The times., 1899-06-27
CAPON SPRINGS CONFERENCE.
Plans Formed for Improving socini
Conditions of the South.


the cooperation of those at work, both
North and South, for the improvement of
Southern educational and social conditions;
the need of placing the Southern colleges
and higher schools in a position where
they may aid more effectively in the solu-
ton OF the problems at hand has been made
plain; the clearest emphasis has been
laid on the Importance of the Hampton
and Tuskegee idea as factor. and,
finally, measures have been taken for the
coordination of the work of the principal
Southern educational funds and boards
with the view of encouraging only such
schools in future as on careful investiga-
tion may be found worthy of encourage
ment
1t has been determined also that the con-
ference shall be a permanent institution.
to be convened annually, and TO hold
much the same relation to this cause IS
the Mohonk conference in the past has
held the cause of Indian improvement.
The concluding session, at which Dr.
j. L. NJ Curry presided. was given to the
consideration of the report OF the commit
tee on resolutions The committee con-
graduated the conference upon the
breadth of the discussions and the re-
markable harmony of views disclosed in
the various addresses upon matters of an
essentially practical nature, as well as
upon those OF theory and principle. 1t ad-
vised that 4 report of the proceedings of
the several sessions, embodying the ad-
dresses, be printed for general circulation
This will be done.
Turning to the consideration of definite
| measures for giving effect to the express
sions and evident convictions of the con-
ference, the committee first proposed
that the executive board be authorized to
employ an agent to work under the di-
rection of DR.. Curry, and to be charged
with the collection Of such information
with respect to Southern education, both
public and private, as will make clear
what methods and agencies are to be ap
| proved, and what to be avoided or re-
| formed. Coupled with the resolution con-
| tanning this proposition was another point
| ing out the urgent need of a general COM
| mittee of direction to work in harmony or
| in conjunction with the management of the
Peabody and Slater funds, with the pur-
| pose OF guarding against the haphaZard,
and, in some cases, harmful use of money
contributed in the North for negro educa-
| ton. Both resolutions we're adopted.
| The Importance OF the action taken is
very great. The appearance of schools
| based on wrong principles, that offer the
| negro Greek and mathematics, when agri-
| cultural or mechanical skill is needed, or
else are pure frauds, soliciting support for
| industrial work that has no existence, has
become too common. The North has
been overrun with canyassers for institu-
! tions of this sort, not a few Of which, as
| DR.. Curry has put it, exist on4y in the
'cormorant maws of these peripatetic men-
| dicants." There can be no doubt that the
interests of schools that are genuine have
been seriously impaired. and the extension
| of correct methods retarded, by the multi
| plication of these Objectionable institu-
tions. The purpose of the plan now pro-
posed is to check this abuse, so far as pos
sible, by indicating clearly which methods
should be encouraged and which schools
| have adopted the right standards. 1t is
intended that it shall be the duty, in part.
| of the agent who is representing the c0l-
ference to study actual conditions in de-
| tail and that, with the reports submitted,
| serving as a basis for their action, the
general committee shall be placed in po-
sition to aid in some degree in directing
contributed funds to the proper chaun2ls.
Hampton and Tuskegee, in such plan,
| will be recognized naturally as, in a sense,
the Industrial universities, Offering their
| standards and their experience for the
guidance of smaller institutions, sending
their graduates to these as teachers and
Instructors, and maintaining an advisory
relationship, at least, with each.
DR.. G. s. Dickerman. whose experience
as a practical student of these matters,
has been very wide. has been mentioned
| as the man best fitted to make the inves-
LEGATIONS required, and there is little
doubt that the post will be offered to him.
| The organization of the general super
visory committee will be undertaken with
some care. but will follow within a short
time.
1t has been a matter OF highest inter-
est, throughout these sessions, to observe
the tribute paid, in diversity of ways, to
the life-work of General Armstrong. 1t is
| to proclaim the great and lasting success
of Armstrong; experiment, and to urge
the continued application of his methods
| in the training of whites as well as blacks
with the plan of higher education ad-
justed to admit Of effective co-operaJIon in
| applying those methods-that this dis
tinguislied assembly of educators and
scholars has come together. Those who
believe that the name of Armstrong should
be written in the history of the smar,i-
patton and uplifting of the negro race
second only to that of Lincoln, find abund-
ant support for that belief in what has
been spoken here within the past few days
The grant of freedom would have proved
hopelessly Intellectual had not the work
of fitting the negro for the duties and
responsibilities of his new state been un-
dertaken by a man who saw as clearly rs
this man saw the peculiar need and the
right means The plan of regeneration
was worked out completely at Hampton
the manual training of the negro, in
the shops OF every craft in the mill and
foundry, and on the farm; the early in
Gications, by ingeniously devised methods
of the sense of thrift; the education OF
the mind in those branches most
servceable for practical purposes,
and the constant offer of opportunity to
the exceptionally able student to pass
above the simpler conditions. to any high
er place for which he might show fitness
To the perfection of this plan General
Armstrong gave the energies of twenty
five years. working with a patience and
courage unmatched in the history of ed
ucation. and winning success at the cost
of his life.
AS Hampton grew. reaching in 1898 &
total enrolment of a thousand students, it.
influence extended in constantly increasing
degree The young men and women taker
from the cabins and huts of the old plan.
tation States were sent out as teachers anC
missionaries of the new idea and as build
, ers of homes. Booker Washington, tn,
ragged slave boy who had found his way
TO Hampton afoot from the mountains o
Virginia. was one of the first to go forth
Within a year graduates of his school a
Tuskegee were founding other schools
while Hampton continued to broaden it!
influence in the same way and in man!
directions. State institutions in variou.
parts of the South. including many de
voted to the education of whites. com
menced to follow the new example; anC
so the system grew and is growing. TIL,
full fruition of General Armstrong worl
is still to come. The time has beer