Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1930-08-09
Hon. JackSOn'S Address
Continued from Page l,

ship involved, it means that, in so far
as Negro Tailors and Dressmakers
are concerned. they are not thing
~nart: hut acknowledgements DOR
ton of the general business fabric of
the country. When all of our SO manu-
featuring interests, and all of the l1s
different retail mercantile groups of
the country become so regarder, the
economic welfare of the race group
will have been far advanced.
More than three billion dollars are
spent annually to dress the American
citizen and his family. Numerically,
one-tentn of this market is racially
Negro. While the race boasts Of few
aristocrats who may be Indifferent to
clothing costs, these folks constitute
and important part of the patronage
of tailors and dressmakerS. You are
the privileged caterers to the appeal
needs of many of these people.
The success of number ofthe mem
bers of this body as tailors and dress
makers to the general public OF your
respective communities and the dis
tinction which some of you enjoy of
having a patronage among even the
most exclusive aand wealthy, tells a
most significant story of genuine OPP
portunity. With that democratic OPP
portunity there is, however, the neceS-
sity and responsibility of keeping
thoroughly abreast of the times. Your
convention and your trade journal
show that you are trying to do that in
precisely the same way as do all other
competent tradespeople.
According to the latest available
figures. Grams 1925 Market Data Pub
LEGATION. the tabulation of the Govern
ment Census of Distribution being as
yet incomplete:
S1,O25, sO3, OS5is spent for mems cloth
ing.
s25O,OOO,OOO is spent for cleaning
dying.
s1,293, zoe, POI is sentp for women'S gar
mentS and millinery.
S6O,OOO,OOO is spent for domestic furs.
S135,OOO,OO0 is spent for imported furs.
S3Oe, S56,S41 is spent for millinery, lace
goods and feathers. .
S1S,173,574 is spent for needles, pins,
hooks, etc.
Just assuming that you had share
of this business in proportion to the
numerical strength of the race, doing
as you do considerable for those OF
other races to counterbalance the
loss of the business of those Negroes
woh spend elsewhere, your share would
be over three hundred millions of
annual business. There is a tremen-
dous market available to those who
seek il with efficiency and good bust
ness judgement.
Twenty-three thousand nine hundred
and fifty stores; Clip factories, 1897
contract shops and 2,406 plants are
necessary to handle the business in
your lines. Nm less than 62 trade
journals are sustained to keep the
business informed as to trade pro-
gress.
There has been an increase in the
dress and cost sales on the part OF
merchants. 1t is obvious from this
that if you would progress, some a
mong you must eventually contemplate
mass production. This is especially
true with reference to work clothes
and other commodities that lend them
selves to mass production.
The cleaning and dyeing business
has shown one of the greatest eX-
amples of growth in the annals OF
American business. In five years it
has grown 92.5 per cent. l am pleased
to report that many Negro owned bust
nesses in this group have grown with
the trade Substantial plants are re-
ported in over a dozen cities. There is
room in the trade for many more. This
is likewise true of an allied industry,
the laundry.
Returning to the needle trades, it
is found that practically II per cent
of the gross income of the business is
paid out in wages, 1898 per cent to be
exact. And per cent in advertising
Carried to the ultimate conclusion
suggestion a while ago, this would
mean $3.50 millions in wages to work
ers and the distribution of more thar
so millions to newspapers and other
advertising media. Reduced to hun
dred dollar a month jobs, that would
mean 10000 people employed, some
thing for you to think over,
While building your own business,
may | remind the tailors that they can
only survive and succeed as do others
businesses and professions; and that
the welfare of all must be regarded
do your bit and don't be selfish.
Unfortunately | must leave early to-
morrow morning to attend another
convention in Charlotte, North Caro-
lima, and this time cannot remain
with you for your highly interesting
business sessions. But you may be as
suder that in spirit, shall be with
you. May l remind you that the Do
nestle Commerce Division continues
AT YOUR service, either through the