The Mississippi enterprise. (Jackson, Miss.) 1938-current, 1944-03-25
BABSON WARNS COLORED PEOPLE MOI TO
WASTE MONEY

This week our attention called to the following
article which think deserves reprint in part because it
gives good advice not only Negroes but to all Americans
the the war& MT Babsons article fellows in part
"Bahsbn Park, Florida, March 1871 writing to the
several million of colored people in this country More
over, do friend, who has contributed money
and time to help them.
"The way you foolishly spending money today
shame and disgrace Not only most of you wasting
you unworthy to have good wages. You showing
utter disregard Of any knowledge of finances
Monies
Present high wages cannot continue. Many of you
will be out of employment after the Millions of
workers will be discharged andalthough it will be unjust
you will be discharged first Therefore, you should
up money NOW to help you in these hard days ahead Most
white workers doing this
Some of you foolishy refuse to work if you have
little cash in your pockets applies to great strong men
and well to your young people. Too many of
you to have regard for the needs of the country
in this crucial hour.
q am writing this in the South where I have worked
with coored people for twenty winters have fought for
you and got you out of jail when the sheriff unusy
rested you know your good points and weak points, but
never before you in the lazy wasteful moods that
of you put on today
Does it ever occur to you what would happen to
country if all the people, white and colored acted as
and we all including YOU would be slaves of the Germans
and Japs Therefore, friend beg of you all to get all
the work can get work as faithfully as you can and
"A True Story: Let prove that colored boys have
just good opportunity to succeed as white boys
few years Weber College at Babson Park Florida en-
ployed coored boys in the kitchen Among them
named James Paul Goss The dean noticed that whereas
all the others went the movies shot craps the
ming James pracced for hours to learn tipping When the
summer vacation came he begged to take him North
and get him job in office. This did It was James
first opportunity.
James did SO well that brought him Florida
in the Fall That Winter he typed all my newspaper col
In March, 1912 he drafted One day officer
asked any of the could type James held his
hand Then he given his second opportunity. He has
not held gun since that day He gradually worked into
administrative duties He became corporal sergeant
second and then first lieutenant He is now Captain
with savings of $1,000 in bank and life insurance values.
of his coloed friends asked why James got
we'll he replied: We'll, you know, James does not
drink smoke; he works and and reads his Bible
every day. Last week James given his third oppor
tunity at Camp Springs Army Air Field, Washington D. c.
most worthwhile thing is about to happen in jack
son. perhaps of the worthy that has hap
pened We refer to the proposed organization by the Eco
nomc Committee of the Negro Chamber of Commerce of
local War Bond Club the details Of which given else
where in this paper
Because of the above article by Mr. Babson and because
feel that Negroes spending foosh and because
know very important it is for Negroes to build
security that will stand them in the days after
the war; hope that they will not only heed the warning
of Mr. Babson but will organize War Bond Clubs all
the city and state.