The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1914-08-29
nrR RALPH ". TYLER.

bOley, OklA--IO prO1e LndI Ino
Negro. as a race, Is incapable Of self
government such proud Caucasians as
would arbitrarily assume to serve as
accusers. judge and Jury for the race
are wont to point to that revolution
torn black republic, Haiti. II such
would but turn their eyes to the south
west they would behold the existence
In one state alone-Oklahoma-of eight
exclusively Negro towns that are con-
clusively demonstrating the NeNo's'
capacity for self government and as
a town builder.
Boley. Taft, Red Bird. Langston.
Tatums, Brooksville, Vernon and Rem
tiesville. all in the state Of Oklahoma,
testify to the innate peacefulness and
the acquired constructiveness Of the
American Negro. Boley, with its $500
exclusively Negro population within
the corporate limits Of the town and
fits 10000 Negro population within a
radius OF ten miles, which population
is direct contributant to the munich
pality. is the largest Of the eight ex-
cluslvely Negro towns in Oklahoma
and the largest exclusively Negro town
on the western hemisphere. being three
times the size of Mound Bayou. Miss.
the much exploited Negro settlement
spent several days here in the in
terest of that wonderfully constructive
organization which DR.. Booker T.
Washington inspired into existence
the National Negro Business league
carefully investigating this exclusively
Negro town. whose stability and order
ly government. carefully and conserva-
lively administered, present the con-
elusive proof that the American Negro
is capable OF self government. In
Haiti standing army. whose mainte-
nance imposes a burdensome tax upon
the country's limited resources, pre-
serves the life Of the republic and at
the same time contributes to continual
disastrous and bloody revolutions. In
BOley no soldiers patrol Its borders,
its streets, or guard its regularly elect
ed officials.
BOley Is governed not by force Of
arms. but by the minions Of peace.
Boley has orderly conducted elections
for the selection Of governing officials,
but no armed revolutions to enthrone
an executive BOley's taxes are assess
ed by and with the consent Of the
governed and not by arbitrary off,
Gals who assume" office and power
through might. BOley tynifies the con-
structiye propaganda OF Booker T.
Washington rather than the destruc-
i've intrigues which fOment in the
black republic Just beyond Americas
southern sea kissed border BOley rep
resents Negro advancement
Boley at first was but a mere camp
Of Negro railroad construction hands.
whose foreman was a white man nam
ed Boley. from whom it took its name.
II was founded by T. NJ. Haynes. q
Negro. who is still living-and a valued
citizen OF the town-to witness the
fruition Of his altruistic plans. II was
Incorporated and chartered as a munic-
ipalIty in 1904. The town. compris-
ing 200 acres. laid out with broad
streets crossing at right angles. has a
bonded Indebtedness OF but $50, 900
and a school district bonded Indebted
ness OF $1,000. This bonded indebt-
edness is secured by property within
Boley whose taxable value Is $4,000
and by property within the county
whose taxable value is $4,000. max
ing a total Of 81, 10000 in property to
secure the payment Of $4,000 bonded
indebtedness.
This little town here In the far south
west has been called the Million Dol
lar Black City" because the volume OF
business transacted here In 1913 reach
ed 81 900, 900 and because the value Of
the city's realty and the amount its
citizens have invested In business total
100000. In 1913 the Negro mer-
chants Uf BoIey handled $4,000 worth
Of business. her Negro farmers ham
died $4,000 worth of foodstuff and
live stock, her Negro cotton buyers
bought $4,000 worth Of cotton. and
Der local pOstofice did $252, 800 worth
OF business. $2JOOOO OF which repre-
scented money passing through the mon
ey order department.
The one bank-capitalized controlled
and conducted by Negroes-had indi-
Vidual deposits at the close Of business
Dec. 81. 1913. amounting to $4,000.
| This financial showing for a commu-
nifty composed exclusively Of people
but half a century removed from slaE-
ery-from a period when the right to
acquire and hold property was denied
them both By public sentiment and
LAWS a splendid attestation to the
thrift and industry Of our race. The
residences. public buildings and stores
OF BOley compare most favOrably with
those Of any Town Of Ike size whose
controlling population Il made up Of
the dominant race. In fart. there are
many white older towns Throughout
4 fhe west Of this and greater size uhoae