The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1914-08-15
Rv RALPH W. TYLER.


government such proud Caucasians as
would arbitrarily assume to serve as
accusers. Judge and jury for the race
are wont to point to that revolution
torn black republic. Haiti II such
would but turn their eyes to the south
west they would behold the existence
in one state e-Oklahoma-of eight
Negro towns that are con-
clusively demonstrating the Negroes
for self government and as
a town builder.
Boley. Taft. Red Bird. Langston.
Tatums. BrOoksville. Vernon and Rem
tiesville. all in the state OF Oklahoma,
testify TO the innate peacefulness and
the acquired cOnstructiveness Of the
American Negro. Boley. with its $500
exclusively Negro population within
the corporate limits of the town and
its 10000 Negro population within a
radius OF ten miles. which population
is q direct cOntributant to the munich
patty. Is the largest Of the eight ex-
clusively Negro towns In Oklahoma
and the largest exclusively Negro town
on the western hemisphere. being three
times the size of Mound Bayou. Miss.
the much exploited Negro settlement.
| spent several days here In the in
terest of that wonderfully constructive
organization which DR.. Booker T.
Washington inspired into existence
the National Negro Business league
investigating this exclusively
Negro town. whose stability and order
ly government. carefully and cOnserva-
lively administered. present the con-
elusive proof that the American Negro
is capable Of self government. In
Haiti u standing army. whose mainte-
nance imposes a burdensome tax upon
the country'S limited resources. pre-
the life Of the republic and at
the same time contributes to continual
disastrous and bloody revolutions. In
BOley no soldiers patrol its borders,
its streets, or guard fits regularly elect
ed officials.
BOley Is governed not by force Of
arms. but by the miniOns of peace.
BOley has orderly conducted elections
for the selection OF governing officials.
but no armed revolutions to enthrOne
an executive BOIey's taxes are assess
ed by and with the consent OF the
governed and not by arbitrary off,
cials who assume" Office and power
might. BOley typificS the con,
structiye propaganda OF Booker +.
rather than the dpStrIc
i've intrigues which fOmeut ia the
black republic just beyond Americans
southern sea kissed border. Roley rep
resents Negro advancement
Boley at first was but n mere camp
Of Negro railroad construction hands.
whose foreman was a white man nam
ed Boley. from whom it took its narae
II was founded by T. NJ. Haynes. a
Negro. who is still living-and a valued
citizen Of the town-to witness the
fruition Of his altruistic plans. Ii was
and chartered as a munic-
ipality in 1904. The town. cOmpris-
ing 2G0 acres. laid out with broad
streets crossing at right angles. has a
bonded indebtedness OF but $4,000
and q school district bonded Indebted
ness Of $1,000. This bonded Indebt-
edness is secured by property within
Boley whose taxable value is $4,000
and by property within the county
whose taxable value Is $4,000. max
ing a total OF S1.25O.OOO in property to
secure the payment Of $4,000 bonded
indebtedness.
This little town here in the far south
west has been called the Million Dol
lar Black City" because the volume Of
business transacted here In 1913 reach
ed 81 100000 and because the value Of
the city's realty and. the amount its
have invested In business total
81 100000. In 1913 the Negro mer-
chants Of Boley handled S192. 900 worth
Of business. her Negro farmers han
died $4,000 worth Of foodstuh and
live stock. her Negro cotton buyers
bought $4,000 worth Of cotton. and
her local pOstofBce did $3.50. 800 worth
Of business. $4,000 Of which repre-
scented money passing through the mon
ey order department
The one bank-capitalized. controlled
and conducted. BY Negroes-had lndi-
vidual deposits at the close Of business
Dec. 81. 1919. amounting 20 $4,000.
This financial showing for a commu-
nifty composed exclusively Of people
but half century removed from slav-
ery-from period when the right 10
acquire ana bold property was denied
them both by public sentiment and
LAWS = splendid attestation TO the
thrift and industry Of our race. The
residences. public buildings and stores
Of Boley compare most favorabIy win
those Of any town Of Ike size whose
controlling population Is made up Of
the dominant race. In fact. there are
many white older towns thrmgh0llt
the west Of this and grrafer size whose
residences. public buildings and = res
DO not compare with Relry'A