Huntsville gazette., 1893-03-04

be obtained. He closed by saying
that the watch word Of our people
should be: l Home, 2 church, 3
81 hools; cut OF these would grow al
things else.-The President then
called for testimonials fiom persons
present as to the condition of the
people of their several communities,
One delegate stated that his peo-
pie attend church better that they
were doing better and sending their
children to school. Another had
made more corn than ever before and
had bought farm since last year.
Another said that for a long time he
could not make potatoes without
mortgaging but now he and nine
more in his community have pur
chased homes and have built schools,
and new life has taken hold of the
community. Another said; "That
his peope were lazy. and within the
last year there had been more steal
ing than ever before. Instead of ats
tending church on Sunday they
make that the day for stealing hogs
Another said; "That IN his section a
few years ago only one man owned
land. Now l8 own their lands" ("
Another said, "That in his section
seven had bought land within the
past year, and seven or eight more
would do the same"
Here DR. Dorsett, of Montgomery
arose and introduced Gen. S G..
Armstrong of Hampton, Va. The
Gen.. went on to commend many
things said and done by the confer
ence last year; and advised that they
support their schools and churches,
and economic and buy homes. He
told them to discard the use Of whisk-
ey, and apply their earnings to
building up homes. He asked all "to
raise their hands who have to buy
pork, sup went 200 hands now,
said he, "All who buy whiskey raise
your hands" none were raised. He
thought the watch word should be
church, the school, home and square
meals. 'Drive loafers out from
among you. Enforce the law of
vagrancy-Allow no one to eat your
food who will not work. Substitute
cow-peas for fertilizer instead OF
guano. Cotton may be King in
the South, but cow-peas are queen,
At this lpoint the resolutions were
introduced and the balance Of the
day was spent in discussing them.
Prof. B. F. Washington was elect
ed president and Prot. Mccall was
elected secretary.
Resolutions condemning excursion
train riding and Lynching were
passed. The conference also endors
ed the action Of Gov. Jones or
Lynching and mob law.
A resolution was passed to the et
feet that two-thirds Of the crop
should be TODD supply, such as corn
peas, potatoes and only one third
cotton.
Some interesting facts were given
showing that the mortgage system
wss on the decrease and the cash
system was taking its place.
The rate of interest on borrowed
money was next discussed and it was
shown that the rate ranges from II
to 80 per cent. All said that the
money borrowed in August and paic
back in September and October cos
them the same as money borrowed il
January.
The question To what extent ha
the public school fund been suppli-
mented by the people, was ther
taken up.
Several committees had supple
mented one half, causing the school
to run six or eight months instead 9
three and four. One place, Mt
Meggs, had raised $54O to supple
ment the public fund Of that town
ship.
Father Mitchell, as they call him
was perhaps the Oldest man in tn
convention. He is full blood Afri
can, of the Guinea tribe. He sai'
his people had built school, "bu