The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-02-16
TUSKEGEE CONFERENCE
IMPORTANT ANNUAL GATHERING AT
BOOKER wAsHINGTON's SCHOOL.
Practical Topics That All Negroes Are
Concerned In Are Discussed
There-Some Examples.



Correspondence of the indianapolis Journal
NEW YORK, Feb. 13.-The Tuskegee
Negro Conference was established by
Booker T. Washington, the principal of
Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute,
ten years ago, when he sent out invitations
TO about seventy-five negro farmers, me-
chanics. teachers and ministers to come to
Tuskegee and spend a day in talking over
their conditions and needs To Mr. Wash
ington's surprise there came to Tuskegee,
in response to this invitation, four hundred
men and women of all conditions in life,
and the number has grown larger at almost
every session since then, until now fire.
quently two thousand or more persons are
present The conference is held each year
in February. The date this year is Feb.
1920.
l asked Mr.. Washington recently how he
came to establish this movement and he
said: Il think that any one who takes the
trouble to investigate the matter will find
that the uneducated black man of the
South, especially the one living in the
country districts, has more natural COM
mon sense than the uneducated ignorant
man of almost any other race
i made up my mind that people who
could see so clearly into their own condi-
lions, and could describe them so vividly
as can the common farming class of col
ored people in the South, could be led to
do a good deal toward their own better
ment. This led me to call the first session
of the Tuskegee Negro Conference, a move
ment through which 1 hoped to interest
the older generation of colored people to
put forth an effort TO work for their own
elevation in some way that had not already
been tried"
GREW IN IMPORTANCE
AS the conference increased in size and
interest 1t began to attract TO its sessions as
observers many, professional teachers of
both races, and in time "a second days ses-
sion was provided. at which these persons
could compare notes of their observations
at the meetings of the day before, and in
the light OF those observations discuss the
questions which concerned their own i'm
mediate work
The first days session of the conference
assemblies in Tuskegee Institute chapel a
handsome brick church of modern style
and finish, capable of seating 24OO persons,
and usually proving none too large for the
audience which attends the conference.
This building. like nearly all of those at
Tuskegee Institute, was erected by the
students themselves, as a part of their in
dustrial education. They even made the
bricks, 100000 in number, which are built
into the walls. The second days session,
known as the Workers Conference
meets in the chapel of Porter Hall, one of
the institute buildings. Principal Booker
T. Washington presides at all of the ses-
sions.
The subjects which are discussed at these
conferences are always extremely practical,
as may be seen from the following list of
declarations adopted at a recent session as
the result of the discussions. These declar-
atoms are neatly printed on strips of paper
in the Tuskegee Institute printing office
before the conference adjourns, and copies
given to the people to carry home with
them.
More and more as a race we feel that
we are to work out our destiny through the
slow and often trying processes of natural
growth, rather than by an easy, sudden or
superficial method; and while try
ing 10 make ourselves worthy citizens we
ask the patience and good will. and appeal
TO the sense of justice of our white friends.
''SecOnd-We desire to reaffirm what we
have advised in previous years, that, while
not overlooking our rights citizens, it
should still be our main concern to use our
energy in continuing TO secure homes, bet
ter schools. a higher degree of skill aud
Christian character, and in the practice of
industry and economy.
"Third-We believe the race is making
slow, but sure progress, and We are glad
to note the growing interest of the best
Southern white people in our elevation, as
shown by the vdrious conferences held by
them for the discussion of the race prob
! lem.
''Fourth-We would call attention to the
fact that our people charged with crime
and in Southern prisons have. as a rule,
little or no education and are largely with
out industrial and moral training.
"Fifth-We believe that the openings in
the South for employment. especially in
the direction of skilled labor, were never
greater than now.
"Sixth-We urge all to become taxpay-
ers and to promptly pay their taxes, to
keep out of the courts, to cease loafing on
the streets and in public places. and to
prepare to do well the work which the best
interests of the community demand.
These declarations should be tackled up
in your house that they may be referred to
during the year"
DELINQUENT TAXPAYERS.
The fact that so many negroes are de-
lnquent tax payers coming up for dis
of the National Baptist Publication Board,
of Nashville, said that so many colored
residents in cities abandoned property on
which they had made payments that the
buying up of these claims had become a
profitable investment. He knew of one
man who had bought ten such claims only
a short time before as an investment for
a client
One speaker said that many negroes lost
their property in cities where there were
local Improvement assessments because
these assessments were frequently collected
in one lump, and the amount was some