The Twin City star., 1914-02-13
PERSISTENCE IN
BUSINESS wins
Review Of Race Thrift In Kan
sas City, No.
WORK OF BUSINESS LEAGUE

"uSu NVosN"0VtCduo ftTo WAXING
In New Western Metropolis Against
Great odds-suoeess Due to the
United Efforts Of the People.
BY RALPH w. TYLER.
Kansas City, Mo.-This city's fame
throughout the self satisfied east rests
apparently upon its stockyards, its
abattoirs and its beef barons, and yet
no city In the world, not even Paris,
can boast of so beautiful and exten-
sive q system of boulevards or more
handsome residences, many Of which
are palaces that will rival the homes
Of New York millionaires which line
Riverside drive. The colored people
throughout the country have just as
erroneous an idea of Kansas City's
colored population, just as faint con-
ception or knowledge Of the hustle and
progress of the race In this city.
If you want the very best evidence of
race progress, Of race loyalty and CO.
operation it is to be found in this city.
There is an air Of hustle among col
ored men and women rarely seen, and
an evidence Of business thrift and
activity unsurpassed anywhere by our
people. And withal there are culture
and refinement the equal Of those found
in social famed Washington or at the
presumed hub of the universe''-Bos-
ton. The amount invested here by COL
ored men and women in business en-
terprises is said to be 100000, and
more than $5,OOO,0OO in real estate is
In the possession of the race. This
tells something Of the progress made
md being made by the race in this
new metropolis Of the west. There
are thirty-two churches, ninety-one
schoolteachers and twelve modern
school buildings to conserve the educa-
tional desires Of the race. Thirty ply
sicians, four dentists, eight lawyers
and six or ten pharmacists, with the
ministers and teachers, form profess
si0nal coterie the equal of the same
number Of whites here or elsewhere.
The race is represented actively in
thirty-six different lines of business,
and In every line success is being re-
corded, and the race unity prevailing
assures continuation of this success.
In my visit here have been impressed
with the unusual enthusiasm and con-
fdence in the ability of the people to
succeed against great odds.
One reason assigned, and a very
potent one, too, for the wonderful prog
ress being made by the race in busi-
ness is that this is the home of the
banner local Negro Business league in
the country and that it has for It's
president Fortune j. Weaver, one Of
the most active working men I have
ever met. In Kansas City he is dubbed
the 'live WIRE" AS indicating the ac-
tivity of the Negro Business league it
may be said that. although heretofore
laying claim to the largest membership
and greatest activity, since November
last seventy-five new members have
been added.
The Kansas City Sun under the able
management of Editor Nelson G. Creus
constitutes another very helpful aid to
race progress. Even the women have
become inoculated with the business
spirit, and quite number Of them are
engaged in conducting business estab-
lshments. Among the many men en-
gagged in business for themselves are
DR.. e. 8. Lee. McCampbell & Hous-
ton. F. J. Weaver, G. A. Franklin, A.
w. Harris and John II. Farley.
Eighteenth street for several blocks
and the intersecting and parallel
streets Of the immediate vicinity pre-
sent q most busy and encouraging
scene, with its many colored business
establishments and offices Of colored
professional men and the throngs of
loyal race men and women who con-
ceive it to be their bounden duty to pat
ronize them in order to afford increas-
ed opportunities for the young men
and women Of the race. One of. the
delightful and interesting characters
among the colored men Of this city is
Professor J. D. Bowser. Although re-
tired from active participation In the
real hustiing life of the city, he is as
much interested as ever in the progress
Of the race.
I have always observed when visit
ing q city that in proportion to the ex-
cellence of its schools and the activity
Of its local business league just In that
proportion was the race making educa-
tional and material progress. Kansas
City's colored schools are in very ex-
cellent condition and are doing great
work under the supervision Of most
eficient corps of teachers. and the
Western university. just across the