The Colorado statesman., 1915-10-02

this commandant that | would be ex-
cused from the regiments because the
presence of a colored man in the COM
pany would cause friction. Quite
change since the Wilderness Over
my protest to serve my country / was
refused. A classmate of mine who
Joined the bugle corps was asked to
resign because there was one too
many buglers, yet he was among the
first to come out for the position and
had had experience.
In connection with the meeting of
the National Negro Business league.
at Boston. the New York Post pub
fishes some figures relative to the
commercial progress of the Negro dur
ing the last Is years. In 1900 there
were in this country 10000 Negro bust
ness enterprises; in 1915 over $4,000.
In 1900 Negroes operated two banks;
1915, over fifty. In 1900 there were
10000 Negro retail merchants; 1915,
over $4,000. During the same period
the value of farm property held by
Negroes has increased proportionate-
ly. The value of domestic animals ad-
vanced from $85,000,000 to SIT 000,-
900; poultry, s3,800.OO0 to $4,000, 900;
implements and machinery. SIS S.5O0,0O0
to s36. .S0O,0 900; land and buildings. $685.
100000 to s273,500,000. The percent
age of increase ranges from Sc per
cent to 29.3.
Much of this progress is credited to
the influence of Booker T. Washing
ton, Tuskegee institute, and to like
institutions, which have stood for vo-
cational training. At Tuskegee and
the other schools which have been
modelled after it's plan, emphasis is
laid on such courses as blacksmithing,
dairying, poultry raising, ETC., which
fit the student for Immediately re-
munerative employment. In his ad-
dress before the Negro business men
at Boston, Doctor Washington urged
his audience to take up truck farm
ing, baking, storekeeping. ETC.. saying
there is in the United States no hope
for us, except we teach our young
people to apply their education to de-
velop the natural resources and pro-
mote human happiness in the commu-
mites in which they live" On farms,
both North and South, there is ample
opportunity to put this advice into
effect
Despite lynching in the South. which
is an expression of community law
lessness rather than Negro antagon-
ism, there is reason to believe that
prejudice against the Negro is dying
out When the Negro exposition was
held at Richmond. Va, short time
ago. the newspapers of that city warm
ly supported the undertaking, urging
white people to attend, and there
were thousands of white visitors. At
the exposition in Chicago. where the
work of 100000 Negro school chill
dren was on exhibition, the opening
day was declared holiday by the city
council and all municipal and county
offices we're closed.
Few colored men have had such a
large number of friends among promi-
nent white citizens as Walter Perry.
for many years employed in RESPONSE
BILE position at the Country club, and
whose death occurred recently" said
Robert B. Mcdowell, secretary of the
Southern club of Birmingham. Ala.
Some years ago while l was secre-
tary of the Country club hired Wal
ter and he was there until he died. AL
ways dependable, always faithful no
one could have given better service.
Everybody who knew him liked him,
and among hundreds learned of his
death with sincere regret"