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


Boley, Okia.-To prove that the
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-
cIusiveIy demonstrating the Negroes
capacity for self government and 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 q direct contributant to the munich
patty, Is the largest of the eight eX-
cluSiveIy 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 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 it's 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 10y arbitrary OBI
cials who assume" Office and power
through might. BOley typities the con-
structive propaganda of Booker T.
Washington rather than the dpStruc-
tive intrigues which rOmpnt in the
black republic just beyond Americas
southern sea kissed border Roley rep
resents Negro advancement
BOley at first was but uierp amp
Of Negro railroad construction hands.
whose foreman was n white man NAM
ed Boley. from whom II took its name
II was founded by T. II. Haynes. n
Negro. who Is still living-and a valued
citizen OF the tOwn-to witness the
fruiiiOn of his altrIIistic plans. II was
Incorporated and chartered as a munic-
ipality in 1904. The town. compris-
ing 2GO acres. laid out with broad
streets crossing at right angles. has a
bonded Indebtedness OF but SO, 900
and q 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 total Of $1.250.Oo0 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 100000 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 Of BOley handled $4,000 worth
Of business. her Negro farmers han
died $4,000 worth Of foodstun and
live stock. her Negro cotton buyers
bought SS25.OOO worth Of cotton. and
Der local postof3ce did SIS, 800 worth
Of business. $4,000 Of which repre-
scented money passing through the mon
ey order department
The one municipalities controlled
and conducted By Negroes-had indi-
yidual deposits at the close OF business
Dee. 81. 1913. amounting TO $4,000.
This financial showing for a eOmmu-
nifty composed exclusively Of people
but half a century removed from slay-
ery-from a period when the right TO
acquire and hold property was denied
them both by public sentiment and
law-Is = 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 Is made up OF
the dominant race In fact. there are
many white older towns throughout
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