The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-01-01
CONFERENCE OF
 NEGRO WORKERS
RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED SETTING FORTH OBJECTS AND SENTI- MENTS OF ANNUAL MEETING. CONFERENCES TO BE HELD.

The first annual conference of negro workers. held under the auspices of the Negro Business league of Birmingham. has closed, after three sessions in the Sixteenth Street Baptist church.
 The object of the convention was to impress upon the negro workers the i'm portance of raising the standard of color ed labor, and to endeavor to bring about a condition of affairs where the colored laborers will be of more value to their employers, and betterment in general of the wording class of colored people.
 w. R. Pettiford, president of the Ala bama Penny Savings bank of Birming- ham, presided over the conference, and delivered the opening address. He spoke of the object q the conference, and also took occasion to give advice to the ne- gro laborer. In speaking of the aim of the conference, he said:
 Tt Is the aim of this conference to render whatever help it can In finding sist in their application For this req son 1t Is desirable to have the hearty CO., operation of OUT business and profession al men.
 Tt Is the aim of the conference, also. to reduce the commission of crime among us. We intend to study the situation with the hope of reaching the larger number of people and removing from them the things which lead to the conn mission of crime. We will endeavor to institute a regular campaign of workers and continue our efforts in the hope of bringing aoo.- material change for the better.
 Tt Is not enough to listen to and read Mir. Booker Washington's speeches on these points. We should take hold and help carry out his suggestions. We have paid such little attention to the criminal classes that they act as though they have our sympathy in their conduct. They need to understand that they are active enemies to the race, and that we condemn them as we'll as other people, believing as we do in the supremacy of the law at all time"
 Other addresses were made by c. L. Fisher, pastor of the Sixteenth Street Baptist church, Dr. Council of Huntsville Son Ol TToi. H. w. CouHcll, tHe well known negro educator.
 Before adjournment 1t was decided to hold similar conferences annually.
 The following summary of the work of the conference was embodied in resolu- tions that were adopted:
 First-The fact was clearly seen that there is room for much improvement In the kind of labor given by the negro In both public and domestic service. Also that we, the business and professional men and women of the race, stand plcdg- ed to raise in every way possible the standard of labor by making it more effi- cient and earnest.
 "Second-While the commission of crime by our people may not be out of propor- tion with that of the white when the in- telligence and opportunities of both race are considered, yet we look upon this In- crease of the frequency of the commission of crime by our people with alarm And this conference hereby warns the crim- inal classes that they can expect no sym pathey at our hands in their crimes. We are, too, rejoiced to herald the fact that there are large number of negroes who are free from the commission of crime, and are building homes and are reliable men whose services are sought by all classes of employees.
 'Third-While we are proud of the many nicely kept and well-furnished homes among us, of the many who are saving their money, still the unpleasant fact comes to our notice that too many are wasting their time and money and have nothing to show that they are help ing the race by their work.
 "Fourth-A combined and renewed ef- fort to be made to purify our homes. strengthen weak mothers and fathers and educate the children. Special emphasis was given to the teaching of honesty and thrift to the children.