The forum. [volume] (Springfield, Ill.) 1904-192?, 1915-07-24
The NEGRO BUSINESS.

relative to the possibility and future of the Negro sad
Whe have made progress along several lines, church,
secret societies. and to extent business In other
Cities but what doing in Peoria?n Our capacity
to work great future and contribute share
the worlds civilization remains to be determined
That it is yet question the future and depends very
largely with what doing with the forces at our
command. That this is true deny Certainly
long way from the goal
We have made very little progress in business lines
Even in the South where constitute half of the popula
ton, and yet the suppng of our peoples consumption is
negligible, it is scarcely drop in the bucket This ought
not to be So There is in the world why we
should not be able to have business of and
is the time
Here is Dr. Scott trying to better the condition by
ganzng the Peoria Sons and Daughters of Industry which
meets every Thursday night in the M E. Mission, sol
Spencer st. Now, why not out and hear the plans
and if they suit your case then help this nduba charac
ter who believes that if your cooperation given bus
league can be formed where ample employment
be given your and daughters.
Look for while if you please at the National Bus
ness League of which Dr. Booker T. Washington leader
of this great race the president What is the purpose
of this league Its purpose to bring Negroes who
engaged in business in order give them opportunity
to exchange views and to mutually cooperate for their
general improvement also to let the world that scat
tered throughout the country number of Negroes
who are making good in business.
Now let us look at ST. Louis, Mo-, there we will find
H. Ferguson who is example of what Negroes can do
in the business He is said have started in
1904 with small restaurant and cook Now he has in
St Louis string of well equipped restaurants in
which more than fifty persons employed
You may think this man above mentioned is excep
tiona but aredong likewise they
fully conducting business and accumulang wealth One
of the most successful business is Mrs c. J. Wal
ker dealer in hair goods of indianapolis, Ind. Mrs
Walkers income from the business which is incorpo
rated, is said to be $4,000 year have only mention
ed two persons time would not allow show you
what the Negroes doing in the columns of this paper
but if you want to know of the business Negroes get
the Negro Year Book through V. A Cook sol Spencer
St. direct fom Monroe N. Work Tuskegee Institute
Ala, for 35c. Now, it is whether going to coop
crate and join the hrong of progressive Negroes
not know if we just trust the other fellow.
We Shoes hats and all kinds of clothing like other
people and yet no business of our There is no
in the world why should get together and
ganize ourselves and sell people of the things
they and there where the money is made No
people the world according means dress better
than people The truth of the matter is they dress
beyond their means Where does all this money go? 1t
goes to the people who supply the needs and wants of
people What is of dry goods stores also true
of shoe stores. No people fasdious than
city there is not place of Negro establishment where you
go and buy pair of brogans.
As long as this condition of affairs obtain we can
attain to highest and greatest Development
neither be respected by other important
factor in the business life of community For there
is nothing in civilized life that compels respect and recog
milton of civilized people money and business and
tanly cannot command much money long
main negligible quantity of.busness Until we get to CO.
fo1Io bo,
q a people will into
" A COOKE peor;a I'll