The Twin-City American. [volume], May 11, 1899, Image 1

About The Twin-City American. [volume] (Minneapolis [Minn.] ;) 1899-1899

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THE AMERICAN
An Independent Race Journal, Deve
ted to the Interest of the Colored Kace.
Subscription Price $1.50 Per Year,
Wmm
No. 2.
yol. 1.
The Alabama Penny Saving Bank.
A Prosperous Banking Institution, Owned and
Operated by Colored Men.
Does a Yoeman Service in Birmingham, where it is Located,
and arouses a spirit of healthful Emulation and Serves
as a Beacon Light to other Cities of the South.
Through its Influence, New Banks are
Established in Montgomery and
Selma, Ala., and New
Orleans, La.
Special to TEE AMERIOAN:
The Afro-American’s snccess in busi
ness means more for the race than on the
surface may appear. It implies notonly
our growth along material lines, the de.
velopment of executive ability and e
shrewd intelligence, but it shows alsc
individual reliability of character and &
@pirit of co-operation and of unity essen
tial to our progress as a people.
There are now few avoocations it
which, copsidering the length of his
~ freedom and the measure of his oppor
. tunities, the Negro is not well repre
sented, not only from the numerica
standpoint but equally from the stand
point of ability. We have farmers, me
chanios, merchants, lawyers, doctors, anc
ministers galore, with a spriukling o
artists and literati. All these, as the)
perform oreditably the duties of thei
several callings, are not only demonstra
ting personal worth, but are refuting th
doctrines of the Negro’s inferiority anc
strengthening the claim of the brother
hood of man. !
The bank as a species of racial activit,
did not appear until a comparativel;
recent date. The first bank owned anc
operated by Afro-Americans was openec
in Richmond, Va., less than a dozer
years ago. Chattanooga soon followec
- suit; and, the spirit of enterprise travel
~ ing southward, nearly nine years ago the
Penny Savings Bank was established it
Birmingham, Ala.
The leader in this movement was Dr
W. R. Pottitord. There is no need be
tell here of his early life on the farm, ol
his struggles for an education, of his
pluck, his perseverance, and his fina
successes. All this is more fully anc
effectively told in Dr. SBimmons’ “Men of
Mark,” than time and space would per
mit here. The years have but added t«
Dr. Pettiford’s record for probity, fo
sagacity and for activity along race
lines.
} Mr. W. W. Browne, of True Re
formers’ fame, and the founder of the
bank at Richmond, in a visit to Birming
} ham, consulted Dr. Pettiford about the
establishment in that city of
branch bank of the business in Rich
mond. But the future bank presiden
did not favor a branch business for Bir
mingham. He did favor, however
the establishment of an independen
bank in the Magic City. Pursuing the
idea, he succeeded in interesting severa
of the leading citizens of the town
prominent ammong whom were Mr. Wm
Robinson, 8 well-known business man
since deceased, Prof. G. J. Clayton, ther
principal of one of the eity public
schools, and Mr. B. H. Hudson, the
bank’s present cashier, a man of recog.
nized high character, possessing the cool
calm judgment, the conservatism and the
steady trustworthiness which fit him sc
eminently for the place he now fills.
A meeting called to consider the
matter resulted in the establishment of
the Alabama Penny Savings Bank, which
was opened for business Oct. 15, 1890.
The first day's receipts were $555.55.
Despite this fair beginning, there were,
of course, some croackings to be heard.
Many of those who call themselves the
better class of colored citizets were in
clined to stand aside, as is so often the
case, and watch the experiment from a
distance. Some regarded the whole affair
as a huge joke _and prophesied six
mouths as the limit of the new bank’s
existence.
hflWon, m,m to
all diretal predictions, not only held its
own but maintained a & growth.
When the panic of ‘93 saw some of the
T
the bank was | . The first floor of
this 'flw i & meat brick
Structure of three stories, is used for the
"“‘1: & colored photographer and the
S pardanie 4o ines bhse to m,,
* .=‘»zL-:~“?f.—, swer b e s " —— ‘:4‘ I 8
AT W:?a?”, m “%r*; e,
; ”gi”"“yw ime, sbout 100 por
""‘”*w;*é ol
Gy ~,_*»‘;i_ m"‘g » @ w i larg b
é%%;m LS99 ks I
l Birmingham. Among the depositors are
now to be found all classes of citizens,—
miuers, railroad men, mechanics, day
laborers, teachers and professional men.
A great mauy children are the pround
possessors of bank books, the little ones
being encouraged to save by the fact
that so small a sum as five cents is taken
in deposit. When the amount of five
dollars has been reached, four per cent
interest is paid. Many white citizens
transact business with the colored bus
iness, some to encourage the enterprise,
others from motives of convenience.
The bank has helped many families to
secure homes of their own. This is done
by lending money on real estate at eight
per cent, the state's legal rate, and allow
ing long time payments. In other cases,
homes have been saved by the bauk buy
ing up the mortgage aud making easy
terms for its payment. Many have been
the pathetic scenes at the bank office
when some poor fellow has come with
tears in Lis eyes aud with taltering voice
to express hie thanks for the saving of
his household guods from the auctioneer's
hammer or the keeping «* a roof above
the heads of his wife and children.
The officers of the bavk are frequently
appointed administrators of estates, and
the interests of those served are always
safe in their hands. While the people
appear to understand the business re
lations existing between them aund the
bank, and few seek to impose on the
institution because it is conducted by
people, they do expect to' flud o
friend in their need, and in this they are
not disappointed
Besides the efficient officers already
mentioned, & name closely associated
with the practioal workings of the bank
is that of ite faithfal Vice-President, Mr.
Peter F. Clark, one of the pioneers of
Birmingham and a man well and favor
ably known throughout the community.
These getlemen, with their corp of
clever and gentlemanly clerks, trans
acting business in their commodious and
well appointed building, on one of the
principal thoroughtares of the city, form
as encouraging a picture of race progress
as can bo seen anywhere. The courtesies
and services usually exchanged between
such business houses pass without com
ment between the Penny Savings Bank
and the other banks of the city, though
it must be admitted that this has not
always been the case. The recognition
now acoorded the institation in the busi
ness life of the town, however, is all that
could be desired.
A fow weeks ago, Dr. Pettiford went
by invitation to New Orleans to assist in
the organization of a baunk smong the
colored people of that eity. 'The business
was established, with fifteen directors
and a ocapital stock of $lOO,OOO. Dr.
Pettiford assisted also in organizing a
bank in Selma, which will open for busi
ness within a few weeks with the well
knownDr.Mixon,oflhoL.l.E.Chumb.
as president. At the solicitation of the
Citizens’ Union of that place, he lectured
also in Montgomery, looking to the same
end. Much interest was aroused and it
is likely that an organization will soon
be effected in the Oapital Oity,
And so the leaven spreads. Aud the
Alabama Penny Saving Bank st Bir.
mingham, besides doing yoeman service
in its own community, arouses a spirit
of healthtul emulation and serves as a
beason-light to its sister cities of the
South.
| Josermine Turrin Wasnixgrox.
Birmingham, Ala.
A ————
Distinguished Race Men
To Visit Misneapolis During the
The uext session of the General Assem
bly of the Presbyterian Choreh will|
newt colored commissionsrs, who are|
Dottor Weaver, Baltimors; Rev. C. Dil
lard, Goldsboro, N. C.; Hon. George H, |
;fim N.C; Rev. A. K. Frier |
son, D, D., Chariotte, N. C.; Prot, H. A.
vN. C; Rev. John A.|
Dalon, G Mr. W. J. Jumes, Arcadie. |
mmm B.CoMr. 7.}
W. Polasett, Charieston, B C; Bev, G,
C. Campbell, Burkeville Va; Juneus |
MINNEAPOLIS AND ST. PAUL. THURSDAY. MAY 11, 1899,
t{ CORRESPONDENCE.
t National Capital Items.
1 Mrs, Charlotte F, Grimke is appointed
B School Trustee to succeed Mrs. Mary
2 Church Terrell, who Recently Re
-3 signed.~Congressman White admitted
to Practice Law before the Distriet of
; Columbia Supreme Court.—A Daily
) Raee Paper in Washington,
: Wasuixtow, D. C., May, 7, 1809, — Mrs,
: Charlotte Grimke was appointed a
: school trustee, Monday, tofill the vacanoy
| caused by the resignation of Mrs. Mary
X Church Terrell, Satarday, April 20th,
Commissioner Ross deserves the thanks
' of an entire community for his choice.
| Mrs. Grimke is the wife of Rev. F. J.
' Grimke, the popular pastor of the Fif.
A teenth street Presbyterian charch. My,
: Girimke was at one time a school trustee
but resigned shortly after his appoint
; ment. His wife is & woman of rare in
tellectnal attainments, a type of the
i highest womanhood and stands for all
that is best in our civilization. She pre
'| sides with wonderful tact over her taste
: tul home. One of the heppiest years of
my life was that spent as & member of
| their household.
On Tuesday night, the closing exer
cises of Bethel Literary and Historical
| Associstion were held. It was Woman’s
| Right. Among those presenting papers
were Mrs Colarie F. Cook, Mre. Alice 8.
Davis, Mrs. Mary Church Terrell, Mrs.
Aunnie E. Walker, Miss Luoy E. Moten.
The music was 8 pleasing part of the
program, foruished by Mr. Stanton
Wormly and Miss Evans, & stadent of
the Normal School. The officers tor the
ensuing year are: W. H. Richards
president; Kelloy Miller, lst vice-presi
dent; Ida Gibbs, 20d vice-president; Laurs
Joizer, secretary; B. W. Thompson, ss
sistant . secretary; Mattie Bowen,
treasurer.
The Ladies Unity Society bheld o
meeting Tuesday evening to take unker
advisement = change in the constitvtion.
This sssocistion is wndesominational
and twenty-six yoars old. It has some
six hundred dollars to its credit in bank.
It pays sick dues and & benefit at death
Its meetings are held once & month in
one of the rooms st Metropolitan A. M.
E. church. ‘ ‘
The Emerald May Feast was a sunccess
Pile’s dessrves much eredit. The Purish
ball was crowded (o its utmost eapacity.
one of the usbors snd bor emile was
worthy “the dsughter of the gode”
Dr. A M. Curtis, surgson-in-charge,
presided at the commencement « s |
of the Training Hobool for i:::
Freedmen's Hospital, Wednesday eves
iog. These were held in the Reokiu
Rev. Walter H. Brooks, Rev. J. E. Ran
kin and the Hon. Commissioner of the
Greneral Land Office made addresses.
Commissioner John W. Ross presented
the diplomas, Instrumental and voeal
music was furnished by Miss Lola John
sen, Mouncia Flores and Winston Payne,
The chapel was crowded long before the
exercises began.
Dr. Mary ; Brown of Vt. avenne broke
the ankle of her right foot while dis
mounting from her wheel Wednesday
morning. The Dr. is the eldest danghter
of the late Bishop John M. Brown and »
teacher in the public schools. Bhe was
graduated from the Medical department
of Howard University last yoar.
Miss Julia Grant, for many years one
of the publio school teschers, has been
out of school since the blizzard on se
count of ill heajth and will not be able to
return this year.
The teachers of Banneker Sehcol
gave a luncheon Wedneaday hetween
the morning and afternvon sesslons at
which the recently appointed trustee
was the guest of honor. Mrs. Terrell,
the retiring trustes, was lnvited to mest
ber. Dr. Jas. H, N. Waring, the super—
vising prineipail of the tenth divislon and
Miss E. F. G. Merritt In charge of
primary work were the other guests,
The reguiar monthly meeting of the
Teachers’ Beneficlal Association was
beld Wednesday evenlng at Lincoln
Memorial ehurch. The name explains
teolf. It differs from all other attempts
to found beneficial associations among
the teachers in that marriage does no’
debar ove from sick or death benefits,
imm-nuumun up. A goodly
‘u-hr of women ook ferward to
entering the bonds of matrimony some
day and did mot relish supporting s
soelety that would neither pay backany
monies they had eontributed nor give
them any benefits in such an event, The
present soclety is entering ite weeond
year. Tuere Is a very strovg association
Officers of the Alabama Penny Savings Bank.
V. B. Perpavons, - . o
P.FCusg =« . T b .n.ém‘:
’r‘-m - - (w
Georgian Justice.
in the first divisions, It has been in ex
tstence some years and has in its pos
sension several thousandaof dollars. The
teachers in our schoels, which comprise
the ninth, tenth and eleventh divisions,
are debarred from joluing as well as the
colored tenchers of the county. which
are Included in their eighth division,
Some of the colored county teachers did
apply and were rejected beeause the
social guestion might arl.e. Whenever
you mee anything about the publle
schools of Washingten or thelr superin
tendent be sure it refers to the eight first
divisions, The “‘others,” or the colored
schools are not in mind,
One prominent newspaper goes so far
as to separate notices of marringe
licensew, under the head “white,”
“eolored” and in one Instance whers the
two races were represented “white and
colored,”
Misses Carrie Cook and Nina Parke,
teachers in the Baltimore eounty
schools, were In the elty last Sunday.
The former wns the guest of Miss Maggie
W. Lewis, M, street, and the latter of
her wister, Miss Caddie Parke, Ninth
street.
I have just had a talk with John N,
Golns, the business manager of The
Datly Record. He Is aesociated with A,
L. Mauly, who is the Editor and F. J.
Manly, general manager of the same,
These men have beeu In Washington less
than three months. Their manner of
leaving Wilmington, N, €., s fresh in the
minds of everybody. Mr, Golos tells me
that they are not allowed in the state of
North Caroliun any more. He thinks
Washington s good fleld for newspaper
enterprise. If I recall aright, Ila B,
Welle, now Mre. Ferdioand Burnett, of
Chieago, was compelled to leave Tonne
see, because she wrote up some lypeh
foge in termas not to be misunderstood.
The lordly fire-eater of the South does
not want bis usholy deeds unmasked
belcore the world,
There are very tew colored women in
journalism, but those lew are succosding
admirably iu whatever branek of it they
cultivate, The Easter edition of The
| Statesman, published at Denver, Col,, has
n Woman’s Bupplement, edited by E.
} Azalla Huckley, the talented wife of the
editor. 1 bave not ween her sines
her marriage, aod litile dreamed
that the drawing.room belle wonld
|develope Into the thorough, practieal
\ woman of business, As Aszalia Smith,
whe was much admired in her native
’homo. Detrolt, and was & most success
ful teacher In its mixed schoolws
Lot “man, proud man’’ vaunt himsell as
‘he will, he eannot suecesd without
“woman, lovely woman,"
Rumor says that & woek’sboliday wikl
he glvan the schools durlng the Jublles,
Just why we should have a holidey
doew not appear, since we have no part
in the celebration, nor do | ses where we
have been mentionsd “in any connection
with publie sehouls.”
Hon. George H, White, ot North Caro~
line, the only eolored member of Con
grons, was admitted to the practies of
law, before the Bupreme Court ol the
Distriet of Columbin, on Monday, May
Ist. The motion was madeby Attorney
Reuben 8, Smith, who used to be the de
bonualr Washington correspondent of
the New York Age. Mr, Wiite and the
Heon. H. P. Cheatham are brothers-in
law, having married two sisters, the
Misses Cherry, of North Carelina.
The Washington Post grows hysterieal
over the fact that 200 soldiers whe died
in Cuba last year wore buried in Ariffog
ton duriug the week with less pomp and
Muplay than the three hundred who
were burled about three weeks ago, It
says: “Oae s irresistibly impelied to ask
himasll for an explanation of the differ
mee between the two wsrocesdings.”
We should like to ask the question why
the eolored anldiers In Arlington are put
off in a eorner to themseives, A patriot
I 8 & patriot, whether earved In ivory or
hewn in sbony.
Mre. Hyman is recovering from an
nttack of paralysis. Bhe is the widow
o ex-Congressman John Hyman, of
North Caroliva, and makes her home
with Henry, ber son, & letter carvier, .
An sutertaloment 15r the benefit of St,
Mary’s Church was held at G. A. R hall
Friday uight.
This moroiog St Lake's Sunday
kehiool began Its sessions at 9:15, the
e S P . i
furing warm .
Among those who have recently
puesed away at Cleveland, Ohio, are Mry,
Toyee, Mrs. Valentine and Mre. Beoson.
T'be lormer breathed out her young Wi
kmid the pines of Georgin. Boe was the
rounger denghtor of Dr. Samuel Watson
(and bls Gret wile) of Detroit. She
s ven twe young ehildron, one of whom
;’ with m:nn. mrt‘q‘; w,h
Bot usknown bere. He ia u trustes of the
v:; ‘EW ' x(i *4.»‘ ;“f‘ :a ’ \!y s
ey L e rabaesin L
‘ THE AMERICAN 1
A Jouraal of News, and Opinion,
Origina! in Design, National in Seope,
Subseription Price $1.50 Por Year,
i i e
Price 5 Cents,
RACE LOYALTY.
Are the Negroes of the South Becom~
ing More Loyal to Each Other?
| “United we siand, divided we fall” is
|an old epigramynniic saying, which, if not
lexaoctly Bible, is “God’s trath,” amount
[iug to about the sawe thing. It is a text
whioh should be presched many times
and oft to the Negro race. In fact,
during recent years, it has been pretty
well harped upon by some of the race
papers and leaders, with what reenit, it
shall be the effort of the writer to show
in part, .
To nnswer this question properly and
in & way to impress a reading and an in
terested pnblio that the race is making
the much needed progress along the line
of nequiring loyalty, it will be beat not to
“deal in glittering generalities,” ns a
school boy wonld put it, but to give a
| fow tacts which may tend to settle the
matter somewhat satisfactorily in the
sffirmativa, An attempt to do this will
be made by setting forth the following
instunces, whioh have come directly
within the knowledge of persons living
in the Bouth, SBome of the examples
presented may arouse the othical qnes
tion as to whether such allegiance is
better than none at ull—still straws show
which way the wind blows, and if psyoho
logists allow that & perverted couvscience
in preferable to no conscience st all,
then by analogy & perverted loyalty
should be looked at in the same light,
and it is generally conceded to be easier
to reform than to create,
Juat after MoKinley's election, 1n a
small southern town, a Negro was appli
eant for the post-office. This fact, natu.
rally aroused the opposition of the whites.
The Negro was also a oandidate fora
position ag teacher in the publio school
of the place. The whites wizhed, sither
to give him the position as tencher and
bind him by contract in such & way that
he conld not accept the post-office were
he appoiuted, or, to refuse him the pluce,
thereby foreing him to go elsewhere for
work and thus to render him ineligible
to the position as postmaster. Although
the young man was aware of their inten
tion, he did what few would have done
under like oironmstances, vis.: he frankly
informed the school board that he would
% m«s 6ot “jw;rnix ‘fii L :,-T;i “i S
tarned up, (menning, without doubt, the
post office) he would promptly resign and
take it at once, It goes without saying
that he failed of election. But just here,
i the Negross of the town showed race
¢ | loyslty, Understanding pretty fully the
# | condition of affairs, and the Negro pol
« | itiolans of the town being spxious that
" | the postmaster be one of their own race,
: they immediately organized a private
i school, installed their applicant as teacher
i | snd, notwithetanding the fact that they
.| poid their taxes, supported their im
p| promptu schoel with right good will,
- | many of them losing paying jobs which
. | they had held for years among the whites
¥|by so doing. They continued faithtul to
t! their venture, however, till the would-be
' postmaster was given a goverument posi
f ‘m. G
;| On an ooonsion when some Negroes
t | were brought to trial, the Negross who
p| wore summoned as witnesses aguinst the
i | supposed oriminals not only failed to
#ive evidenoe to condemn the parties
- | arrested, but they sleo onst not the sligh
- | tewt suspicion on any other Negro in the
!l community, Intelligent oolored men
"l who attend eonrt say that this fact is
" | something unusaal and noheard of where
"| Negross appesr as witnesses againet .
¢ | members of their own race e
| The lynching which took place st Pal
* | metto, Giu., a short time sinoce, hasbad so
'| much said regurding it that it appears
i better to “let slesping dogs lie,” so we o
oruve pardou for refering to that horrible
| affair in torgetting this argument, Meny
' ¥ ¥ ", m g
;| fuot that some of the men whe were s 0
- | outlawry and bloodshed, lost their lives
' knew concerning others of Mrmé%
: ions and friends in and sround Palmetto,
(|lt will now forever remuin & doubbas
to whether or not those who, were mob- qé;‘r'
, | bed reully knew anything of s criminating
| more than die by bis loyalty,
of course, may be ouly an excuse for the
| wholesale slaughter of colored men which
|| bistory. Bat it is to be hoped that the
siatement i e and that the Nogross
|in the Black Belt of the south baw s
last aotuaily come to the conclusion that
vin union there is strwngth,” aod St wn-
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