The Denver star., 1913-08-16
BY RALPH w. TYLER.

BY RALPH w. TYLER.
Atlanta, Ga.-There are two cities
in the south contesting for the suprem-
acy in Dixieland, and they are Bir-
mingham, Ala, and Atlanta, Ga. The
next federal census will undoubtedly
show one or the other the largest city
in all southland. In both the Negro
citizenship forms one-third of the total
population, and the next ten years
record made by each in population,
wealth and commercial progress must
in no small way be contributed to by
this third of our people. And were it
not for the progress that was made
during the past decade by this one
third population in each city both
would have failed to have made the
wonderful strides already recorded
Birmingham. surrounded by an almost
inexhaustible deposit of iron ore, coal
and limestone. making it the Pittsburgh
Of the south. depends upon its Negro
population largely for taking the min
era deposits from the earth and later
developing ii from the crude form to
marketable product of usefulness. In
Atlanta, which city aims to be the
gateway for all that region that lies
to the south. the Negro is depended
upon largely to make her busy in
dustries hum. The white man most
largely, of course, furnishes the money
In both cities, but the Negro furnishes
the Drawn, without which wealth is
nothing.
In the south increased population Is
largely due to births instead of to
foreign immigration as in the north
and west The colored people oppose
''race suicide" with a prolific birth rate.
This makes for better recognition of
the race in Atlanta and Birmingham.
A stranger within the gates of At
lanta is first shown through Peter and
Decatur streets, where the race is now
progressing. then he is whisked out
to the intellectual center" to the Uni
versity of Atlanta, Atlanta Baptist uni
versity, Clark university, Spellman
seminary and Morris Brown college
and then to Piedmont street, Ridge
aSenue. North boulevard and some Of
the other avenues where our people
have beautiful homes. The exploiting
of the first is to show the contrast be-
tween stationary and advancement; to
prepare one for the unrolling before
ones eyes the wonderful advancement
we are making.
Since the regrettable and hoped to
be forgot, Atlanta riot our progress
has been accelerated by better con-
sideration on the part of the whites
The best whites, in no small degree,
appear to be trying to wipe out that
awful blot in Atlantas record by ac-
cording the race a fairer chance to
make good. That 1t is making good
is evidenced by the beautiful homes.
the successful business enterprises. the
high class professional men. and the
crowded universities which make At
laita the "Athens of America" The
odd Fellows temple alone stands as
monument to race progress in At
lanta.
III no city in the country has the race
such a magnificent building or such
revenue producing investment Not
content to stop here, the odd Fellows
here are preparing to erect $4,000
auditorium adjoining, and make Au-
burn avenue and the vicinity the Ne
gro business center of Atlanta. The
money for this auditorium is in hand
$4,000 on deposit in the bank
Ben j. Davis, the most adver-
tised. perhaps the most decried. and.
Paradoxically, one of the most useful
men in this section, has done much to
advance the race in Atlanta. Even
those who disagree with him, even
those who despise him, admit that he
is a wonderful organizer. wonderful
producer of good for the race. and
man who has really done things In
Atlanta.
But DIR. Davis is not alone for Henry
A. Rucker. quiet and astute: DR.. Will
liam Penn. II. L. Pharro. DR.. T. III.
slater. DR.. Butlcr. DR.. Johnson, II. E.
Perry. G. NJ Howell. Ben Driskel.
John Hernden. Contractor Hamilton
and number of others whom I could
mention have helped largely. earnestly
and enthusiastically to put Atlanta on
the Negro commercial map and to
force better consideration at the hands
of the whites. And her ministers and
those self sacrificing. high purposed.
intellectually strong professors here IN
the educational institutions which make
Atlanta famous have helped amazingly
to purify the moral and religious at
mosphere of the city.
made diligent inquiry as to the col
lective wealth of Negroes In Atlanta
and to my astonishment discovered
that 1t mounts up to S3o,oooooo. Won
derful avidance of proyreSS. In At
lantn the Negro has been the pioneer
in the Insurance business, three large
companies doing an enormous business
visit to Atlanta Immediately dispels
that discouragement one contracts
when he reads Of the many restric'
tions that senatorial trinity of anti-race