Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1912-03-15
BOOKER I. WASHINGTON At
The NATIONS CAPITAL
NOTED EDUCATOR ADDRESSES
LARGE AUDIENCE OF coLoRED
PEOPLE IN WASHINGTON.


MISUNDERSTANDING the colored
men of Washington to engage In bust
ness enterprises in proportion to the
number of colored residents within the
boundaries of the District of Column
bia, and exhorting them to strive for
success with the declaration that sue
cess in America is honored and looked
upon with respect, regardless of re-
llgion or race, DR.. Booker T.. Wash
ington. addressed probably 1000 per-
sons at an enthusiastic colored mass
meeting in the Metropolitan African
Methodist Episcopal church. n.
The sponsors of the meeting had
expected President Taft to be present
and deliver short address. Owing
to important business engagements at
the executive Offices through the even
ing, however, he was unable to ac-
cept the invitation. The address OF
DR.. Washington came after dinner
and reception extended to him by the
colored lodgemen of Washington.
After the preliminary exercises, he
was introduced to hts audience by
Nelson E. Weatherless, prominent in
local, colored, fraternal circles. 4.
Good Of Secret Orders.
Secret orders existing among the
negro race have accomplished much
toward its uplift, notwithstanding the
so-called weaknesses of these organ
izations are referred to in an uncom-
plimentary fashion," said. DR.. Wash
ington. They have an exceptionally
strong side, a side that with little
consid Grafton on the part of those
who condemn them would receive a
proper and sufficient credit. 1t is
largely through the work Of the Sc
cret organizations of the negro, in
connection with his church, that the
negro has in large degree supported
and cared for the poor and unfortu-
nate Of his own race. In the southern
states there are few negro beggars,
few negro paupers. The unfortunate
are cared through the secret organ
izatfons and the church. This in "a
larger degree is truer of our race than
any other race In the same relative
stage Of civilization in this or any
other country. s".. .5 T..
II am glad to take note Of the prep
arations to erect large and substan-
tial building that Will be headquar-
tiers for secret organizations, and the
plans to provide accommodations for
business enterprises that are owned
and operated by our race. NThis is.
most praiseworthy and encouraging.
The erection of this building should
command the hearty good will and the
generous support of all our people in
the District of Columbia. ..-... ....
Building Means Much.
1.-The erection Of this building will
mean a new era In the business life
Of the negro in Washington. In pro-
portion to the number of black people
in the District OF Columbia, and In
proportion to the amount Of money
they handle the race here has not
gone into business to the extent that
is true OF our brethren in the south
ern states. You have here a negro
population of about 10000. That is
enough black people to constitute a
city within itself. 4. This means that
you have as many black people here
as there are persons in Dallas, Tex;
Hartford, Conn: Lynn, Mass; San
Antonio, Tex; Trenton, N. j., or
Springfield, Mass. repeat, then, that
you have within our race here a city
within itself aside from the white
race.
There should be in operation in the
District of Columbia, on the part of
our race, at least 2,000abusiness enter
prises. In a larger degree in. the fu-
ture than in the past we must become
pioneers in industrial and commercial
directions. There are openings in
Washington with your 10000 black
people for 10 architects, 5 banks, 40
drug stores, SO barber shops, IS black
smith shops, 80 boot and shoe stores,
80 shoemakers and repairers, 120 car
penters and contractors and builders,
80 confectionery stores, 40 dentists,
100 dressmaking businesses, 80 dry
goods stores, undertaking establish
ments, 20 florists, 10 furniture dealers,
ITS grocery. stores, 20 hair dressers,
20 milliners, 60 trained nurses, 70
painters and kalsominers, 10 photog-
raphers. 120 physicians, 40 plumbers.
80 real estate dealers, so truck gar
deners, SO restaurants and 20 variety
stores. .
Handle Enormous Sums. r
II note in this city that our people
who are employed by the government
handle $3,O0O,0OO at least annually.
We should see to 1t that large pro-
portion of this tremendous sum is
carefully and permanently invested in
business enterprises - -.
I'm Birmingham, Ala, with $4,000
they support three banks; in
Memphis, with $4,000 negroes, they
support two banks; in Richmond. Va,
with $4,000 negroes, they support
three banks; in Nashville. with $4,000.
negroes, two banks; in Jacksonville,
Fla, with $4,000, three banks. and
jackson, Miss, with 5000, support two
banks. Certainly you ought to be able
to do as well in the District Of Co.
lumbia.
I'm tho public schools here you have
opportunities to secure educa-
ton of the best kind for your children.
I know of no 10000 black people any.
where in the world who are provided
with such excellent public schools as
are the 10000 black people here. Your
should not only receive an
education in the abstract, but they
should learn to combine that educa-