Birmingham state herald., 1897-04-07
AN INDUSTRIAL CONGRESS Negroes Agricultural and Me-
 chanical College.
FOURTH ANNUAL SESSION
Warm Letters of Encouragement From White Citizens-A Fair Editress Interested
 in the Work.

The fourth annual Industrial Congress of Negroes, held under the auspices of the Agricultural and Mechanical college, al Normal, Ala, last Saturday, April 5, was a great success from every point of view.
 Prof. w. H. Councill presided over the meeting. It was both popular and rep resentative body. Among the leading ne- gross present were H. c. Williams and Wiley Whitfield of Scottsboro; Daniels, Clay, Whitley and Jones, of Stevenson; P F. Fletcher and others, of Limestone county; H. V. Cashin, of Decatur; T. J. Garth, of Trinity; Prof. Trenholm and Revs. Sensibaugh, of Tuscumbia; B. J. Sterling, of Sheffield; Revs Johnson ana Edmundson, of Florence; Rev. J. A. Jones, of Fayetteville, Tenn; Revs. E. W. Vii liams N. c. Speight and Prof. McHin- ney, c. R. Donegan and many others, or Huntsville, and scores of other prominent men of the race from various other sec tions.
 In addition to warm letters of encour- agement from white people throughout this section, there were present many distinguished members of the white race, who watched the proceedings with deep and sympathetic interest. Miss Susaha Clay, editor of the Huntsville Democrat, spen. the entire day in the meeting Miss
  est women of America, spoke to the ne groes amidst the most jubilant manifest ations. Indeed, the negroes yenerated her in the highest, the whole assembly rising to it's feet in hsr honor. this gifted daughter of the south entering the large and packed hall Her eloquent speech greatly affected all present. and many eyes were moist with tears. An intense ly affecting scene occurred at the close of her speech as many of our old slaves md fhaip 6o pftG Ilr knowing that she would be at Normal. rushed forward with tears of gratitude streaming from .heir eyes, and for moment one was reminded of real con federate reunion" The assembly went wild, and all business was suspended while ex-mistress and ex-slave held an old-fashioned Hove feast" better felt than told and which all the world outside of the south will never understand. Mrs. Clay Clop.on said of an old ex-slave, Hannibal, who had crawled upon the rostrum to shake her hand This is Han nibal the great African general, but he is still to me the dear little black Pompey of fifty years ago. called him my Pompey." Mrs. Capt Milton Humes, of Huntsville, spoke to the negroes in most beautiful and affecting language on My Black Mama" Her deep love for her mama" touched all present, as she, seemingly under the power of inspiration, described the pure life, sterling virtues and triumphant death of that grand black woman, whose remains now rest in her own vault in the white peoples ceme- tery in Huntsville, Ala.
 The speeches and reports from the va rlous representative men present were very encouraging to all we'll wishers of the race. The following points were dis cussed:
 l. Are the people generally out of debt?
 What moral improvement is being made?
 3. Did you raise enough corn, pork. etc.. to supply your needs?
 4. Are the colored men of your com munity generally successful farmers?
 5. Are the colored people building bet ter houses and beautifying their homes?
 6. Are the people of your community buying land and building up permanent homes?
 '. Have you school in your commit nlty! If so what is the length of your school term?
 8. Do colored boys and girls have op- portunities to learn trades?
 9. Are any colored men in business in your community? If so, do the people give them liberal patronage?
 The following resolutions were unani- mously adopted:
 l. That we see daily a greater need of thorough literary, moral and industrial education of our people.
 3. That we urge our people to buy homes, small farms, build houses, sup plement the school fund. keep out of debt, pay their taxes promptly continue to obey the laws, avoid lawsuits and cultivate friendly relations with all men,
 3. That our farmers should diversity their crops, raise more than is required for home consumption. and eyer have on hand marketable surplus.
 1. That we urge that in addition to a good common school education every boy should learn trade; and where indus trial schools are not accessible the peo- pie should apprentice their boys into ev- cry trade and art into which they can get them. We confess with shame that so few of our young people are thus seek ing to qualify themselves for the practi- cal duties of life,
 5 While we have among us many in competent teachers and unworthy min 1sters, still we note with special pride the progress made by those engaged in these professions; and no more devoted. faith ful men and women can be found than these half-paid, and often much abused teachers and ministers laboring to lift this great mass of ignorance to true. ex- alted manhood.
 Prof Councill is the originator and warm supporter of these congresses. which are doing so much good, not only for the negro, but for our whole country.
 TWO MORE CONNECTS.