The Denver star., 1914-10-03
LIFE STRUGGLES
| AT MOUND BAYOU
Little Mississippi Town viii
/. Regain Former Prestige.
COURAGE OF CHARLES BANKS

Municipality Founded by Isaiah T.
Montgomery and inhabited Solely by
Afro Americans Experiences Severe
Blow to It's Business Enterprises.
Many Financial Difficulties.
Mound Bayou. Miss.-If one should
come to Mound Bayou. the queen city
of Negro progress. in high expectation
of finding sorrow or tears or bitter
words for such evil days that have
come and gone one would find none
sich." But one would find hope, and
plenty of it; heart, and to spare; mon
ey to move the crops. and everybody
lined up with the allies against the
boasting Hun. Also Charles Banks
would be found at home, sincerely set
in the esteem Of the community. and
Isaiah 7. Montgomery. whose states
manship planted this fascinating re-
treat, still full Of optimism and philos-
ophy. bidding Banks to be Of good
cheer or all Mississippi towns Mound
Bayou Is happiest- Here the word Is
that the enemy striking at the Negro
ucCeSouiHy bI ihSo dI HAooAV oayoo
6rst.
When the Bank of Mound Bayou Of
which Charles Banks was cashier and
founder. after eleven years Of triumph,
weathering every financial storm. was
closed by the banking commissioner
on Aug. 10 for liquidation. the papers
made something out OF 1t, but not
much. The citizens OF Mound Bayou
made nothing of 1t, for the bank had
built the town. invited the wonderful
Industrial development Of the com
munity, saved to the black owners the
fertile lands and added an acreage Of
10000 and had been the accommodat-
Ing fiscal agent Of the believers who
came from every direction to help In
the triumph Of the great black city
against scorners a'and scoffers all
around. The people understood.
A week later. when the insurance
commissioner appointed . receiver for
the Masonic BENEFIT association. the
pioneer Negro insurance company. Of
which Chanes Banks was secretary
bnd treasurer. the daily papers. follow
ing Information handed them by fra
ternal politicians" printed many ru-
tnors calculated to lead toward unfairly
Judging Mr.. Banks. but the people Of
Mound Bayou and all the people Of
Bolivar county were not Disturbed.
Mound Bayou knew that that blow
was not aimed at either Banks or
Banks town. but rather at the Negro
fraternities of Mississippi-the mobiliz
ing centers Of all Negro efforts. Lord
have mercy on the hindmost!
The Bank Of Mound Bayou was clos
ed during Mr.. Banks absence. The
examiner announced that there were
no Irregularities in the management
Of the institution. but that he was not
satisfied with the character of the Sc
curities representing the banks COL
lateral. He held that the securities
were Negro securities. representing.
Negro industry and Negro enterprises
and for the most part covering the
progress of the Negro town. and that
when they we're realized uion they
would be covered by Negro money.
Therefore for his purposes and accord.
Ing to his rule they were not worth
while.
Since beyond the banking depart
ment of the state Of Mississippi there
is no appeal and since the examiner
exercises rights no man can dispute,
there was no course open save to let
the examiner have his way. Good
luck to him on his travels! The ex-
aminer found $4,000 in deposits and
$1,000 In cash. every dime In its place
in the figures. every dollar on the
books and every cent belonging to
Negroes. Many bank lives on and
breathes easily in the certain security
Of that kind of margin. But they are
not in Negro towns, nor do their cash.
fers oil such big places In the affairs
of the state.
The Masonic Benefit association was
for many years the heart and pride Of
the Mississippi Negroes. 1t has been
the widows fortress and the orphans
retreat Upon the death of Bishop
hampton, the greatest of all masters In
his day. the association was placed In
the hands Of Charles Banks. Banks
thought be knew his people; he was
certain Of his ground. After the at
fairs of the association had been placed
In his keeping he found that he had
taken over an Indebtedness of $25O.OOO
For three years he struggled against
tremendous odds. and only when q
whole sea Of trouble arose to enguif
him was he willing to surrender the
Masonic Benefit association into the
hands Of white receiver, and yet be
fore the fatal day Banks had paid out
nearly 100000 to the widows and or
phans and had cut the indebtedness
from $25O.OOO to less than 100000
He was the only man in Mississippi
who could have done that Master
| ha~ouu Lpou II