Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1913-03-07
AFRO-AMER|CAN CULL|NCS

Mr.. Jesse Washington, q wholesale
and retail grocer Of Marlin, Texas, is
an example Of the up-to-date Negro
business man. Mr.. Washington was
formerly school teacher. but hap
pening one day to read an article of
DR.. Booker r. Washington's advising
the Negro to branch out, he quit the
school room and embarked in busi-
ness. He now operates Wholesale
and retail grocery store at Marlin. He
carries regularly a $4,000 stock.
When he began business In Marlin,
there was only one Negro business in
the town and this was failing because
the proprietor was unable to buy so
as to successfully compete with the
white businesses of the town. He has
been able to buy goods In large
enough quantities to successfully meet
competition. He has also been able
to sell to the colored businesses 50
that they can also meet competition.
This has been helpful in building up
colored businesses In Marlin. There
are now thirteen prosperous Negro
businesses in this small town. Mr..
Washington Is assisted In his business
by two of his sons, one Of whom is q
graduate of the Bryant & Stratton
Buiness College of Chicago, and the
other has just graduated from an en-
balming school in that city. Mr..
Washington's success in Marlin is an
indication OF what can be done in al
most any small town in the south
and is an inspiration to young colored
men to engage in business.
The semi-annual executive meeting
Of the National Negro Press associa.
ton, with representatives from 40
states, was held at Washington, Chair
man N. B. Dodson Of New York pre-
sided and his report gave the asso.
citation a membership Of 300, repre-
senting $50 newspapers and magazines
published by negroes. Arrangements
were made for the fourth annual meet
ing in Washington next August of the
National association. and Professor r.
r. Wright. .Jr., editor Of the Christian
Recorder, was appointed chairman Of
a committee to complete the program
and compile a"reliable directory of ne
gro publications. The formation of
national bureau for the dissemination
of news Of interest to negroes was
also arranged for. Those who made
addresses we're Representative Harry
w. Bass, Rev. e. w. Johnson, Everett
J.. Waring, T. Thomas Fortune, Fred
r. Moore. H. A. Anderson of New
York; w. L. Porter of Tennessee; 8.
J. Jones and ex-Congressman George
H. White. The officers elected are r.
M. Thompson, Washington, D. c.,
president; Joseph l. Jones, Cincinnati,
and 8. J. Jones. Philadelphia, vice
presidents; Henry A. Boyd and w. l.
Pates, both of Tennessee, secretaries.
and John L. Thompson, Iowa. treas
urer.
With the filing of his will at Mimi
cola, L. l.. for probate 1t became
known that James Hammond, an
Oyster Bay negro, left an estate esti-
mated at $4,000. Hammond could
not read or write. His will is signed
with his mark. He was upward of 70
years old, and for fifty years had been
employed on the Weeks estate. The
will was mae the day before his
death. 1t leaves $4,000 to his friend
James Scudder, the same amount to
Sarah Mayhem Scudder. $4,000 to
Bertha Edith Hammond. his daughters,
and 81 each to a number of nephews.
How many of them there are he did
not know, as he had not heard from
them in years, and they may all be
dead. The three who receive direct
requests are the residuary legatees.
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