USA > Arkansas > Pulaski County > Little Rock > Blue book of Little Rock and Argenta, Arkansas > Part 7
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She is the composer of verses which reputable houses in New York and Cincinnati have considered for publication. The titles of two of her poems are, "Beneath the White and Purple Blossoms, " and "Lay Me Where Sweet Roses Bloom."
Madam Sampson's study of planetary reading assures her in giving professional expositions of the seienee. She resides at 2320 Iligh street and is a member of Bethel A. M. E. Church.
Mrs. Lucinda Turner was born in Mississippi County, Arkansas, April 14, 1856, and has lived in Little Rock thirty- five years. Parents, Bolden and Mrs. Frances Woods. She never had school advantages; her husband taught her to read and write. She was married to Rev. Scipio Turner in Memphis, Tennessee, with whom she lived happily until his death, August 23, 1906. He was her first husband; one and three-fourths score years was the period of their nuptial rela- tions.
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Mrs. Turner was Princess of St. Paul Temple No. 40 for four years, and treasurer of Lincoln Star Tabernacle abont. two years. She is a strong believer in Christian religion, and is a member of Brown's Memorial A. M. E. Church. She owns her home, 1523 Pulaski street.
In continuation of the Blue Book, Mr. C. G. Harris, who was born in Arkansas, June 12, 1873, is thus introduced to the reader :
C. G. HARRIS.
He is the son of Byrd and Angeline Harris .. In 1887 the Arkansas Fair at Pine Bluff awarded Mr. Harris the premium for sketch drawing.
In 1897 he wedded Miss Novella King. As a fotogra- pher success has perehed upon his banner.
Mr. Harris is. a layman of the Church of God. This young fotographer's modest and unpretentious studio is conveniently situated in the city of Little Rock.
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Mr. J. H. Douglass was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, September 27. 1869. His parents were James A. and Mrs. Elizabeth Douglass. The father of the subject was a black- smith, and the mother a respectable dressmaker.
In 1900 he woood and wedded the widow, Mrs. Ida Bagsby. As far back as Mr. Douglass' mind runneth, he hath been standing at the blacksmith's bellows. When fourteen years old he was foreman of his father's shop. Ile was educated in Little Rock. St. Paul A. M. E. Zion Church shelters him spiritually. The Knights of Tabor honor him as a Past Grand. His smithy stands, combined with carriage repairing, at 310 West Seventh street. Mr. Douglass owns his home, 3011 East Twenty-sixth street.
W. T. Franklin, the practical horseshoer, was born at Rome, Georgia, 1870. IIis father, G. W. Franklin, died in 1900. Mrs. Charlotte M. Franklin, his mother, lives at 1218 Broad street, Rome, Georgia.
In 1882 Mr. Franklin migrated from Fort Payne, Ala- bama, to Pine Bluff, Arkansas, to shoe fast horses for the late Wiley Jones. March 20, 1892, he went to Hot Springs, Arkansas, where he was engaged in erceting the iron work for the Arlington Hotel; therefore he makes good claims as a master iron worker. He came to Little Rock in the autumn of 1893, and immediately swung open the doors of his smithy, as a first-class practical horseshoer. He is a single man, but makes no pretensions to being fancy free. Ilis primary and high school training were coneluded before he left the State of his birth. His residence is at 2722 Center street. Mr. Franklin is a busy and quick craftsman.
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Appendix
INDUSTRIAL EDUCATION.
(By M. W. Gibbs, Ex-Consul to Tamatave, Madagascar.)
The term industrial education is used in contradistinc- tion to the higher or classical. The latter embraces the study of Greek, Latin and other scholarly adornments. For the poor of any color the education that can the more speedily fit them to make two blades of grass grow where but one grew before, that will enable them not only to be self-sus- taining, but to accumulate a home and give their children an education the most productive and elevating, is the all- important want of the Negro. There is a disposition in some race quarters to underestimate the advantages of an indus- trial education, as an adjunct to the moral and material advancement of the race. The advocates of industrial educa- tion do not insist that this should be the sole aim of the race, but for eight-tenths who sustain themselves by handi- work it furnishes a help most speedy and fruitful. Of those who ardently desire a scholastic or a professional career, comparatively few have the means to attain it, and they should be encouraged and assisted in this very laudable aspiration. It is to the great bulk that industrial. training so forcibly appeals. The establishment and support of schools of technology, those schools teaching several distinct trades to pupils from the public schools, such as blacksmith- ing, civil and mechanical engineering, masonry, carpentry, stone cutting, printing, farming, etc., are now claiming the advocacy and support of the most worthy and distinguished in our country. Cooper Institute at New York was filled recently and addressed by such men of national fame as Carnegie, Rockefeller and others famous as capitalists and reformers, advocating the establishment of industrial schools.
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for the training of Negroes? No; but for young white men and women. If such training is necessary for white youths with all the advantages they have for assistance, how much more is it the duty of the Negro to seize with avidity, and stimulate every such movement by his advocacy and hearty support. Of the overstanding problem of the world, and which mankind is ever alert, is the struggle for survival, and he that by inspiring word and untiring deeds leads the deserving poor and destitute to prosperity and contentment, is entitled to unstinted praise as a great human force directed to a high moral purpose.
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While an advocate for the highest education of as many of the race who have the will or means to attain it, for the great majority, after obtaining a good English education, it should be immediately supplemented by a trade. To labor skillfully is its greatest want today.
STATUS OF THE MINISTRY.
(By Rev. D. B. Gaines, A. M., M. D., Pastor Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, Little Rock, Arkansas.)
When the relative intelligence of the races is taken into consideration, the Negro ministry compares most favor- ably with the ministry of any other race in shaping the destiny and uplifting the masses of its people. This is largely dne to the fact that the Negro minister is almost the absolute leader of his people, while such is not true of other races. The ministry may be divided into three great classes : First, the educated class; it can truthfully .be said that the Negro has a large per cent of educated ministers, men who. have not only been called of God to preach His Word and sanctified themselves to their profession or calling, but have gone forth with all possible vigor in search of theological knowledge. They have not been satisfied with a mere smat- tering, but have gone into the classics and ramified the great subject of theology in all its phases and stand the peers of any clergymen of any race. Their books and lectures on
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the subject do eredit to erudition, and cannot be gainsaid by the most scholarly of any people. It is encouraging to note that this class is becoming larger and larger every year.
Second, then, there is that great middle class of preach- ers. This elass constitutes by far the majority of the worthy ministry of our people. This class, unlike the other, has not. had the advantages of a college training or a regular and systematie training in theology; but has by hard study at home and by a rigid system of economy gathered abont them a limited but first-class library into which they have delved with energy and a devotion to the Master's cause that have made them the backbone of the great Christian work that is doing so much in making honorable and first- elass citizens of our people. There are hundreds and hun- dreds of these hard-working, half-paid preachers who are loyal to God and His eanse.
The third and last class is a crowd of preachers wlio elaim to be called of God to preach, but who seem to be left without a job. In fact, they seem to be in the way of the real work of the ministry. They have neither had the advantage of a school training, nor have they applied them- selves at home, at odd times; but have simply chased around the country bellowing aud hallooing, destroying both the soul and body of the people. It is this class that brought reproach upon the ministry. It is hoped this erowd of vam- pires will soon ecase.
THE RACE PROBLEM.
(By J. L. Wilson, A. M., D. D., Pastor Wesley Chapel.)
Some of the most subtle reasoners and renowned states- men have asserted that the race problem is the greatest problem with which Americans have to contend. Space does not allow us to show the absurdity of such an assertion. We admit that the race problem is a grave one, but it is not so grave as the liquor problem, which is filling graves and penitentiaries at an astonishing rate. There is only one way to solve the liquor problem-stop manufacturing
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BLUE BOOK.
alcoholic drinks. There is only one way to solve the race problem-let it die and let the inflammatory newspapers cease to stir the feelings of that clement, among both black and white, which is ever ready to disregard law and order. Impartial justice is the only remedy. The Golden Rule put into practice will so completely settle this problem that the future generations will hardly believe that such a problem ever existed.
Statesmen may infest the halls of Congress with their obnoxious presence and make sentimental speeches, but the simple cure is punishment for the lyncher as well as for the rapist, and impartial justice irrespective of race or color. This is the remedy pure and simple.
The pulpits everywhere should not remain silent in the teeth of this national drawback. They should condemn the extravagant language and baseless maledictions uttered by those who ought to be the custodians of peace and the nation's standard bearers. The pulpit, the nation's most potent factor, can by helpful sentiment replace flippant notions and put Bibles instead of the weapons of war into every Christian's hand. It is useless to elaborate. I close as I began, impartial justice for all and the Golden Rule practiced by all will bury the race problem so deep that it will not rise when Gabriel blows his last loud trumpet blast.
RELATIONSHIP OF THE TWO RACES IN LITTLE ROCK
(By IIon. J. E. Bush, Receiver of the United States Land Office, Little Rock, Arkansas.) 7
The city of Little Rock is located on the left bank of the Arkansas River, near the center of the State. It is the capital and metropolis of the State; it has a population variously estimated at 60,000 or 70,000 people. There are about 15,000 Negroes living in the city, the most of whom arc of the highest type of their race. A large number of them own their own homes, a great number are engaged in various business enterprises, such as groceries, gents' furnish- ing stores, jewelry stores, blacksmith shops, saloons, restau-
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rants, print shops, boarding honses, and they have one bank, the Capital City, one of the strongest financial institutions of its kind in the country.
The Negroes as a rule are industrious, thrifty and hard workers. A large number of them have very flattering bank accounts. They own and operate four colleges and have about thirty public school teachers.
They have many churches of various denominations. Their church property will compare favorably with any in any section of the country. They enjoy the respect and fullest confidence of their white neighbors, who stand willing and ready at all times to aid and assist the worthy and deal out equal and exact justice to the criminal class.
The white people, as a whole, take pride in encouraging and uplifting their brother in black, both by advice, their counsel and money. The two raees are living side by side, each striving as best it can to make the very best of citizens, and it is thus said of Little Rock, by those who are acquainted with the existing conditions, that it is one of the best cities in all of the country, and it is often denomi- nated, "The garden spot of the world." Much of this kind feeling, Christian spirit and brotherly love is brought about by the Negro attending strictly to his own business, his love of school and church, his industrious and sober habits.
The Negroes in the State of Arkansas own $30,000,000.00 worth of real and personal property. For the year 1906 they paid into the State Treasury for taxes $312,000.00. In the city of Little Rock they own about $2,500,000.00 worth of property. It can thus be seen that they are a thrifty, prosperous people.
SOLUTION OF THE RACE PROBLEM.
(By Professor Joseph A. Booker, A. M., President Arkansas Baptist College.)
What is the race problem? The race problem is purely a question of race assertiveness on one hand and race toler- ance on the other. That is to say, it is a problem to tell how much in this country the weaker race will assert itself
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among the individuals and communities of the superior race and how much the superior race will tolerate this self- assertiveness. This is putting it very plainly, but this is the real thing and there is no need of softening it on account of feeling. It is a case not of surgery, but of rigid diagnosis and drastic prescription.
Now, when I speak of the self-assertiveness I do not want to be misunderstood; I do not want to mislead any one. I want to be properly understood. The Negro, about forty years ago, was liberated from bondage, made a citizen and a voter. As such, was expected to use his liberty as a man, play his part as a citizen, and cast his vote on all public questions like other men, accordingly as he was able to see from the viewpoint of a citizen and an inde- pendent thinker. Too, it was a question as to lrow much the race could and would actually learn in the way of prac- tical education and in the forward move of general intelli- genece. That is to say, one side of the race problem was, What would the Negro be willing and able to do for himself ? Following up this phase of the problem comes the question, "What will the white man allow the Negro to do for himself," in learning books, in exercising the rights of a citizen, and in accumulating property ? The one I call race toleration, the other I call race assertiveness. Hence, the race problem rests with the Negro and with the white man.
Now, how can this problem be solved ? How can we get the Negro everywhere to increase his self-respect, his self-support, his self-reliance? How can we thereby im- prove his public and private conduct ? For, after all, his conduct will have much to do with the race toleration he is to enjoy at the hands of the white man. I do not pretend to be able to answer in full the questions I have propounded, for if I do I will have made the solution to the problem, or at least that part of it. But it is a fact that much gain will be had if the Negro can be induced to have a care to these things: In the first place, the religious culture is essential to good will and good behavior. In the next place, strict relig- ious culture and strict moral training and regulation must be enforced with the young Negroes. Finally, intellectual and industrial training, or the habits of good sense and the habits of industry, must be closely cultivated. Let the
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Negro do his duty, be patient and forbearing in all his attempts to rise, and that will go a long way toward this solu- tion.
On the other hand, what the white man will allow the Negro or raee to do for itself-or what the Negroes will be allowed to do for themselves-will depend upon the tem- perament of the community-the publie sentiment in favor of the Negro's progress. And let it be said that public sentiment in favor of the Negroes depends largely npon the Negroes themselves. It depends upon their intrinsic value in a community, upon their wisdom in disputes, their forethought and reservation in time of peace, their quiet and decorum in public places.
So, after all, when we come to the final analysis, the solution of the raee problem, intricate as it may be, depends more upon the Negro himself than anybody else. Let us, therefore, quit ourselves like men. Let ns faec the future with a head, a heart, a hand that will "do with their might" whatever may contribute to this happy solution.
NECESSITY OF THE NEGRO LAWYER TO HIS RACE.
(By Attorney Nelson II. Nichols.)
To say that the Negro needs a lawyer of his race is putting the ease mildly; when we consider the position and part played by a lawyer, no race or nation is complete without them, who are the advance guard that blaze out the way for the home, church and State in their march from savagery to civilization.
Among the reasons why we have American lawyers, is beeanse they are more interested and concerned about affairs peenliar to America than a Japanese or French lawyer. Not that they love their elients less, but themselves more, and it is therefore as necessary for the Negro raee, being a part of that blood out of which God created all nations to dwell upon the face of the earth, to round out lawyers of its own kith and kin to embellish and finish off its eivil- ization.
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When we consider the condition of the Negro in this country, his ignorance of his duties, rights and privileges as they relate to the laws of the land; his relation to society, to the State and to his fellowman ; full citizenship and politi- cal rights gradually conferred would be an additional incen- tive to improvement; as with the rank foreigner in a few years by taking ont naturalization papers; is a full-fledged American citizen although unable to understand and be understood, his color gives him every protection; while the Negro, to the manor born, felled the forest, fought the Indian back, builded cities, nursed the children, cooked the food and protected the families, fought, bled and died in all the wars, yet by a color policy the Negro can't sit on the jury or be represented in the halls of legislation.
Everybody, of course, would not engage in a lynching bee, or burn alive an innocent and defenseless person, but few there are who feel any compunction of conscience at denying and using every indirection to deprive the Negro of every vestige of political right. It does not take these acts of savagery and boasted disregard of the rights of others to constitute a superior race, nor does it show equality before the law; but it does show that justice is not dead, but sleepetlı.
The Negro raee needs more than Negro lawyers to justify and enlighten it upon the justness of this viola- tion and sequestration of its rights, vouchsafed to it by every Republican form of government in the United States, which taxes him equally with the white citizens to maintain the State; that permits.its laws to be negatived; in protecting and securing to him service upon the grand and petit juries of the State.
Thomas Jefferson, that pioneer of American, aye, human, freedom, told George III, of England, that taxation without representation was formidable to tyrants only. As it was unjust to the colonies in America to exaet of them the last farthing of the taxes and at the same time deny to these same taxpayers a voice in his Parliament or law-making body.
The race needs its lawyers to point out the idea of living and the art of making life worth living, in contradistinction to the idea of dying or always preparing to die. But how
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to mix things up like the white brother who is putting his talent to the exchange by getting some Jesus and a comfort- able portion of this world, so that when the Hard Man com- eth, we may be blessed for getting something and not enesed for leaving our families panpers and dying happy.
The Negro lawyer is needed in proof of the fact that the great sacrifice of blood and treasure with which the Negro has been identified has not been made in vain, as it relates to the possibility of the race in achieving what evil prophets had pronounced impossible, and who seemed to forget that God gives the talents, not according to color, but as it suits Ilis pleasure. The standard of which the Negro must in some measure be attaining is evidenced by his presence in the crowning art of statecraft.
The future of America calls for Negro lawyers, jurists and statesmen, ceonomists and what not, to aid in the development of the constitution of the United States, the magna charta of the plain common people, the stay of North America and safeguard against the periodical outbreaks of the tropies; and when this nation, sandwiched between Africa on the east with its teeming millions of black men, and Asia on the west with her myriads of daring brown men, and on the north by Mother England, the asylum for the oppressed of all lands, and on the south by the mixed breed of South America from every country.
This same nation that the immortal Lincoln prayed God should never perish from the earth, instead of Jacob getting ready to meet his brother in the spirit of love, he is more greedy, grasping and tightfisted in his denial of political rights to the colored brother, but is still in distant isles of the sea and negotiating for other lands populated by dark races, contrary to the Monroe Doctrine and the Father of this country. Our great country, we repeat, must be too brave, too good and too just to tax its colored citizen and deny them representation on the juries by men of their own race and to be heard in the halls of legislation by men of their own race, who are acquainted with their grief and sorrows, as other races are heard by their elrosen represen- tatives. So that in fact, and not in fietion, every youth in our country, however humble, may aspire to the highest office in the gift of the nation.
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THIE NEGRO'S RELATION TO FINANCE.
(By J. II. McConico, Teller and Assistant Cashier Capital City Savings Bank.)
The world has had its age of discovery when mien braved the high seas and snatched new worlds and new people from the darkness of the unknown; it has had its cra of war, when the tramp of cavalry and the clash of sabres were heard around the world; it has had its age of literature and art when the bards of old grouped the magic letters into words and lines of beautiful rythm that drove ignorance from the ranks of man and set the dazzling lights of intelli- gence upon the hills of the universe. We have had the age of oratory when man's words, coming from a soul burn- ing with hidden fire, have caused civilization to advance or retreat, empires to wax and wane. All of this has passed and we are now in the midst of a financial age. This is the age when men have started penniless and ended million- aires, this is the age when men have been born in log huts and now live in marble halls.
Men are not judged now by the family eoat of arms, but the number of figures after their dollar mark ($). No people can expect to compete in this age that are not trained and educated up to the financial demands of the time. The Negro holds the happy distinetion of owning the smallest per cent of the wealth produced by him of any people in the country. The Negro is industrious, his ability to grasp the arts and sciences cannot be questioned; but when it comes to spending his money to his best advantage he is a laggard.
The Negro has not yet learned the value of small things. IIe has no chance to save large sums of money, because he will not learn how to save small amounts. The average laboring Negro carns $1.50 per day or $36.00 per month. If he will watch his expenditures he will find that about $5.00 of this amount goes out in 5 cent and 10 eent pieces for trifles of which there is no real need. If this $5.00 were saved cach month, that would be $60.00 saved in a year; $60.00 is the interest on $700.00 for a year at St per cent. If he is paying $8.00 per month rent he could add about
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$4.00 per month to that amount and purchase the property and still have $1.00 to lay away each month for a rainy day.
The man with the keenest business foresight does not necessarily make the most successful investor, it is the fellow who knows how to labor and wait. As a rule the Negro is impatient, he likes to gather the harvest on the heels of the sower. He would rather live one full, round day than to make out with less today and make some pro- vision for tomorrow. He does not believe in planting a dollar here today and returning fifteen years henee and reaping $10.00. It is the possession of these principles that is pushing the Anglo-Saxon forward, and unless the Negro learns them his lot is a scullion raee. The Negro understands very well the art of making money; his real needs eall for little money. Once he learns the art of hoarding and invest- ing money-watch him grow.
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