The Denver star., 1914-02-28
Review Of Race Thrift In Kan
saS City, Mo.
WORK OF BUSINESS LEAGUE
Interesting Account Of tho Progress
Which Afro-kmericans Are Making
In New Western Metropolis Against
Great Odds-Success Due to the
United Efforts of the People.
BY RALPH w. TYLER.

the self satisfied east rests |
apparently upon its stockyards, its |
abattOirs and its beef barons. and yet |
no city in the world, not even Paris, |
can boast of SO beautiful and eXten-
sive Il system of boulevardS or more |
handsome residences, many of which |
are palaces that will rival the homes
of New York millionaires which line
Riverside drive. The colored people
throughout the country have just as
erroneous an idea of Kansas City's
colcred population. Just as faint Il con-
ception or knowledge of the hustle and
progress of the race in this city.
If you want the very best evidence of
race progress. of race loyalty and CO.
operation it is to be found i'll this city.
There is an air of hustle among col
ored men and women rarely seen. and
an evidence of business thrift and
activity unsurpassed anywhere by our
people And withal there are culture
and refinement the equal of those found
in social famed Washington or at the
presumed hub of the universe''-Bos-
ton. The amount invested here by col
ored men and women i'll business en-
terpriSeS is said to be 100000, and
more than sJ.000.O00 in real estate is
in the possession of the race. This
tells something of the progress made
and being made by the race in this
new metropolis of the west There
are thrty-two churches. ninety-one
schooltelcherS and twelve modern
school buildings to conserve the educa-
tional desires of the race. Thirty ply
sicianS. four dentists, eight lawyers
and six or ten pharmacists. with the
ministers and teachers, form a profes-
sional coterie the equal of the same
number OF whites here or elsewhere
The race is represented actively in
thirty-SiN different lines of business.
and in every line success is being re
corded. and the race unity prevailing
assures continuation of this success.
In nv visit here have been impressed
with the unusual enthusiasm and con
/ hdence in the ability of the people to
succeed against great odds.
One reason assigned. and Il very
potent one too. for the wonderful prog
resS being made by the race in bust
ness is that this is the home of the
banner local Negro Business league in
the country and that it has for its
president Fortune j. Weaver. one OF
the most active working men l have
ever met. In Kansas City he is dubbed
the live wire" As indicating the ac-
/ tivity of the Negro Business league it
may be said that. although heretofore
I laying claim to the largest membership
and greatest activity. since November
Nlast seventy five new members have
been added.
The Kansas City Sun under the able
management of Editor Nelson c. Creus
constitutes another very helpful aid to
race progress. Even the women have
become inoculated with the business
! spirit, and quite number of them are
engaged in conducting business estab-
lishments. Among the many men en-
@aged in business for themselves are
DR.. f. S. Lee. McCampbell X Hous-
ton. +. ]. Weaver, c. A. Franklin. A.
W. Harris and John II. Farley.
Eighteenth street for several blocks
and the intersecting and parallel
streets of the immediate vicinity pre-
sent most busy and encouraging
scene, with its many colored business
Establishments aud offices of colored
professional men and the thronSs of
loyal race men and women who con
ccive it to be their bounden duty to pat
rpuize them in order to afford increas-
ed opportunities for the young men
ami women of the race. One of the
delightful and interesting characters
umnng the colored men of this city Is
Professor j. u. Bowser. Although re
tired from active participation in the
real hustling life of the city. he is aS
much Interested as ever in the progress
OF the race.
| have always observed when visit
inE a city that in proportion to the ex
Ccllence of its schools and the activity
Of its local business league just in that
. proportiou was the race making educa
tional and material progress. Kansas
. City's colored schools are in 4 very eN
/ relent condition and are doing great
work under the supervision of n mos'
/ efficient corps of teachers. and tht
Western university, just across the
! river, under President II. L. kealinS
is most Intimately associated in the
work of betterment in Kansas City
| The teachers. ministers. physicians
| lawyers and dentists, while co-operat
ing enthusiastically to advance the
material progress of the race. also
serve to develop and maintain charm
| ing culture which robs business of thai
too close application merely for tht
| dollars and cents.
There are $4,000 colored people ii
! this city. and their high per capits
wealth OF 800 is the proof offered MS
! to how well they have learned the les
son Of getting something which othei
people want, which the wizard of Tus
kecee has been so earnestly and effec
t{yaly tpN ching