The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-02-21

tween the moral and the immoral: be- tween the good and bad: and we must set the standard of life among our own people high. and let them understand that we feel ourselves ashamed to as- sociate with idlers and criminals. We must use our influence wherever pos- sible to get rid of the large idle class that hang about the street corners and dens of misery in our large cities" While we must not fail to look con- ditions in the face. whether favorable | or discouraging, at the same time, we should not permit the bad to over shadow the encouraging and the help full. While we hear much of racial disturbances which unfortunately oc- cur In many portions of the South and elsewhere we are not as likely to hear so much of those communities where there Is no racial friction. We should not overlook the fact that while there Is racial disturbances in one communi- ty that In ninety nine others no such conditions prevail.
 We are making progress as a race, tremendous progress-educationa morally, spiritually and materially. The ! negro since he became free has ac- l quired ownership of land equal to the combined territory of Holland and Bel gium. "As we grow materially, let us seek with all our might to turn material 1 possessions into the highest moral, mental and religious usefulness" At the close of the address. many of l the delegates testified that they worked l six days in the week: that their wives | did not loaf around the streets, or go l to court houses. One man suggested ! if the men would keep off the streets | more there would be less loaffng on the ] part of the women. A strong protest kL, l of poor school houses and the employ
 ment of floating teachers and preach ! CTS also against the disp spensaries and | blind tigers.
 J. II. Stamper of Summerviile, Ga. | reported a good condition of things in
 his part of the country. They have no
 troubles Nearly all are out of debt. Many have hcmes. The schools run
 five months; they have preaching from l good ministers ...-...
 Rev. G. W. Jeter of Milstead, said
 we must be careful and tell the truth | In our reports We are in earnest
 and in these meetings must tell the | truth.
 W. K. Knight of Lowndes County. Alabama, thought the people in his community had made great improve
 ment in the lust few years.
 1 Reports were also made by A 5. ! Beasley of Conecuh County. J. W. Nc | Gowan of Coffee County, B. J. Nelson l of Camp Hill, J. H. McWhorter of Jack l sons Gap. J. M. Sandifer of Pickens | County, Lizzie McElrath of Coosa County. .. $. Robinson of Darrow, La, c. D. Menafee a former Tuskegee stu dent now a resident of Florida; F. T.
 Ferguson of Walker County, Lawson Lawrence of Barbour County, c. H. Moore of Hawkinsville, George W. Will kinson of Lamar County, H. Mckinney
 
 Thomas County, Georgia; A. D. Abrams of Wilcox County, Fl. c. Cook and Nell son Chapman of Talladega County, N H. Pedrick of Jefferson County. A. Pinkney of Troy. J. B. Artis of Geneva, c. P Bethea of Dillon. $ C., and Frank Hinson of Bullock County. made en- couraging reports.
 ported through R. L. Smith, President of the Farmers Improvement Society, Paris, Tex, the following, which were unanimously adopted:
 '1. We reaffirm our conviction that the future of the negro people is in the South. We therefore again urge our people to make use, before 1t is too late, of the opportunity that now exists to buy land. We would urge them to build homes and permanently establish themselves on the soil We believe that ownership of the soil by the individual who ti.ls it is the first step in the working out of our future In the forty years since slavery, negro farmers, according to the last Federal | census, have come into possession of nearly as much land as Is contained in | the territory of two European states. | Holland and Belgium. This proof of our ability to buy land and hold 1t should encourage us to do better In | the future.
 "2. We must do more in the future l than we have in the past In the way of diversifying our crops and imprOv- ing the quality of the soil. The rais- ing of chickens. hogs and cattle not only for the food supply. but because they help to make the soil on which they are kept healthy and productive. | should receive more attention. 1 B. We feel compelled to emphasize
 upon our people the duty of practiclng
 greater economy In the future than in | the past We must save our money, start bank accounts. ~ld eventual y put these savings into Iand. buildings.
 stock, machinery, and into things that
 contribute to make our homes more
 desirable places to live. We are cheered
 to know that members of our race all
 ready, and mostly within the past few
 years, have established more than
 thirty banks In the Southern States,
 and that the amount deposited In these
 banks and building and loan associs-
 tions owned and controlled by our
 reople amount to more than half a
 million dollars.
 "Fourth-we rejoice to observe that
 the Southern States are taking a new
 and greater interest in elocution. We , regret, however. that in many instances
 the colored schools are not getting theii
 fair share of the public school fund anc ! that the schools of our people some.
 times receive less support from tho , states now when the state appropria tions for education have been increased
 than they did when the amount of those appropriations were less We note witt
 satisfaction, however, the extent tC