The broad ax., 1914-09-12
The Negro Makes Good
in Business. Spectac-
ular Industrial Parade
"A Splendid Showing
Boley, Negro Town,
Visited--Negroes Of
West Make Fine Show
ing

MuskOgee, Oklahoma spectacular
industrial parade showing Negro pro,
gress and opportunity in Oklahoma; an
attractive exhibition of fine corn, cot.
ton, fruits and vegetables, together
with specimens of oil and coal, the
products of the tradesmens shops, and
the display of manufactured arti-
cles, the hearty welcome of the best
White people of Muskogee to enterpris-
ing Negroes; a ringing address from
DR.. Booker t. Washington, telling his
people "to get off the defensive;" a
series of inspiring struggle and sue
cess" stories; and, finally, a trip to
Boley, the largest and most prosper
Gus Negro town in the United States,
by a party of four hundred Colored
men and women-these were some of
the striking phases of the fifteenth
session of the National Negro Bust
ness League, which has Just closed in
Muskogee.
The Negroes progress in fifty years
was graphically shown by a series of
floats giving vivid pictures and telling
the thrilling story of his improved
home life, his interest in farming, in
church and Sunday school work, in
growing corn, cotton, wheat, oats, vege-
tables and fruits, in mining, in develop
ing oil and gas properties; stOrekeep-
ing, and in stockraising.
Thousands of White and Colored peo-
pie watched for over an hour the miles
of decorated floats, wagons, and car
riages, as well as the fine looking horses
and cattle.
The verdict was. unanimous: If q
handicapped people can do all this in
few years, in a new territory, where
men must have in them the stuff Of
pioneers, what may not Negroes ae-
eomplish within the next fifty years, if
they continue to work in peace and
harmony by the side of their White
neighbors and if White people win give
the Negro a mans chancei
The industrial parade was voted by
the White Muskogeans as worthy of
any race, anywhere. It showed how
great an asset the Negro is when he
goes quietly to work, developing the
country's natural resources and Guilt
waiting the homely virtues of honesty,
frugality, industry and eheerfulness.
Some of the Eastern and Southern Ne
groes who had expected to find their
Muskogee brothers and sisters living
in huts and earning a bare living in
the fields, were surprised and eneourag-
ed at every turn.
"Get of the defensive and inaugu-
rate an aggressive, q constructive, and
progressive policy in business, in
dustry, education, moral and religious
life" This was the keynote of DR..
washington's address as president Of
the Negro Business League.
As a clearing house Of information
and as a council meeting Of peaceful,
persistent, and earnest leaders who
seek to stimulate race advancement
through race love rather than to foster
race hatred or bitterness, the League
has served the whole country since its
organization in Boston in 1900.
DR.. Washington declared that, "If
there is any place where the Negro
has a chance to show his mettle it is
in the United States" he emphasized
the responsibility that rests upon Ne
groes everywhere to "make good" and
not disappoint their best friends. he
then gave some helpful suggestions
for making strong the local league
work that Negroes are doing through
out the country. BE urged his people
TO coin their energy, used sometimes
in finding fault, into better methods Of
do;np business and into efforts for
personal and race progress. "Dann-
ing the other fellow" he said, "does
not push us forward. His damning
rs cannot permanently hold Us baek."
DIR. Washington called attention to
the opportunities that Negro farmers
waste when, for example, they do not
raise stock and poultry on their farms.
sGTbe black mans Legh0n chickens, Il
properly cared fOr,' he added, twill
Law as many eggs as the white mans
and he win get the same price IN the
mayket. There Is no special color line
in stock and poultry raising.
tsIu the six states adjoining Okla
hama there are 1ss, 100000 acres Of
unimproved lsnd-an ara equal 70 an
AZ New England, New York, New yer-
= n.lavara. Pennsylvania, and Ohio.