The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1914-08-28
CONT. FROM PAGE /, COL. 2.

Muskogee Host OF Business Men.
land Negroes have the opportunity to
settle and to- bring up out Of the soil,
which is full Of riches, cotton, corn,
oats, wheat, poultry, horses, mules,
cattle and hogs. These six states have
Negro population Of 100000. These
Negroes have under their control as
owners and renters about $500 OOO. 600
worth Of farm property. They own
about 10000 farms containing about
5000, 900 acres of land. The total value
Of the farm property. land, live stock,
farming implements, ETC., owned by
the Negroes of these states is about
5000, 100000. There is room, however,
for improvement along all lines. For
every Negro that owns an acre Of land
there are thirty-three who are land
less. These thirty-three ought to get
some Of the millions Of acres Of unim-
proved land which are for sale. Let
us get of the defensive. Let US stop
the world from talking about the land
we do not own, but about the land we
do own. Get of the defensive by put
ting the world to talking about the
thirty-three that do own land and not
about the ones that do not own land.
LET your success thoroughly eclipse
your shortcomings. We must give the
world so much to think and talk about
that relates to our constructive work
in the direction Of progress that peO-
pie will forget and overlook our fail
ures and shortcomings. Instead of
giving people opportunity to explain
why we failed to build house let us
build so many houses that the world
will forget about the house that we
failed to build. One big, definite fact
in the direction of achievement and
construction will go further in secur.
ing rights and removing prejudice than
many printed pages Of defense and ex,
PLANTATION.
1T is not well for us or our children
that we should dwell 80 much on the
defensive, with the negative side Of
life instead of the positive side. 1t is
not well that our minds should be so
continually centered upon our miseries
or upon those who mistreat US. In the
future let us emphasize our opportuni-
ties more and our difficulties less. Let
Us talk more about our white friends.
and about our white enemies less. We
do our children lasting injustice
when we feed them constantly upon
the miseries of the race.
of TIC 70 IL ohnnt tho mon vuhn no q
got job and less about the man with
out a job. Let our fraternal and secret
societies talk less about sickness and
death and more about health and life.
Let our societies spend less money in
taking care Of the sick and much more
race, and they will have to spend less
on account Of sickness and death. In
stead Of giving the world chance to
discuss the high death rate Of the Ne
gro. let us put the world to wondering
why the Negro keeps so healthy and
In every community rather than dis
ease.
"When 100000 Negroes Of the
southwest have made the most Of
their opportunities and have let down
their buckets deep into the earth and
brought up the riches contained there
in in the form of cotton, corn. oats.
wheat, potatoes, chickens, turkeys.
hogs, horses, mules and cattle they
will be able to support in Kansas.
Missouri. Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas
and Oklahoma 1000 more grocery
stores owned by Negroes. 500 addi-
tional dry goods stores, 200 more good
restaurants and hotels, 300 additional
millinery stores, 200 additional drug
stores, 300 more shoe stores and 40
more banks.
"In conclusion, If there are those
who are inclined to be discouraged
concerning racial conditions in this
country we have but to turn our
minds in the direction Of the deplora-
BILE conditions in Europe growing
largely out Of racial bitterness and
friction. When we contrast what has
taken place there with the peaceful
manner in which black people and
white people are living together in
this country. Notwithstanding now
and then there are evidences Of injus-
tee and friction which should always
be condemned, we have the greatest
cause for thanksgiving. Perhaps no.
where else in the world can be found
so many white people living side by
side with so many of dark skin In SO
much of peace and harmony as in the
United States"