New-York tribune., 1905-02-23
PROGRESS OF THE NEGRO.
Washington Tells of 1t at Tnskegee
annual Conference.

Tuskegee, Ala, Feb. 22-The fourteenth annual
session OF tie Tuskegee Negro Conference began
here to-day at the Tuskegee Normal and Industrial
Institute Hundreds Of farmers and their wives as
sernbled in the gymnasium of the Coils P. Hunting
Memorial Building at 10 o'clock These confer
grew out OF an idea conceived some time
ago 10 call the colored farmers of the South to-
gether in annual session for conference as 70 how
their moral material and civic condition might be-
improved. Representatives present to-day
from OF the Southern States.
Booker T. Washington in his opening address this
morning said
svidIsf The work secompIisbed by this organiza-
ticn. with its numerous ramihcations. should
vince Us that the policy for the race to pursue is
20 continue IT'S course OF seeking quietly: patiently
and couTa SeOusly alter the essentials of life We
- ogld more and more accUstom ourselves to be
spt Leo oY praise or discouraged oy blame. -
Cne definite success III given direction will often
than al the orations and glittering generalities
list analysis the world judges a by its ability
20 show definite results of progress by its ability
e achiSye the highest usefulness With such evi;
oences OF progress always present no 1nt0wdrd
Mltnout Such eN.aence no amount OF artnclaI sum
glatlon can push people permanently forward
high moral and religious living When a race owns
land and houses and has bank account these pos
sessions indicate that that race has learned TO
make sacrifices. TO do without to-day that it may
possess Tomorrow. has learned TO look ahead and
The Increased amount of property which we are
holding and paying taxes upon shows that we are
race, but that we have confidence in ourselves and
1t is an encouraging and noteworthy fact that
the property holding. intelligent and educated
charged with crime and it is equally encouraging
20 note that as ntellgenoe increases immortality
community TO draw the line between the good and
should demand the very strictest and highest
standards Of living on the part OF our leaders:
proud Of beionging to the negHo race s that We
q
negro than would 70 be classed as g member of
have faith in the race 10 which they belong and
have love and respect for it, and above all things
believe in itself and respect itself can expect TO
Neither should We omit any opportunity 10 cult
Tate The friendship Of the man who is our next,
n fe n real fb things Most OF o @ Is Is our m negPor n Whq can
achieve the better things Of life -
Following the address. a discussion was con
Quoted general subjects of interest to negroes.
At the close Of the session the following declara-
tons were adopted:
in forty. years has saved more than S30O0O00oO
worth Of property. In twelve Southern States he
owns 1882 farms. By taxation, personal effort
and philapthropic help increasingly large num-
eraI months each year He has organized and sup
education increases crime These facts indicate our
The almost total disappearance of lynching
during the last -FOUR months, due largely to the
cooperation OF the races in creating public senti-
for gratitude.
There are certain elements Of progress so
fundamental that we cannot refrain from constant
attention 10 them, viz, buying land discarding
roon cabins. diyersifying crops, giving increased
attention to stock poultry and fruit raising avoid
ing crop mortgages and useless expenditures and
starting bank accounts.
While representatives Of the race should be
educated in industrial schools. colleges and pro-
fessional institutions. remember that 1t is
the public school which the masses de-
pendent. We believe. also. that young people
should be taught the fundamental industries
trades agriculture and household economy-regard-
less Of The character Of their mental training.
While the schools in the cities and larger towns
are reasonably good, those in the country are gen,
orally poor being without schoohouses well
trained teachers; are taught four five months in
The year, receiving in per capita
patheIically inadequate rtr
To remedy this we must keep in close touch
with the school officers, pay the assessed poll
taxes, build schoolhouses and Iengthen the school
terms
united effort should be made to reduce the
number Of idlers and vagrants. especially in the
cities We must make labor more reliable.
The moral and religious standards must be kept
h!gh and inhexible by putting premium right
hYlng and condemnlng wrong living; the constant
cpltlyation OF pride Of race is an element which
should not overlook in the training Of children
We believe the exercise of patience. cooperation.
mutual forbearance and hard work Will bring US
success.