The Twin City star., 1914-01-30
RACE THRIFT IN
AN INDIANA CITY
Plenty Of Business Enterprises
In Indianapolis.

Expert Investigator of Conditions
Among Afro Americans In Many Sec
tions Of the Country Finds Evidences
Of Real Progress In Western City.
Newspapers a Potent Factor. -
BY RALPH w. TYLER.
Indianapolis. Ind. the casual Wis
tor to indianapolis there is nothing
seen at glance among the colored
people that attracts particular atten-
hon. The white man who saunters
out Indiana avenue and observes the
many groups of colored people on the
street forms the wrong belief that they
are the idle. indolent. loafing class Of
the city's population. ......
To the person who comes here and
carefully investigates and studies In
dianapolis offers one of the most hope
tul signs of Negro progress to be found
In the north, and the person who In
vestigates and studies conditions can
not help but speculate on how much
greater might have been the material.
advancement Of the race If all along
there had existed live business or
ganizat ton to serve as clearing house
for business ideas and efforts
Heretofore there has been apparently
no community of interests here, but
rather "every man for himself" has
been the prevailing sentiment One
who makes an investigating tour over
this city is gratifyingly amazed at the
very great number Of Negro business
enterprises. The congested condition
Of Indiana avenue is due to the fact
that on and about this thoroughfare
are located the greater number Of busi-
ness offices and that for a distance
north, east, south and west OF Senate
street ia the Negro business center.
indianapolis has had one great ad-
vantage in having number of bright.
progressive newspapers that have
done much to advertise the city. The
Freeman. the Nestor here Of Negro
journalism. with George L. Knox at
the helm; the Recorder. with Editor
George P. Stewart successfully guid'
Ing it's destinies. which covers Indian
apolis like a blanket; the World,
which bears the imprint Of Editor A.
q. Manning's scintillating ideas and
hustling spirit, and one or two other
publications of merit. The editors of
these newspapers have always been
active in every effort looking to the
betterment of the race.
The erection of the Y. M. G. A. and
the coming to this city as its secretary
of that very capable. energetic and ad-
mirable man. Mr.. Taylor. has served
as great stimulus not only to the
moral and religious uplift Of the city,
but to the business activity as well.
The Y. NJ. c. A. has become center,
and now its secretary is determined
that indianapolis shall have live, in
fuentiai Negro Business league and
says the principles Of the Y. M. G. A.
are broad enough to house and inspire
such an organization.
In and about Indiana avenue, ex-
tending in four directions from Sen
ate street. within four or six blocks
are located eighty-fonr Negro business
enterprises. perhaps greater number
in like area than can be found in
any other city. And indianapolis is
one Of the very few cities In the coun-
try where the Negro has developed
the manufacturing idea.
Among the successful business men
in this city are Fl. L. Sanders, the
Martin Bros. DR.. e. NAPerkins, }. e.
Earle & Co.. J. Walter Hedge. Shelton
& Willis and Ernest q. Tidr1rgton.
The professional men Of Indianapolis
have long enjoyed the distinction Of
being at the top in their respective pro-
fessions. With j. M. Lott as the
brainy leader. indianapolis has a very
clever set Of Negro lawyers, Attorney
F. b. Ransom being one of the most
successful of the younger set. The
medical profession is most ably repre-
sented. DR.. Joseph 81. Ward. DR.. Arm
stead and DR.. Furniss and others form
ing a galaxy Of practitioners of which
any community might be proud. And
in Professor Valentine indianapolis
has an educator the equal Of the best
and one to whom must largely be at
tributed the success Of the schools OF
this city.
With the talent and with the busi-
ness establishments among our people
to be found in indianapolis. proper
moldlng of these into great business
organization would SOON make Indian
apoIis the greatest Negro commercial
center In this country. B..
The business league as reorganized
and rehabilitated inspires the hope that
q greater community OF interest will
be fostered and that cooperation will
succeed the Individual success idea.
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