The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-03-04
A NEGRO CONFERENCE
EXPERIENCE MEETING SHOWING
PROGRESS IN THE SOUTH.
Practical Benefits Derived from
Teachings at MISREPRESENTATION
stirred to own Property.
Montgomery tAla.) Advertiser.

may De invited 10 attend IL Is a CdEeluliy-
studied and acknowledgements school for
the masses. for the fathers and mothers,
who have never been to school; for the
grown sons and daughters who have been
but little and never expect TO go again.
From the first its methods and purpose
have had Mr.. washlngtons most earnest
thought and attention. Experience and
constant study have been used 10 improve
IL and make it more and more effective.
Prof. T. ]. Jackson, a graduate Of Fisk
University, has been the conference agent
for three yeays. All his time is given to
this work. Under the direction of Mr..
Washington. This ono day in school
reaches not only those who come, but.
through their story carried home, in lit
erature and by their own lips, the whole
race, in every State. is reached, and a
touch OF education, or, at least, Of inspira-
ton, enters the lowliest life. The lessons
are such as all can learn-home-getting.
tax-paying. intelligence, good morals, prac-
teal religion. friendliness between the
races and love for everything that is
good. Professor Jackson has visited forty
five of the sixty-six counties of Alabama in
the interest Of the meeting Of to-day. He
has also visited many other States. and. by
meetings and literature, has given help to
those interested in organizing local confer
ences all over the South He reports $50 To-
cal conferences organized during the year
and has a record of over $50 conferences in
all. Most OF them meet regularly once a
much like the farmers institutes at the
North. Among the subjects they discuss
are: What crops pay best, the value of a
raise poultry, pigs and cattle, how to begin
buying home. how the husband and wife
help each other. how to make the
house and yard attractive, how TO live at
home instead of out Of the store, the right
tance OF keeping the children busy, in and
out Of school. Out Of these conferences, in
many instances, have grown county fairs
IN which both white and colored have ex-
hibited products Of the field and articles
from the shop and home
TRAVELLING TEACHERS.
Tuskegee graduates are employed. like
Mr.. jackson, in other States, working up
the conference idea. The Tuskegee teach
ers go out through the year. cover
ing as wide an area as possible. in
aid of the work The chaplain pre-
sents the religious side Of material
things. the lady teachers speak of life in
the home. the care OF children and the
home surroundings; the industrial teach
ers tel of farming. stock and fruit raising.
home building and the use and care of ma
chinery. Together they reach and stir up
every phase of the life of the people. Mem
bers OF each senior class do a large work
in Macon county under Mr.. Washington s
special direction. as lessons In practical
life- They go out two by two, visiting
e. 80 1tW.r~ Aawr wa~fk
The reports from all these parties are full
Of interest and hope. The most unpromis-
ing and Lakewood communities improve
under this kind Of work. Professor jack
son tells OF a settlement in Alabama called
hanback, which seemed especially hard
on his first visit year ago, but on his Sec
ond visit this year gave him great encour-
agement. He tells of Jerry Williams, who
was sis sett!n'. thinkin' bout moyin' :"
after having been closed out for four sue
cessive years, as having really moved and
paid entirely out or debt. He says: 1T
was real delight to grasp the old fellow s
hand and hear him say: sPerfessah. I was
not settin' dar er thinkin' fer nothin' last
year when you come In on me dat cold
night The old man has decided TO buy
him home. The hanback, people are put
ting new roof on their church. and while
a year ago mot even a promise could be
obtained from one OF them that he would
come to the conference to-day a large dele
the conference agent visited he met Ell
Jackson who said: ST own over leo acres
OF land which have paid for after hard
struggles. Now, when I walk out of my
home, as far up as can look Is mine and
as far down as I can dig Is mine. Even
the birds that fly over me are mine, and
intend this land shall be mine as long as
live"
bama said he had been twice to the con-
ference and had made good use of the adj
vice received. Their school has been pro-
longed from three to six months. He said
he belonged to five societies whose bust
ness was to care for the sick, but especial
ly to bury people. II was best not to look
forward so much tc dying and the big flu
neral. but to living and getting homes.
Willis Ligon, of Tuskegee. who has at
tended every session of the conferences.
told some OF his experiences. He owns
much land, a cotton gin, grist and sawmill
and is a stakeholder in the Bank OF Tus-
kegee He. advised having a little money
in the bank for protection He said he
could make a living by working four or
five days In week. but he urged all to
work six days He said that in 1871 when
IL rained so much that the creek rose twice
a day he used TO build a fire on an ele-
walton and hoe at night.
A NEGRO PATRIARCH
Stepney Lipscomb. of Lee county, said
he was no tsIker. but as he owns 1000
acres of land Mr.. Washington prevailed
upon him to tell something OF his expert
ence. He said for some time after he was
set free he worked for his board and clothes.
Then he had n present at Christmas of S..
which he saved. That was the beginning
of his splendid property of to-day. He
said he was a great corn raiser. He liked
to eat a heap and raised all his own food.
His children live around him and are large
taxpayers in Lee county. The question
was asked directly whether the race was
improving. One man rose and said: Last
year | raised a peck of rice. this year four
bushels. next year 1 expect 10 raise twen-
ty-five bushels. Ten years ago j had only
acres of land. Now l have two oxen. The
people are making Improvement I'm mora
ais" A man from Montgomery county
said: My neighbors are improving in ma
tertal things. Twenty-Five of them own
iaud and are able to run themselves. l
have killed 1900 pounds OF meat this year
have some cotton to sell yet. Our school
f. extended from four to eight months.
The people are improving In morals. They
are more truthful and can be depended on
more"
a woman from Bullock county said: 1--WE
decided to let the men go ahead and we
would follow. Five years ago we were
much IN debt. Now we wear no mortgaged
dresses or shoes. We have a good minis
ter and there Is nothing short about him"
A woman from Henry county said she
was q cook for twenty years. She lost her
family. She bought three lots in Abbeville.
sold two. and built house on the other.
She now furnishes supplies for three fam
flies while they make their crop, charging
IL per cent. interest.
A man from Gilmore county said he had a
hard time working for wages. He came 70
the conference. resolved TO get home. and
went and entered eighty acres of land. He
built a two-room log house. Now lis doing