E. E. Fluker, of Pine Bluff, Ark., is another of the successful merchants of the South. Mr. Fluker, like most men, began business on a small amount of money, and has had some heavy losses that were hard to stand and remain in business. He has a large store, and does both a wholesale and retail trade in dry goods, hats, caps, boots and shoes and groceries. Mr. Fluker handles cotton on a large scale, and thinks nothing of buying and selling twelve thousand bales per year. He furnishes dry goods and provisions to a large number of poor planters who can only pay their bills once a year, and that is when they sell their cotton. Mr. Fluker has also been active in society work and has been instrumental in getting large numbers of colored people into benevolent societies, where they could get help when sick and in need. He owns a fine brick block in Pine Bluff, where his business is conducted, and in part of his building one of the city banks is operated. The room where the bank is is rented to white people, who carry on that business. MR. R. J. PALMER. [Illustration: MR. R. J. PALMER.] R. J. Palmer, of Columbia, S. C., the subject of this short sketch, is one of the successful and leading business men of that city. Mr. Palmer is a merchant tailor by occupation. His patrons are numbered among the leading white citizens of Columbia, who give him their work because of the confidence they have in him as an honest business man and an excellent workman in his line. Mr. Palmer keeps on hand a full and complete stock of foreign and domestic woolens and a good line of gents' furnishing goods. He employs only the best of workmen, and he does all the cutting and fitting, and his business is carried on in a good brick building, which is owned by himself. He also owns a good home. He is an active and prominent member of the M. E. Church. Mr. Palmer is a native of South Carolina, and has all his life enjoyed the respect and confidence of the best people of both races. MR. LOUIS KASTOR. [Illustration: MR. LOUIS KASTOR.]