The Denver star., 1914-06-20
BY RALPH w. rYLtR.

Are Doing.
by RALPH W. TYLER.
St Louis.-visiting this city - q rep
resentative of and in the interest of
the National Negro Business league. l
naturally went into conditions here
more carefully than the casual visitor.
Next to Washington perhaps St. Louis
has been famed most for her coIored
society. Its large number Of colored
schoolteachers. drawn from every sec
tion Of the country and representing
the best institutions Of higher educa-
ton. gives to the city q cultured com
munity. As Washington's more than
800 colored teachers give to that city
a superior air Of culture.
Secure in their professions of culture
and consciousness Of much higher
education. the colored people Of St
Louis for years neglected that basic
foundation for permanent and substan
tial progress-buainess. There II a re-
vival on here now. business revival.
and, while not neglecting either culture
or the 30 called 'higher" education. the
colored people Of st. Louis. inspired by
the achievements Of colored business
men in other cities and encouraged BY
its local Negro Business league. are
branching out rapidly and successfully
into various lines Of activities.
One of the most complete mems fur
nishing stores conducted BY colored
men in the country - to BE- found here
in this city. conducted BY Clark &
Smith The largest and most modern
steam laundry. owned and operated by
colored men, II one Of St Louis beast
ed colored cooperative enterprises.
The drug stores, print shops. grocery
stores. newspapers and cafes are now
equal to the best to be found IN other
parts Of, the country.
The schools are among the best In
the country-best buildings, best eQnip-
ped. best managed and possessing
corps Of the best prepared teachers.
No city compares with St Louis for
the magnincence Of its colored
churches. and no 'dty's coIored pull
piteers surpass ID eloqusnce and pre-
paredness the coiored ministers Of this
city nor 10 their race devotion
i was Of course particularly inter
eGted in learning OF business progress
anhong our people. ascertained. after
four days careful invsstigation. that.
the colored people Of this city have
$4,000 invested in business enter
prises, that they own $2t0.O0O worth
Of real estate and that the mes and
women engaged In business and pro-
fsssions are injecting into their work
rare energy and an admirable personal
service which makes for success.
also ascertained that the race II repre-
sented as owners and conductors Of
tho following businesses: Mems fur
nishings, groceries, meat markets.
drug stores. coffee and teas, undertak-
ers. livery. shoe repairing. notion
stores, printing. publishing. horseshoe
ing, theaters. cafes. laundry, hair cui-
ture, etc. found the local Negro
Business league. recently organized.
under that splendid business man. w.
G. Gordon. has become a very potent
factor in propagating the doctrine Of
business and professional cooperation.
While here every opportunity was Of
fered to me to get at the rial facts
concerning the races progress along
business lines. In few places have
enjoyed greater courtesies.
There are seven coiored lawyers.
seven coIored dentists and twenty-one
colored physicians. They are top
notchers in their respective profes
sfons and appear to be enjoying spien-
did practices which their ability de-
serves and warrants. DR.. Ernest Har
ris. DIR. Wilson and DR.. W. n. Mosby.
the druggists. have indicated race
progress with their modernly furnish
ed and largely stocked drug stores.
the former having two stores. Q. X
Robinson. one of the most public
spirited race men have had the good
fortune to meet. Is making splendid
success with his modern. up to date
printing esta ablishment, and one must
go far to find cafe to equal in mp
pointments and cuisine the one con
Quoted by Mr.. Ferguson.
A few OF the men who are pushing tne
business spirit among colored people
their efforts to make the race com
mercially strong in MissourfA metrol,0-
liz are @. X Robinson, W. G. .GOrd0n
DR.. Ernest Harris. William Osborn. r
I. williams. A. Russell, T. j.. Nevins.
R. 81. Stanton. W. a. Mosby. WITH
Aessrs. FickIin. Ferguson. Galloway
Clark and Smith. The canss of the
race here In the Mound City h most
ably championed by two enterprisinr
newspapers which stand for the bssf
among the members Of the fourth m
tate.
II was while here renewed an old
acquaintance with Professor Rkhnrd
Cole. principal Of one of the coiored
schools. whom / knew famitiarly yeNer