
bushels of oats, 33s, 800, 900 bushels of
potatoes, and 10000, 900 bales of cot
ton In this tremendous production
here again there is no color line. We
want to see to il that as race We not
only produce our share, but that iwet
hold on to our share Of the wealth
that grows out Of the manufacturing
of, trading in, and Transporting these
commodities. Activity in these diree-
tons viii bring to rs influence and
usefulness that no political party can
give us OF take sfrem rs. Before it is |
toe late, I want my race TO lay hold
upon the primary sources of wealth and |
civilization.
p Our country produces and uses an.
Aually about one billion dollars worth
Of live steek in the way Of cattle, pigs,
sheep, sSi $500 o0O, 600; worth Of dairy
PRODUCTS and esls0, 00O, 900, worth Of
fowls and eggs. Hers again there is no
color Or 'raseg line.
Z do net want members Of our race
10 be content with merely zskinming
around Over. the outer. edges IN the
form o. securing odd and uncertain
JOBS, but Tawant othsm. to get in. at the
bott0mE6f these Fundamental industries
and stand among heSlsading produe-
era. There is no law In this country
% prevent Negroes from owning and
iron sfOundries, cotton mills,
oil mills, shoe 'fsetorieA Our race uses
, large number Of eofans every year.
There is mo reason why more Of these
'ofRns should not bssnanufaetured by
NJ Thereais no reason why. more Of
ne lbedStesdsy bureaus and chairs used
IN eur homes should not be manufae-
tufed by Us.
In the South especially Just now, mil.
ions of dollars are being earned every
rear by white people operating large
peach orchards. In the far West other
are being earned by groWingt
lpples on large scale. The whits
nan Is as willing to buy peaches and