The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1913-10-03
THRIFTY CENTER
OF BUSINESS
Encouraging Report Of Race
Progress In South.
SPIRIT OF COMPETITION.


Remarkable Advance Made by Individ.
uais In Montgomery Interestingly
Told by Traveller In Quest Of Facts
About Conditions a. They Actually
Are-Work Of Local Organization.
By RALPH w. TYLER.
Montgomery. Ala.-A visitor to this
conservative city. where Jefferson Da-
Wis took the oath as president Of the
Confederacy, Is struck at drst with
how far into the background of the
past the Negro has pressed the then
status Of his condition Then the city's
colored inhabitants were either housed
In master owned shanties or the ser
wants quarters Of the big house" To
day they are either housed in comfort
able cottages or commodious residences
which they themselves own.
Then the problem was one which the
abolitionists Of the north were trying
to solve Now 1t Is a problem the Ne
groes of pretty Montgomery are soly-
ing themselves. Another thing which
impresses the visitor to Montgomery is
that the apparent conservatism. char.
acteristic of the city, among our people
is quickly dissipated when you men
ton the city Of Birmingham, for It Is q
matter of confident belief with them
that they have achieved and are
achieving more in the way Of material
progress than their fellows over in the
pittsburgh Of the south"
This rivalry existing between these
two cities makes for greater progress
among the people Of Montgomery.
Montgomery's $4,000 population is
about equally divided between the two
races. The city lies in the cotton belt
Of Alabama. and cotton growing would
be lost art were 1t not for the colored
laborers. took drive and, lest you
think the race here are not progress
sive, will state my drive was In
handsome touring car owned by Ne
gro. was shown the beautiful homes
owned by our people and had pointed
out to me several hundred coy mod
ern cottages owned and occupied by
cOlored citizens.
The colored people of Montgomery
are making remarkable progress. and
the local Business league here Is ac-
tive in fostering and extending bust
ness esta blishments among the race.
the president Of the league. J. Fl. Fa-
gain. being one of the most energetic
men I ever met In a similar capacity.
They have real Negro Business
league in Montgomery. one that be-
lieves Negro business league should
be no pent up Utica, but an instru-
ment to advance the race along every
possible worthy line. For instance,
the league here Is active in its efforts
to improve the school facilities. the
anti-tuberculosis crusade. the Hale in
Urinary and the employment Of col
ored matron In the waiting room of
the railroad station. 4
Among the business establishments
in Montgomery which are owned. con-
trolled and manned by our folks are:
Two bakeries. one bank. two butcher
shops. more than a dozen blacksmith
shops. three well furnished barber
shops. one carriage shop. one jewelry
store. two motion picture theaters.
three very successful realty companies,
eight sboemaking establishments. six
tailoring establishments. one large
transfer company. two funeral direc-
tors. one up to date drug store. two or
three insurance companies. one cloth
ing store. several first class grocery
stores. one harness manufacturer and
two wide awake newspapers. The
professional men compare most favor
ably with any in the country.
I was much Impressed with one par
agraph in recent letter sent out by
the Negro Business league Of Mont
gomery to every member Of the league
that 1T should be remembered that we
are building race within great CIV
ilization which Is exacting and calls
for our greatest efforts as a people.
claiming. as many do. representative
and patriotic citizens" The league Is
doing everything In its power to urge
members Of the race to learn the build
ing trades In order that the race may
monopolize the trades. Just as 1t mo-
nopolizes the domestic service. While
most Of the bricklaying and carpenter
work In Montgomery is still done by
Negroes. 1t IL observed that white men
plying these trades have begun to get
foothold In that city. and to guard
against the possibility Of the Negro be-
ing driven from the trades the Negro
Business league here ia urging that the
race learn the trades.
Some of the Negroes who have put
Montgomer on the business map. who
are actually building race within a
great civilization are G. E. New
stell. DR.. Scott, A. &. Dungee. L. A.
Gilmer. Major Saxton. o. L. Campbell.
]. Fl. Pagan. J, Fl, Phillips, Dr. U. 8.
Dean and V. n. Tulane. e
And the Negro Business league at
Montgomery stands for very high
degree Of civic pride. which commends
It to and secures for Negro business
men the approval and the patronage Of
progressive white citizens.
At Montgomery. Ala. you dnd the
spirit Of progress among the Negroes
rs strong AZ In any community. Won
find race loyalty that H. most com.