The Denver star., 1914-03-28
WAGNER PEOPLE
SHOW GRATITUDE
Business League Organizer Wis.,
Its Busy Oklahoma Town.
RECEIVES A WARM WELCOME

|
Witnesses Gross Discrimination
Against Afro Americans on Southern
Train-Impresssd With Spirit Of Co.
operation Among Our People.
By RALPH w. TYLER.
Wagner. Okla.-This is the first
town of any size in Oklahoma at which
one arrives after leaving Kansas City,
it being about eight hours ride from
the latter city. had startling, but
agreeable surprise awaiting me when
my train rolled into the station. But
short time before reaching the town
had protested strongly because
young couple, members Of my race,
were asked to leave the parlor car, out
Of Kansas City, on reaching the Okla
homa state line. My protest. however.
was of no avail. for the additional rea-
son that the couple themselves COM
piled docilely with the command.
l had just fallen into half doze
when the train reached Wagner. from
which 1 was awakened by loud cheer
ing, and "There he is at that window
and the like. I was startled. and vi
sions Of vigilance committee bent on
taking me from the train and intiicting
punishment on me for protesting
against the eviction OF the colored cou-
pie flashed before me- Instead OF
vigilance committee l soon discovered
it was a large concourse OF colored
citizens of Wagner bearing flags.
flowers and wearing badges on which
were the words, "Welcome to Okla
homa," and Herbert A. Clark. for
mer Ohioan, headed the welcoming
band For this l shall always remem-
Der and with genuine pleasure Wag-
oner.
This town has a population of per
haps 10000, nearly one-third of which
is colored. 1t boasts Of paved streets.
excellent business blocks and resi-
dences brilliantly illuminated at night
Wagner is not q bit slow. In fact, II
is very progressive little city. The
Negro Business league has organized
for effective work the colored popula-
ton. and all appear to be cooperating
with n spirit worthy of emulation. The
president of the local league, DR.. II. s.
Smith. an Alcorn and Meharry alum
nus is tireless worker in his efforts
to keep Wagner people busy along the
path of progress, and he has the conf
dence of all. whites as well as our own
| people, who own some fine town and
farm property and are doing splen
didly
There are three physicians and two
lawyers here with Il good practice.
| The business houses, consisting of gro
ceries, general stores, cafes, etc, show
prosperity Very few cities in the
country among us can boast of a news
paper plant equal to the American.
| which Herbert A. Clark manages and
edits. 1t is located in very substan-
tial two story brick building, the prop
erty of tile owner, l.. A. Pell, and is
equipped with two or three presses,
| linotype machine and all modern print
shop necessities.
Mr.. Pell, reputed to be the black
| Croesus of the town, former Mis-
sissippian, owns large interests here
as well as in Muskogee. where he puts
| in most of his time. Wagoner's com
| mercial growth is somewhat interfered
with by it's close proximity to Musko-
latter city The slogan of the local
Business league, "Patronize race bust
ness men," however, is giving the col
Ored business establishments excellent
| trade and. us natural consequence.
| giving employment to young colored
men and women. This is more strict
| ly farming community, and the land.
fertile as it is. yields bountifully to
| the colored farmer. The colored peo-
pie of Wagner are taking as much in
| terest in the forthcoming meeting of
the National Negro Business league in
Muskogee as IL 1t were to be held in
| their own town. They will go over to
Muskogee en- masse and help accord
the delegates royal reception when
| the league meets in August.
| 1t Is estimated that the colored peo-
pie here and in the vicinity own in the
neighborhoOd of S25U.OO0 OF realty and
have invested something like S25.OOo
in business. For a new town. for
| Wagner is perhaps not more than If
| teen years old. this is a very fine show
ing Iu is what one might call nus
tling community of cooperating Ne
groes was very much impressed
with the determination of these people
and their loyalty to race which leads
them tn follow coiOred leadership. In
practically every home here. as is true
all through Oklahoma. one finds the
picture of DR.. Booker +. Washington.
| Anniversary of a Texas Normal School.
The first anniversary exercises OF
the Texas Normal and Industrial In
stitute For COlOred Youth. Dnllns.