The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-03-06
TusKEeEg AND THE NEGROES.

1
The influence Of the Tuskegee (Alabama) Institute and
Conference has been exercised quietly that most people
specially northerners fair idea of the revolution
which it efectng life of the southern negro At
the tenth annual conference which met February 90
many intelligent negroes from different counties in Ala
bama and from neghboring states related their
pences in the promotion Of the objects Of the organiza
tonthe buying land the abolition the mortgage and
OF living credit the displacng OF the negro
log cabin by neat cottage ETC. Thousands of attractive
homes have quilt from plans provided by the confer
ence gardens have beautfed by the cultivation of
result Of the free distribution Of SEEDS and
thousands of of land have passed into negro owner
ship In great variety Of ways the humanzatOn and civil
zation negroes who lacked opportunity learn
things has under the inspiration of Tuskegee
Conference agents Mortgages have been reduced; schools
have been established the school heightened
more intelligent and helpful preachers have been
ployed; secaansm has diminished better pro-
tons between the races have been created by the obvious
progress of the negroes toward sesuppor and sefre
spect The negro have been aroused to Of
their influence and their responsibility for the improve
ment the and conditions of negro life
Many pathetic stories of the struggles of families
for homes and independent living related at the
cent conference.
An interesting feature of the gathering the dis
play of photographs proofs of the material progress
the One picture showed the former cabin
OF negro couple whose chief ambition few years ago
to go to a picnic. They owned a cart which was
drawn by yoke of AS contrast there pho
togaph of the present rooy cottage of these people,
who had been inspired by the conference to adopt thrifty
habits. In the foreground spring wagon drawn by
two fine mules; and there cotton gin yard full of
fine hogs. and a long row of cotton baIes-an the
property of the Industrious family This said to
be representative Of the change effected in thousands of
by the conference and its agents; and is this
change which Professor Washington regards the best
and most promising result of MS labors.
No one read the proceedings of the conference
and still doubt that at Tuskegee the true method of
solving the problem in the south and elevang the
negro has ben found and applied pioneers the
first instructors there had the ndsposition
of the negroes (and especially of the Tuskegee stdens)
to work with their hands The students clung the idea
that it not the purpose Of school to produce agrcu
tura and industrial workers. but only preachers teachers
and statesmen Since this resistance has been overcome
there has been the utmost enthusiasm the young
and for work the farm in the dairy. and in
the machine shops Negro operatives in the cotton mills
silk mills and other establishments often highly
skilled and instances have been mentioned where negroes
have secured contracts for the erection large buildings
and have employed both black and white labor. sent
men in favor Of the thorough learning trades by negro
young and is spreading in the south the
idle and thress often ostaczed by their own race