The Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1931-1952, 1932-06-30
Business League
Holds Convention
Continued from Page u

president of the league, presided at
the opening session.
Music was presented by Hall
Johnson's choir and by Mrs. Day.
soprano soloist of First Presbyte-
rian Church of Rye, n. Y, and the
wife of one of the officers of the
National c. NJ. A. Stores.
DR.. Motion was introduced bv
Watt Terry. president of the Terry
Holding Company. His address was
responded to by Roscoe Conkling
Bruce. resident manager of the
Dunbar Garden Apartments. Miss
Eva d. Bowels. secretary of the
National c. NJ. A. Stores. read a
letter from DIR. Julius Klein. assist
ant secretary of the Department of
Commerce, Washington. D. c.. in
which he complimented the league
for sponsoring the c. A. Stores
movement.
Dir. Motions Address
DR.. Motions address, in part, was
as fellows:
I'VE are met in the 33rd annual
meeting of the National Negro Bus
mess League. The organization has
gone through many difficulties, but
is moving steadily forward. increas-
ing in solidarity and effectiveness.
THE Negro, like the rest of the
patton, is down, but | am unwill-
ing to believe that either the Negro
or the nation is out. This may be
naive statement, but | am frank
in saying that | do not feel as bad
about the depression as perhaps l
should. | personally, as well as the
institutions with which | am con-
neeted, feel the financial difficult
ties, but l am not as much dis
tubed as perhaps l should be-
"The situation through which we
are passing is solidifying the
thoughtful, altrutstic opinion of
thinking Negroes in way that l
have not witnessed before. We are
increasing now in solidarity and
in constructive desires for the sue
cess of the entire group. There is
less suspicion and jealousy within
the race. There is less suspicion |
and greater appreciation by the
black race for the white race. There |
is stronger and saner desire on |
the part of the white race to be |
fair in its dealings with the black |
race.
This is true in business as in |
all other phases of life. There is |
increasing throughout the nation
greater patriotism and more even
handed justice toward all groups, |
weak as well as strong, poor as
well as rich, black even as white.
There is truly greater tolerance
intraracially and intra-racially with
a wholesome and increasing disre-
gard of color and creed. The nation
is looking today as never before, for
character more than for color, and
this is all happily illustrated in the
marvellous success that our secre-
tary, Albion L. Holsey, has had in
the progressive and effective or
ganization of the Colored Merchants
Association, which has been spon
sored by the National Negro Bus
mess League"
This is the largest and most
forward-looking avenue of business
effort among Negroes. 1t has had
from white business men and Or
CARNATIONS. 1t is not competitive
movement, it is rather meant to
bring organized Negro business into
the channels of trade.
1.-The Negro spends for groceries,
roughly. more than a billion and a
half a year. When that spending
power is properly organized it is
bound to make an impression upon
the American business world to the
disadvantage of no one, but to the
very great and substantial advan-
tage of white and black alike.
1.-THE C. NJ. A. movement accepts
nothing but the highest standards,
including quality of products service
and absolutely sanitary surround
ings. These are things with which
our group, as yet, is not very IA
miliar ;other groups also have their
shortcomings. The Negro business
man must learn to give quality
and service and must not expect the
housewife to buy goods at his store
just because he is black We are not
dealing in or recommending black
stores. but we are recommending
stores run by black men
and women. It Is service that the
housewife wants and it is service
that the Negro business man must
give.
1.-The National Negro Business
League. through the c. M move