The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-02-22
VAGRANCYDEPLORED
NEGRO CONFERENCE ADOPTS
 STRONG RESOLUTIONS.
Blacks Declare That Young People of Their Race Ought to be Kept
 on the Farm.

Tuskegee Feb. q Especial. The second days session of the sixteenth annual gathering of the Tuskegee Me- gro Conference was called to order at 10 o'clock this morning. This meet Ing was attended mainly by principals and teachers in negro schools from all parts of the South.
 Among the prominent outsiders present were Thomas c. Moves, edi- tor of The Washington Star Ray Stan nard Baker, and representatives from number of leading publications
 The session today was devoted to a discussion of the following subjects: To what extent have idleness, va grancy and immortality prevailed among the people?
 What relation does education bear to the amelioration of these condi- tions?
 What specifically causes these con- dltions and what can be done to correct them?
 These subjects were discussed by President Holmes of the Central Boys College; Dr. Atkins. secretary of the Educational Work, A. M. E. Z. Church; J. M. Sandifer- of Pickens county; Professor Smith of the East Texas Normal School; President Thirk- ield of Harvard University: Rev. W. H. Nixon, of Selma; Rev. Richard Carroll of Columbia, S. C.; Dr. Pol lard of Selma University and others. Resolutions were reported and adop- ted as follows:
 The members of this Conference express their sense of the gravity of the situation brought about in recent years by the existence of a class of idlers and vagrants, particularly in the cities of the South. In view of these conditions, the members of this Conference urge:
 "First-That our leaders ministers and teachers take steps to impress up- on the masses of the people the seri- ousness of the situation and to or ganize public opinion in their various communities in way to do away with these evils.
 "Second--That every effort should be made to secure a wise, impartial but rigid enforcement of the law against vagrancy, gambling and in temperance.
 ''Third-That as the class Of va- grants seems to be largely recruited from young men and women who leave the country to go to the city. new effort should be made to improve the conditions of the people in the country districts. particularly In TO- lation to their schools and In their opportunities to buy land and settle permanently on the soil so that the children of the negro farmer will de- sire to remain at home and take up the work of their fathers and mothers uuon the farm.
 Fourth That measures be taken to improve the methods of dealing with prisoners, particularly those who are children to the end that they may be reformed rather than punished, and since the customary punishment of confinement in prisons and convict camps in close association with hard ened criminals encourages in them a disposition to continue their life oi crime after they have served theii terms and so confirm them in thsiI life of crime.
 Tn this connection, we rejoice tc hear from the presidents and repre-. sentatives from the leading institu. tions, here represented, that they have no records to show that theii graduates have become criminals. Tn conclusion, the members of thil Conference desire to express theii appreciation of the work undertakes | by the coiored woman's clubs of Ala. | bama looking to establishment of reformatory for colored children fl | this State. and to commend their ex ample to the colored women of othe Southern States"
 The Conference closed with bene diction by President Thirkield oi Howard University.