The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-02-20

ington emphasized the importance Of
 the temperance movement aud urged
 the negroes to do all in their power 10
 HSsist In the enforcement of the law.
 He spoke of the peaceful relations be-
 tween the races which had existed dur
 ing the past year
 Perhaps the greatest element of
 good so far gotten out of these annual
 negro conferences. said Washington
 ''has been determination on the part of the masses of our people to improve their material educational moral and
 religious condition. The masses of our
 people. especially in this part of the South. are thoroughly convinced that they have it within their power to make Improvement in these directions.
 So long as a race Is hopeful and cheer
 ful, 1t will find it's place and :ts reward
 in the Torid. It is hard to help race that does not believe that 1t can suc- ceed and has future. These confer cnces. attended as they are by repre-
 sentative men and women from all sec
 tions of the South. have demonstrated above anything else. that nothing can discourage or dampen the spirit and ambition of our people in the direc- tion of improving their condition.
 We may congratulate ourselves that this has been year for the most part of peace and good will between the
 races fin this country and especially In the South. While here and there, there have been outbreaks of violence and lawlessness, we may congratulate our- selves that. in nine-tenths of the cen-s ters of population in the South, a friendly and helpful spirit exists be- tween the races.
 We must not overlook the fact that we occupy mainly as iaborers and agri- cultural workers nearly one-fourth of the physical territory of this country. We will not be permitted long to oc- cupy such a large proportion of one of the richest countries in the world unless we dcmonstrate that we can get as much out of this territory. and, es- peciaily. out of the soil, as any other race. Men may draw racial and color lines, but soil and rain and sunshine yield tn cir riches as readily to the toll of tine black hand as to the white hand.
 T am sure that each one gathered hera joins with me in expressing grati- tude for the wave of temperance that has swept through the entire South The closing of the barrooms, the get ting rid of whiskey. means the indus trial means of the industrial. physical moral and religious protection and strengthening of our race. Our lead CTS especially should see to 1t that they do their full effort throughout the South in seeing that the laws guarding the manufacture and sale of whiskey are strictly obeyed. Our peeopie have made much progress in the past forty years. The absence Of whiskey, in my opinion. is going to enable them to make still greater progress in the near future.
 rwe must not faii to call the atten- tion of the public officials constantly to the need of better educational oppor- 4.. n. .HN the majoriax& of our people live. It Is impossible For our race. or any race. to be contented on the farm unless there Is school that is in session long enough each year to enable the oh iidren to get some benefit. It Is impossible for our race or any race to be>oontent- ed in the rural districts without a school term long enough each year to enable the children to get some benefit out of it. The neglect of school facili- ties in the country causes many Of the people to move to the cities and towns l are not as well thought Of | as in the country. Some people argue ! that education hurts the negro. Ger tainly a little education will hurt him l more than much education. Education In the school room should be closely | connected with life In the home and on | the farm. Tn most sections of the ! South our people are to be commended | Tor their efforts to extend the school | term and build new schooihouses.
 we must never suffer ourselves to grow Respondent or efnbittered. We | must keep our faces turned toward the l ,unrise and not toward sunset"
 Reports from the farmers showed | that the conditions of the rural schools had greatly improved during the past twelve monthS. Twenty school houses nave been erected in Macon County for