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About The Omaha guide. (Omaha, Neb.) 1927-19?? | View Entire Issue (Aug. 6, 1932)
"Two Faithful Aides j of Uncle Sammy Bj Dr. Jilia* Klein. Secretary •I I .'oat merer of the I'nited States Wa h.r.gton. July 27—(ANP)— Pres.Jeat H cover, several weeks ago, ■■*rc& m tea-‘...Til memorial wreath to b* i -;4 Upon the grave of a Negro »t» !_jui it r<g been a member of his pe. .... -a-: ah,.* he was Secre te y '1 c .isnefvi, and who had in ,x*. altogether, twenty-seven years to the government. The man av honor'd by the chief executive wa Charles Nelson Johnson, ■and M May 17th. ", j nt’s offering represented . at expression of regret bu : warm ptnoesl acknowtedge i.Mr. Johnson's efficient and cr 1 a,: *«/vice a« “secretary's mes v.-Rs ." duiing the eight years that Mr. .. . was head of this organ iaauea. Oai/ a few weeks after Mr. John son '-ad passed away< there occurred the *th of another of our long, time, nignly valued Negro employes -Mr Steph--n Fuller, of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce. I consider it a privilege to take this *pp r unity of paying tribute to the w >r k and the personal worth of these two Negro veterans of the United States Civil Service. T._k._J!_I £_a -J .11 it l’m3r t iiioi nvu. os v» tha* Mr. Johnson probably knew by a.^bt as many outstanding national and international figures as any man in Washington—because, during all the king period when he officiated in the outer office of Herbert Hoo ver and of R. P. Lament in the De partment of Commerce, there pass ed thr ough the portals an almost un ceasing stream of men who have at-, uuned distinction in every walk of life, in America and in foreign lands. Mr. Johnson had a keen memory for .their names and faces. And many it them remembered him on the occasion of repeated visits, de spite his natural modesty and un otrtnss: reness. His demeanor was al ways characterized by perfect cour. tesy, and he had rare gift* of tact. And too, Mr. Johnson was depend able in the highest degree, and was entrusted with numerous missions of importance—in the full assurance that the duty would be disebargod both faithfully and competently. The secretaries of commerce whom he served so long had good reason to appreciate such zealous and unre mitting application to the task in hand. Stephen Fuller was in charge of the Loan File of publications of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Oummeire. His knowledge of the publications within his charge was really astonishing, especially when one considers the variety of their subject-matter, covering practically every phase of domestic an dinterna. tional commerce, industry, and fi nance. Mr. Fuller had an inquiring mind, and he familiarized himself, to a remarkable extent, with the contents of each new booklet, as it came a cross his desk. Thus when any in quirer was vague or possible mis taken with respect to the precise number of title of a pamphlet—but was able ;o indicate its contents with some degree of accuracy—Me. Fuller could nearly always put his hand on the desired publication very' quickly. He wa* alert, energetic, exceptional ly methodical. He was glad to go out of his way to do things for his fellow-workers, in the course of of fice business. v orwiieniiousneas was one of Mr. Fuller’s major traits—as it was of Mr. Johnson also. Even after Mr. Fuller had been stricken with his last fatal illness, and was struggling against the gravest physical in capacity. je insisted upon coming to the office at times when he should not have done so. He was constant ly solicitous, to the last, that his work should be carried on with the most complete efficiency. He had been with the Department of Com merce for more than 27 years. C. M. A. PROGRAM FEATURES ANNUAL MEETING OF NA TIONAL NEGRO BUSINESS LEAGUE. The 33rd annual convention of the National Negro Business League, held in New York City, June 19 to 22 was another evidence of the fact that Tuskegce Institute reaches far beyond the class rooms and shops on its campus in the fostering of con stractive activities that will lead Ne gro peopie to reach a higher ground of economic independence, and citi zens hip Founded by Booker T. Wash ingt >n in 1900. the National Negro Business League under his guidance and that of its present president, Rafaert R Aloton. has grown stead ily for thirty-three years. A report of the convention pre. 1 pared by Ferol Vincent Smoot for the Associated Negro Press states that this wag net only the most spectacular, but the most successful convention in the history of the lea gue. The report states further that denng the three days more than 75.00*) people visited tht sessions of ' the convention and the trade exhibit., The ojening session was held a:; the Abyssinian church on Sunday (-.ening, June 19, at which time Dr. Robert R. Moton, principal of Tus kegee Institute and president of the league, delivered his annual address. Dr. Moton with his characteristic breadth of vision that looks beyond his own race to include ail races, in terpreted the depression and the present business situation in terms of its effect upon the relationship be tween black people and white. In this connection he said: “There is less suspicion and jeal ousy within the race. There is less suspicion and greater appreciation by the black race for the white race. There is a stronger and saner de sire on the part of the white race to be fair in its dealings with the black race. Thsi 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 interracial, ly and intra-racially with a whole some and increasing disregard of color and creed. The C. M. A. movement accepts nothing but the highest standards, including quality of products, service and absolutely sanitary surround ings. These are the things with which our group, as yet, is not very famil iar. The Negro business man must learn to give quality and service. We are not dealing or recommending black stores, but we are recommend ing up-to-date stores run by black men and women. The National Busi ness League through tre C. M. A.1 movement, offers a sane, safe, con structive way out. The trail has been blazied. W5e can follow, we should follow, and if we hope to succeed in business, we must follow.’” The general theme of the conven tion was “Negro Business Points the Way.” The subject discussed includ ed all angles of Negro business from without as well as from within. Ad dresses on Negro business from the viewpoints of the newspaper, the pro fessions, the church and the social workers were given by able speak ers. The future of Negro business of various types, insurance, dry goods, drug stores, grocery stores and banking, was discussed by suc cessful representatives of these groups. Technical advice on “Re search as a Factor in Meeting the New Tests of Negro Business” was given by James A. Jackson, business specailist of the United States De partment of Commerce. Trade Exhibit The magnificent trade exhibit sponsored by the Harlem Business Men’s club opened on Monday after noon, June 20, with special ceremon ies. The Harlem Business Men’s club, a branch of the National Negro Business League, with a membership of more than 200, was host to the convention. The exhibit featured forty-two beautifully decorated booths display ing merchandise of finest quality, which is handled by Negro owned stores in New York City. Several booths were held by social and fra ternal organizations at which fine needle work was shown and descrip tive literature on the work of the organization was distributed. An ex hibit of the work of Negro artists was sponsored by Arthur A. Schom burg, curator of Negro literature of the New York public library. A model cooking school which gave two demonstrations each day was con ducted by the New York Amsterdam News. One of the most striking ex hibits was a model grocery store displayed by the National Colored Merchants association. lhe Harlem Housewives* League v. as hostess to the convention. Dele gates from eleven cities attnded the convention to participate in the shaping of future plans for further development of the National House wives’ League program which is de voted to the promotion of Negro business by affiliation and coopera. ‘i m with the league in executive ses sion endorsed the program of the Housewives’ League and voted its full cooperation in the further ex. tension of the work during the com ing year. I hree new members were addedto the executive committee, of th Na tional Negro Business League. They ure: Allie N. Jones, vice president of the Harlem Business Men’s club and chairman of the Trade Exhibit; C. Benjamin Curley, president of the New York Peoples Credit Union and a vice president of the National C. * A. Stores, Inc.; Mrs. Margaret ( ■ Hartsfield of the Domestic Credit Bureau, New York CCity. Much Credit Due Holsey No small part of the success of the major project of the Business League—the C. M. A. Stores—is dur j to the vision and efforts of Albon L Holsey, for many years secretary to ‘he principal at Tuskegee Institute. I ntil two years ago Mr. Holsey had divided his time between the interests o£ the institute and the league. With the expansion of the C. M. A. project and Mr. Holsey’s election to the secretaryship of the league and the presidency of the C. M. A., it be < ■■■■'■■ ' ■ ■ . .— ■ TEN THOUSAND CHEER FORD IN BROOKLYN j Over ten thousand people (fathered to hear James W. Ford, Commun ist vice presidential candidate, at the Coney Island Stadium, in Brooklyn, New York. (Center) the candidate carried around the huge stadium on the shoulders of ex-servicemen as the ten thousand cheer. (Top and bottom) James W. Ford addresses the crowd. Here (reading right to left) are J. Louis Engdahl. secretary of the International Labor Defense, and Mrs. Ada Wright, mother of two Scotts boro boys, Roy and Andy Wright, as they appeared recently at a Scotts boro protest meeting in Paris. With them are two French revolutionary leaders, Jean Richetta, secretary of the Federation of Textile Workers, and Marcel Cachin, editor of the revolutionary journal, L’Humanite. came necessary for him to make his headcfiiarters in New York. Mr. Holsey’s report was one of the high spots in the convention. Ex. cerpts from the report follows: “Since the last convention Sy ' public meetings were held in the in ! terest of Negro business. Thirty-two of these meetings were held outsiue of greater New York. We have, there tore, through these meetings, reach ed more than 15,000 people in which a direct appeal was made to them for cooperation and higher standards of business procedure. “Direct contacts have been made with local groups of business men and women in 38 cities. In addition to the combined Trade W’eek and Trade Exhibit which was sponsoied by the Harlem Business Men’s club trade campaigns and trade exhibits have been held in Baltimore, Phila delphia, Pittsburgh, Dallas. Texas. Atlantic City, N. J„ Winston-Salem, N. C., Cincinnati, Ohio, Detroit, and Richmond, Va. Mr. Holsey pointed out that while all of the local groups whi<5h sponsor ed these movements are not formal ly affiliated with the National Ne gro Business League, that organiza tion did cooperate with several of them by sending suggestions, mater ial, and speakers. bince the last convention fourteen of the twenty-seven stores operating under the C. M. A. franchise in greater New York have been re modeled according to the C. M. A. specifications and more than one-half of these grocery’ stores are now stores which have been started by men who have caught the spirit of the C. M. A. and are now conducting buisness enterprises of their own, but affili. ated with the C. M. A. in order to get the benefits of scientific buying, advertisng. supervson, and merehan dising. Many Given Employment In the new model stores establisn ed to operate under the C. M. A. franchise, forty-one of our people are employed. In addition to these, fourteen Negroes are directly em ployed in the combined offices of the National Negro Business League and the National C. M. A. Stores, mak ing a total of fifty-five persons for j whom employment has been created, since the opening of the New York office in the fall of 1929. There are! also four salesmen directing the sales of C. M. A. tobacco products and there were sixty salespeople for the securities of the National C. M. A during the campaign which has now been closed. In all 121 persons have been directly employed through the aetivties of the C. M. A. and the Na tional Negro Business League. Forty Negroes are employed in the factor which has the contract for manufae- | turing C. M. A. cigars. C. M. A. stores are assisting other Negro business by using the service of two photographers, one Negrc sign maker, one Negro tire and bat tery service, two Negro printers, ont Negro paper supply company, a Ne gro advertising agency, and a Negrc artist. 4 The Harlem C. M. A. stores use two Negro bakers, purchase meat. and sliced bacon from a Negro coil cern, feature a sausage made by a Negroj and use a Negro laundry foi their linen supplies. Negro manufac turers are encouraged to ship their products to the national office of the C. M. A. and an arrangement has been made with the People’s Model Store to display this merchandise or what is called a “Shelf of Negro Manufactured Products.” The C. M. A. is thus laying the foundation for the development of a large field a mong Negroes.” Housewives’ League One of the most important and in teresting sessions of the convention of the National Negro Business Lea gue was tse session held by the Housewives’ League. Delegates from eleven cities attended and presented detailed reports concerning the acti vities of the Leagues in their com munities. Miss Eva D. Bowles, chair man of the Women’s Auxiliary of the Harlem Housewives’ League, de livered the address of welcome. An excellent paper on “What the Woman Who Buys Expects of the Man Who Sells,” was read by Mrs. T. Arnold Hill of New York City. The body voted unanimously to continue the work of the organization in affilia tion with the National Negro Busi ness League. 0-— -0 Read the GUIDE Every Week The GUIDE will Publish every line of LOCAL NEWS that reaches the Society Editor’s desk before 5 P. M. Monday of each week. Get your News Items in—Call WrE. 1750. o-— ■ o j . ... ( " V " —I II. ■ ...... "" .... Is the Negro in Busines a Failure? (By Carter G. Woodson) I have just returned from the maret which is not far away from my office. I often go over there at noon to buy a bit of fruit and to talk i with a young woman who so success- j fully conducts a fruit stand there in cooperation with her mother. Some years ago I tried to teach her in high school; but her memory was poor,; and she could not understand what I was trying to do. She stayed a few weeks, smiling at the others who toiled; and she finally left, feeling that going to high school was merely throwing away time. She learned from her mother, however, how to make a living and be happy. I was reminded of her, too, just a moment ago when there came to my office a friend who succeeded in mas tering everything we taught in high school and then distinguished him self in college. He brought me a song of woe. Having extreme diffi culty in finding what he is trained to do( he has thought several times of committing suicide. I encouraged him to go ahead and do it. The soon er the better. The food, water, and air which he is now consuming may then go to keep alive some one who | is in touch with life and able to grapple with its problems. He has been educated away from the fruit stand. I had been trying to convince th»s ; man of the unusual opportunities I for Negroes in business, but he re. i primanded me for urging him to take up such a task when most Negroes thus engaged have been failures. “If we invest our money in en terprises of our own," said he, “those 1 in charge will misuse or misapprop-1 priate it. We had just as well keep on throwing it away or deposit it ir. financial institutions controlled by those of another race.” Upon investigation, however, I find that this complainant and most oth »rs like him have never invested any thing in any sort of Negro enter, prise. But they feel a bit guilty of this account, and when they have some apparent ground from fault finding they try to satisfy their con science which all but condemns them for their suicidal course of getting all they can out of the race while ! giving nothing back to it. Gossipers and scandal-mongers a mong Negroes, of course, come to the assistance of these fault-finders. Miseducated by the oppressors of the racet such michief-makers expect the Negro to fail anyway. They seize, then, upon the unverified reports, exaggerate the situation and circu late falsehoods throughout the world to their own undoing. You read great headlines as GREATEST NEGRO BUSINESS FAILS, NEGRO BANK ROBBED BY ITS OFFICERS, and THE TWILIGHT OF NEGRO BUS! NESS. When the concerns of other races fail, however, you read in the press only a brief mention of it with an expression of regret, and it passes from public notice.. The other day a large insurance company out west failed with a bil lion dollars of liabilities, but the dailies devoted only a few inches to it. I nthe case of the trouble of the National Benefit life Insurance com pany, however, reports, rumors, and falsehoods spread like a fire alarm at midnight. Recently, too, when one of the main concerns of a multimillionoire in Chicago went into the hands of the receivers the press said practical ly nothing about it except to give the facts then known. When a quarrel developed in the Victory Life man agement, however, almost every Ne gro organ of consequence industri ously carried the alarm to the utter mst parts of the earth, proclaiming the failure of the Negro in the busi ness world. As a matter of fact, however, m neither case have the policyholders lost their investments, and the alarm is a reflection on people who are so ignorant as to be so easily disturbed. Itelligent people know that the government in this country protects the interests of policyholders «o that, come what mayi they do not lose. If the officers and stockholders 8o con duct their businesses as to wipe out their investments, that is their affair. Since they are jn control they should so manage the business as to take care of such interests. If they fad to do so, they must accept the loss as their reward. An investigation shown, however, that even when you consider the matter from the point of view of the proportions a larger number of white than Negro enterprises have failed, and during this depression Negroes have lost much more money in the failure of white businesses than in the cases of those of Ne groes. Yet those complaining Ne groes seldom mention what they lose that way. A bank controlled by whites may fail with their funds in it, but a Negro bank must not do so. .Investigation further shows that in proportion to the amount of capi tal invested Negro enterprises mani fest about as much strength as busi neses of others similarly situated. The main trouble with the business es of Negroes is that they are not adequately supported, and consequent 1 ly they do not always grow strong enough to pass through such an ordeal as this depression. In the case of the businesses of i other they not only find that neces sary support to develop this power, but they become able to help one another. In the time of the depress j ion, one poorly supported Negro en terprise is about as weak as another. Neither one can help the other, and the enterprise's of other races arc* not interested in seeing ours succeed. Negro business men have made mistakes, and they are still making ] them; but the weak link in the t h iin is that they are not properly sup ! ported. The Negro business man, j then, has not failed so much as he has failed to get support. The Am. erican Negroes as a group have fail ed in business. 1 have never seen any sense in denouncing those Negro business men who with the limited experience and opportunity have done the best they could in a sphere entirely new to them. I am sure that I can figure out some of the mistakes made by Her man Perry, Samuel W. Rutherford, and Anthony 0. Overton, but 1 see standing out in bold relief so many of their beneficial achievements that ; I am praying for the day when we shall build monuments to these men. Following the lead of W. W. Brow n of the True Reformers, these fort, runners blazed the way in all but forbidden field and directed us toward economic independence. If the next generation, avoiding their pitfalls, will build upon the foundation.which they have laid, the Negroes of to morrow will have no reason for look ing to others. They will be able to think and do for themselves. in view of these facts, anyone go ing around decrying the Ngero in business is either ignorant of mali cious. If we listen to such nonsense and govern ourselves accordingly to the do-nothing policy thereby sug gested we had just as well commit suicide. The day of the handout has passed. The ho^e for the Negro, like the hope for ai.y other poor people, lies in the proper solution of the promleb of making a living by en terprise and cooperation. On this foundation and on this only can we build a culture which will attract the attention of the world. BrasnBB9HB3anR9f: See the CONTEST EDITOR 2418 Grant Street
