The Denver star., 1914-09-19
MEMPHIS OFFERS
SPLENDID CHANCES
Great Possibilities There For
Co|orsd Race.
SHOULD BURY DIFFERENCES

Tennessee City Has Some Strong Race
Men, and They Should Peel Their
Issuss-esais Street For Mile or
Moro Should Be Lined With Negro
Business Houses.
Memphis, Tenn. - The possibilities
this city offers to the race for indus
trial and commercial development are
not exceeded by any other city in the
country and equaled by but few. Mem
phis Is a commercial feeder for three
states-Tennessee, Arkansas and Mis-
sissippi. The white captains Of indus
try here having realized this have been
pushing their wares into these states,
and in return for their output secured
capital to further develop and beautify
this strategic business gateway. There
are 10000 colored people in this city
and employment for all, for Memphis
is a great manufacturing center that
utilizes their labor in preference to
the foreign speaking immigrants.
Beale street. the principal Negro
business street, is lined with Greek
restaurants of doubtful santa ton,
whose patrons are exclusively Negroes,
and Jewish new and second hand
stores, whose sales are made almost
exclusively to the Negro race, to none
of whom they give employment Mem
phis numbers among our race some
strong, intelligent and well to do men
who, If they harmoniously co-operated,
would make this city the pace setter
for all other communities. have
visited Memphis three times within
the past year and regretfully observed
the lack of team work on the part of
our people.
Men in accord and those in opposl-
ton frankly told me without soiicita-
ton that factional differences which
ought not to exist and lack Of cordial
cooperation alone prevent the proper
development Of the possibilities lying
all about them. Memphis IN more a
city of individual efforts than co-opera-
tive efforts In 30 far as the race is con
cerned. The individual efforts have
counted for much, but operative ef-
forts would count for more. repeat
that Memphis has some strong race
men, earnest race men and men who
are actually doing things-men like
Thomas H. Hayes, Robert Church, pr.
Terrell. DR.. Bentley. Attorneys Settle
and Booth, Messrs. Clausen, Saunders
Scott, Roddy, Ward and others whom
/ might name.
We're these men and others to come
together in an effective business organi
$aon. pool their issues and cooperate
Memphis would become for the Ne
Rroes of Tennessee, Arkansas and Mis-
sissippi what 1t is for the whites of tht
same states-a commercial center-aDd
not only would 1t be dotted with retail
stores, but wholesale houses and manu-
featuring establishments, owned and
controlled by men of the race, would
be inspired into existence. There arc
two substantial and well conducted
Negro banks in Memphis-the Solvent
Savings Bank and Trust company, tht
older Of the two financial institutions
and the FraternaI Savings bank. Wert
these two banks to merge they would
as one big. strong institution, command
q ldLSCA "ot mig SdPiIdt. hid Il voos
ly larger number of individual deposi
tors and be In n position to max:
amply. secured loans that would de
velop Negro business enterprises ir
this city. Not only this, but a bani
formed by the merging of the tive
would give employment to largcl
force of members of the race than tht
two now working as separate instltu
tions. Memphis presents n wonderful
field for race operation and co-opera
ton. If some race man not affiliated
with any Of the factions or some maj
from the outside with capacity fol
organizing and harmoniZing would en-
ter the field and by master stroke ce
ment erstwhile, factions Beale stree
for full mile or more would be linet
with Negro business houses.
Until very recently the Memphis
Negro Business league was inactive. i
have noted that in every city tha
maintained live. active busines,
league there are to be found cO-OI,etn
tive efforts which result in the estab
lishment and maintenance of many
business enterprises. A local busines,
organization becomes a clearing house
for business ideas and stimulant Il
cooperation. The race owns and occu
pies some beautiful residences In Nom
phis. The Clausen home, on the aris
tocratic and beautiful boulevard, tn
homes of Thomas II. Hayes, Robert
Church, Joseph Settle and Mr.. 6aun.
ders being conspicuous because of the1l
beauty and ampleness. Memphis u moi
behind some other cities have visited
because Of lack of capital being ID
the possession of men of the race, bat
rather because the capital possessed b
not working in unison.
Robert Church Is wonderfully az.
gressive man. possessing great meanl
and the energy Of youth. Thomas 81
Hayes is another very energetic and
QfNf nRrrv 49,