The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-03-11

recent number OF the Atlanta (Ga)
Constitution contains an interesting story
of a remarkable educational convention
recently held at Tuskegee. Ala. and lnei-
dcntally gives an account OF the wonder
ful educational work which has been &c
compiished among the negroes IN that sec
ton. largely through the fundamentally
~ one young man OF that race. Booker Z.
Washington
Al the time of Mr.. washington's arrival
~ Tuskegee. only dozen years ago, the
negroes In Macon county were ignorant
and thriftless. They outnumbered the
whites six or seven 10 one. They were in
debt to the stores, and as a result ths crop
II one year barely paid OF the indebted
ness Of the previous one. and their exist
nee was from hand to mouth. Today
those same negroes are among the thrift
iest In the South, very large number are
and owners and householders: and coll
ieetively they pay taxes on six times the
property that they did ten years ago and
I've In vastly more contentment. comfort
and happiness. All this has come about
through one singls aSency-practical ed.
ucAiion.
4 dozen years ago Mr. WASHINGTON
started school at TuskeSee with thirty
students. - los hut with rough ix12 planks
Tor benches. and few blueback spoilers
Ter toxt books. Today tbs school has ar
attendance OF 800 and is enc OF the hes,
equipped educational Institutions in the
South. having FIVE sr sin commodlous
three and four story brick buildings. seco
acres Of the best lana Ia tse state, all Ia
ei,.tles and equipments for giving good In
struCtion IN literature and In all OF the
useful arts and sciences. a corps Of some
!oTty or more competent Instructors are
provided and work FOR the young ne
erees o; the South Is being accomplished.
Every one OF those school buildings was
5pllt BY the pupils themselves. who had
earned the trades which qualified them 20
70 ths work at the school Not only are
ne customary school studies pursued. bat
every pupil Is taught some manual trade
~ which ae can largely support himself
durins his attendance upon the school and
make his living after leaving its walls.
The annual conferences. one of which Il
rariiculariy described In the Constitution
article. are the outSrowth OF shis eagea-
,.onal work They weTe started by Mr.
Washington six years ago. ana every year
siaco have increased in Importance aud
magnitude. Their purpose Is TO bring
R..ts fssF p 80
eneos Tor the bet,ermeai % tha race: and
,bey havs accomplished an Immense
aaopnt q good IN that direction. The
conferences this year was attended By over
30 negroes fr0a Georgia and Alabama.
x all degrees OF intelligence and repre-
eeauns every lire - industry. Aysay @;
ghera came long distances in wnxons
bringing wJth them their supplies. TIE
retect OF the conferences car - best stat
~ In the language q tie simple address
vita which NF. Washington opened TIE
peocsodlaEss
Il wish - caN EtteEt.ou % tas original
purpose of these conferences They we're
designed for the rauk aad ale OF sae peo-
PIE. VITA IRE View IS G0GlnS oug sue
troubles ga we're wsf>sn cur oaa rawer "a
remedy. We can remedy eur Industrial
couo4ACn We can }aDSthen our school
term wsih uzogey an8 iaoor We cAn hava
s htsher order ~ religion ana better mar
a}s and Nc car esquire property I haps
Baca oas tas come - sea sesnrt htnx II
carry hack w3ta hira- Tae conference viii
nos amount g much z Fou sisapiy ccrssa-
cF yourself al0ae. Hos mgst cargs lste
year OWE community ere hep you &C.
Eers. lay ho3d 81 something that AZ
hesp yea ard thea use II 20 hsis son.s-
b.ssv esSe We want 50 Sc eVsarncp q tke
value 90 these meetings 81 every corunss-s-
~. Z ocrs wa viii AL sreak out Xxs
wAst 90 Saow tAs tgtstA. wHsssver ls nav
he. 10 nog ex&kKeFafs. Il tnlnEs sre
baa SAY -. = seo6- say - No GRE has
hesa asked q prepare Any sg-eecs. speak
sswpty as K ~ yoar own erasl&e cr -
gAe rgez@ncs el onlg two q tare.-~
As&ay ot sAose present n hezae,y laa-
Easgs tod TO stary - tnsar expsrsseea
how ssey hse struggled 10 gss away fro=z