The Dallas express. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1893-1970, 1921-02-26
WICHITA FALLS CITIZENS ORGAN
lie NEGRO. BUSINESS MEMS
LEAGUE.

Wichita Falls, Texas, Feb. 2, 1921
Last Wednesday at 2 p. m. rep
Preventative body of the business men
Of the city met at the Odd Fellows
Hall and organized a Business Mems
League Mr.. A. Byrd, veteran OF
the old school, who conducts a meat
market and grocery store ON Brick
street, and who Is also a stakeholder
in the Park Street Drug Company
presided. After stating the object oil
4 the meeting the chair called for re-
marks, to which all present respond
ed. Mr.. James Norford. the popular
cold drink man was called. Mr.. Nor
ford spoke very briefly, though point
edly; among other things he said he
unreservedly favored an organization
of this kind and he thought it the
opportune time to start it, and as
sured the body that his time, his in
fluence and his money was at theiI
disposal. Mr.. Lawler Smith was
called. 1t is needless to comment
upon Mr.. Smiths speech, for al
Wichita Falls know the "big niger,
as he is Familiarity known, is a 10(
per cent race man. He doesn't only
preach race pride from the public
platform but his daily mission is
advising young men how to attain a
recognitional standard in the politi-
cal and business world. Mr.. ]. w
Bell, our successful grocerman or
Humphrey Street was called. In his
preldminaries, Mr.. Bell said, II am
no speech maker, but rather deer
thinker. l have often wished that
were as good a talker as l am
thinker, have been in the grocery
business here for six years, and dur
ing these six years I've been going
to school, so to speak; / have beer
studing my people, and l can truth
fully say l know my people, l know
their wants and l strive to please
them
Mr.. Bells closing remarks we're in
accord with the former speakers
promising all in his power for the
success of the League. Mr.. A. w
Maxan, Manager of the Park Street
Drug Company was called. Mr.. Max
an was highly in accord with the
movement, and admonished the meT
to not let The League die in it's in
fancy, as did like organization here
few years ago. Mr.. MaXan tool
occasion to thank the citizens Of
Wichita Falls for their patronage o.
his firm, the Park Street Drug Store
He said, ''it is your unbiased anC
liberal patronage that has caused us
to grow from a $1,000 stock in July
1919 to a $12,91257 stock on the
first of January 1921" At this june
ture Mr.. Maxan suggested going into
organization, but the chair permitted
others to speak. Mr.. S. P. Clay, thu
shoemaker was called. He said tina
he was highly in accord with thu
movement, and to the delight of thu
body, Mr. Clay informed us that HI
would treat citizens of Wichita Falls
to local publishing house. Messrs
Howard. Dyer, ]. D. Register, Jacl
Storms, ]. D. Ryans and A. Barre
also spoke approvingly of the move
ment. Mr.. Butler, the undertaken
was called He said the ground hat
been too well covered for him to at
tempt to make a speech. He saiC
though, that the greatness of peo
pie was measured by their record
and that he favored organizing {
Business Mems League, and stayinl
organized. The chair then declared
the house open for election of officers
and the follwing were elected:A
Byrd, President; ]. w. Ball, Wee
president; Howard Dyer, Secretary
Lawler Smith, Treasurer; c. G
Saunders, Corresponding Secretary.