Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1937-06-25

buildings of which this metropolis
southwark toward Chicago's equal
through the 'loop" main business
that kept our country eyes turned C
Like the migratory spread of
Minneapolis this city's business is
moving ever onward and outward
and Negro business keeping step
with progress moves its important
center from 35th to 47th st.
If one may judge by the activity
of commerce upon this highway the
depression has passed on by. Color
full groups of its shifting populace
fill the street, it's theaters, it's drug
stores, it's beauty parlors; crowd
it's street cars, window shop its
many attractively displayed goods
for women, men and the home
little coiOred boys hawk "Joe
Louis" buttons; blind men and par
alyzed men beseech the benevo-
lence of the passerby though none
seem to give them heed.
Latest editions of the press called
by newsboys rival the noise of the
street hucksters who peddle in the
open street the products of farm
and garden.
A friend with whom we stop
for a moments greeting and to
whom we comment of this welcome
return of prosperity tells US pessi-
mistically that the reality bellies
our deduction. Declares that WPA
is largely responsible-that the bulk
of Chicago's people are in bad
way. And as we. continue our OBJ
servations conviction is forced upon |
US that our friends conclusions are
nearer correct than our first opti-
mistic estimate led us to believe.
For we noted a certain lily defined |
decadence, manifested more in
ways indefinite than specific. A
sort of lowering of the moral tone,
thing of the spirit that enveloped
many of the people, perhaps I'M
known even to themselves. The
residences show it; the appearance
of the lawns indicates it; the care
less conduct of patrons of the pic
ture houses proves it.
The cold attitudes of the traders
and the grasping raisings of rental
for strangers by hotels and homes !,
go to show that Chicago is in the
midst of a prize fight "boom" and
that it must make hay while the
sun shines. For tomorrow it will
be over.
Chicago is city of vast extent |
as everyone knows. But the casual
visitor is amazed at the extent of |
its territory. At the new sections,
each with its business center that
duplicates the Chicago of the loop.
In each of these there is found
colored people; few here; con-
siderable settlement there. In one
small such division, fifteen miles
from the city's center, there are
$500 Negro people, almost half as
many as the total of these people
in Minneapolis.
There are perhaps a half dozen
business places they conduct. In
one important way this community
shows its kinship with the Twin
Cities: it has 80 churches.
1t has seemed to us most natural
to discuss these things and the con-
illusions they invite with Chicago
acquaintance. They say it is most
unfair to judge the community by
it's worst and most visible aspects.
That Chicago, through it's churches,
clubs and civic organizations, is
doing much to bolster religion, edu-
cation and individual progress. The
truth of this we will not dispute.
But it has always seemed to this
writer just appraisal of a people
when the condition of the mass is
made the criterion.
On Sunday it was our good for
Due to his serious condition a male
nurse was on specia1 drtv with