The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-02-25
THE NEGRO CONFERENCE.


There Were Present 1000 Colored
Farmers From Nearly Every Southern
State.
Tuskegee Aha. Feb. 24-At the sew
enth annual Negro Conference held in
the Normal School Pavilion here, about
2.G30 colored farmers. representing
nearly every Southern State were pres
ent. With them were many prominent
men and women. engaged in the various
branches of negro education. The meet
ing was enthusiastic. The speech OF
Bishop Grant, of the \. NJ. T.. church
WAS greatly appreciated. Booker L.
Washington presided To encourage
gardening a package of seeds was given
TO every one present. The result of the
conference was the unanimous adoption
of the following declarations:
Wherever our peop,c have been reach
ed hy outside influence we believe there
is constant growth in acquiring cduCa-
tom building school houses, extending
the school term, developing christian
character, improving and purifying the
ministry. securing land, diversifying
crops, raising fruit and poultry, re-
placing the one room cabin, ceasing to
mortgage crCps, getting out of debt and
living more economically.
''In saying this we would not be mis-
understood, but emphasize the fact that
wherever the rank and file of our peO-
pie have not been touched by some out
side influence their condition. as to prop
erty, education and morality is most un-
satisfactory, and will demand for a long
time the earnest help and Thought OF the
best people of our country. The posses
sicn in larger degree of the elements
of strength enumerated above. we be-
lCvc. will constitute the foundation for
all the higher rights and privileges OF
citizenship which every race should en-
joy. Since 81 per cent. of our people in
the gulf States live by agriculture. we
strongly urge that, along with other
forms of education, special stress be laid
upon training in agriculture. We earn
estly urge all to buy land. if only in
small tracts, while it can he secured at
low price. We would especially call
attention to the large amount Of govern
ment land in the South open to settle
ment We deem it of vital Importance
that the educated young men and wo-
men bear i'm mind that they owe it to the
race to give to the more unfortunate,
the benefit of their education in every
way possible. We urge that the local
negro conference or other organizations
with the same object be forced through
out the South. We believe the holding
of annual county fairs would prove most
hclpful. We strongly heseech our peO-
ple not to be satisfied with their pres
ent condition. but to reach forward to
something higher and better
The conference of educators will be
held tomorrow.
AS TO NEGRO EDUCATION.
Tuskegee. Ala. Feb. 24.-Aboae 300
educators i'm Southern institutions for
colored people, remained over ut Tuske
goo from the conference OF yesterday
to consult as to matters pertaining to
tho work they are engaged in. Fifteen
states were represented, eleven South
ern and four Northern. All forms of
efforts for the race were represented
Rocker u. Washington said that he
hoI lately sent out twenty five quGs-
tions in negro education to professional
and brsiness men i'll twelve different
southern States. Over 100 replies were
received only two of which were dis
couraging.