The Denver star., 1914-10-03
MEMPHIS OFFERS
SPLENDID CHANCES
Great Possibilities There For
Colored Race.
SHOULD BURY DIFFERENCES
Tsnnsssss City Has Some Strong Race
Men, and They Should Pool Their
lssuss-Beais Street For Mile or
Mors Should Be Lined With Nesro
Business Houses.

Business Houses.
Memphis, Tenn. - The possibilities
this city offers to the race for indus
trial and commercial development are
not exceeded by any other city in the
country and eQualed by but few. Mem
phis is commercial feeder for three
states-Tennessee, Arkansas and Mis-
try here having realized this have been
pushing their wares into these states,
and In return for their output secured
capital to further develop and beautify
this strategic business gateway. There
are 10000 colored people in this city
and employment for all, for Memphis
10 great manufacturing center that
utilizes their labor In preference to
the foreign speaking Immigrants.
Beale street. the principal Negro
business street is lined with Greek
resta urants OF doubtful sanitation.
whose patrons are exclusively Negroes.
and Jewish new and second hand
stores. whose sales are made almost
exclusively TO the Negro race, to none
OF whom they give employment Mem
phis numbers among our race some
strong. intelligent and well to do men
who, II they tremendously co-operated.
would make this city the pace setter
for all other communities 7 have
visited Memphis three times within
the past year and regretfully observed
the lack OF team work on the part OF
our people.
Men in accord and those IL opposl
ton frankly told me without solicita
t1on that factionsl differences which
ought not TO exist and lack Of cordia
cooperation alone prevent the proper
development OF the possibilities lying
all about them. Memphis liz more u
city of individual efforts than co-opern
tive efforts In 20 far as the race is cont
cerned. The individual efforts have
counted for much, but cooperative ef
forts would count for more l repeat
that Memphis has some strong race
men. earnest race men and men who
are actually doing things-men like
Thomas H. Hayes, Robert Church, DIR.
Terrell. Dr. Bentley. Attorneys Settle
and Booth. Messrs. Clausen, Saunders.
Scott. Roddy. Ward and others whom
l might name.
Were these men and Others TO come
poGether in an effective business organi-
Gn0on. pool their issues and cooperate
Memphis would become for the Ne
groes OF Tennessee. Arkansas and Mis-
sissippi what It is for the whites of tn.
same states-a commercial center-anG
not only would ii he dotted with retail
stores, but wholesale houses and manu-
featuring establishments. owned lnd
controlled by men OF the race, would
be inspired into existence. There are
two substantial and well conducted
Negro banks in Memphis-the Solvent
Savings Bank and Trust company. the
older of the two financial institutions.
and the Fraternal Savings bank. Werc
these two banks to merge they would.
As one big. strong institution, command
. larger working capital. draw vast
ly larger number OF individual deposi-
tors and be in 81 position to MAKE
amply secured loans that would de
velop Negro business enterprises In
this city. Not only this. but a bspk
formed by the merging OF the two
would give employment to a larger
force of members OF the race than the
two now working as separate institu,
tons. Memphis presents a wonderful,
field for race operation and co-opers-
ton. IL some race man not afaliated
with any of the factions or some man
from the outside with capacity for
organizing and harmonizing would en-
ter the neld and by master stroke ce-
ynent erStwhile factions Beale street
for full mile or more would be lined
with Negro business houses.
Until very recently the Memphis
Negro Business league was inactive. /
have noted that in every city that
maintained live, active business
league there are to be found co-opera.
tive efforts which result in the estab
lishment AMI maintenance Of many
business enterprises. A local business
organization becomes clearing house
for business ideas and stimulant to
cooperation. The race owns and occu
pies some beautiful residences In Mem
phis. The Clausen home. on the aris-
tocratlc and beautiful boulevard. the
homes of Thomas II. Hayes. Robert
Church. Joseph Settle and Mr.. Saun-
ders being &C nspicuous because Of their
beauty and ampleness. Memphis is not
behind some other cities I have visited
because Of 6. lack OF capital being in
the possession OF men OF the race. but
rather because the capital possessed is
not working In unison.
Robert Church is wonderfully ag.
gressive man. possessing great means
and the energy OF youth. Thomas II.
Hayes IN another very energetic and
successful business man who has
amassed considerable of this worlds
goods. Messrs. Clausen and Saunders
and several Others I might name have
made great success as individuals.
Memphis /, ripe for business re-