The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-07-14
NEGRO FARMERS PROGRESSIVE
 UNION IS FEATURE.
Addresses on Science of Agriculture and Truck Growing are Given and Inspection of Compet-
 i've Farms Takes Place.

An unique institution for the ad- vancement of the negro along practi- cal lines of agriculture and truck growing is the annual meeting of the Farmers. Progressive Union at Mt. Meigs. The gathering there last Thursday, which was the second anni- versary of the union. was an auspi- cious one.
 A number of excellent speakers en- tertained and instructed the negro farmers there gathered Tt constitutes an earnest effort of the negro to lift himself by the sweat of the brow.
 Indicating the nature of the conven- tion, the following account of the an- niversary last week, written oy the secretary. Bernard W. Tyrrell. Is here with printed:
 The Negro Farmers Union of Mt. Meigs is a progressive movement under the leadership of J. H. Michael. a Tuskegee graduate who taught several terms in that neighborhood and then purchased a home and settled down at farming. His home and farm are mod els for the negroes whom he leads.
 Bernard w Tyrreli, formerly Super intendent of the Negro Reformatory at Mt. Meigs. now superintendent ana financial agent of the Boys Keforma- tory near Mt. Pinson. has been their secretary and lecturer on gardens ana trucking for the past two years.
 Thursday, July g, was given to farm and crop inspection. Professor carver the noted agriculturfst of Tuskegee, accompanied the committee on tneir rounds First prize was awarded 10 Peter Pinkston, second prize to captain Everett the third prize to Brake Lu. cas-. The best garden was the proper ty of James Smothers. who also had fine corn crop Isaac Tharp's corn crop is deserving of mention.
 The evening exercises were heid at the Peoples Village School. This school has made wonderful progress under it's founder and principal Geor- gia Washington. who came from Vir- ginia fifteen years ago with all the zeaI of General Armstrong. the founder of Hampton Institute for Negroes This noble and efficient black woman has done all this work and almost alone. The school has no endowment, ana board of negro trustees, yet TOT pro gressiyeness and cleanliness It cannot be suraassed by any negro institution in our Southland.
 The president called the house 10 or der at s;30 D. m. Sweet jubilee songs were sung by the Village School Glee Club. under the direction of Lorenzo Hall, a Hampton graduate. and teacher of agriculture in Georgia Washington 5 school. After a report from the com. mittee on inspection, Bernard Tyrrell was called upon for an address. lie read the anniversary poem. congratu- lated the farmers and spoke or the res enc work of the Boys Reformatory As- sociation at Mt Pinson, Ala. Profess sor Carver gave a beautiful and in- attractive talk such as is needed Tor the old and young of the race.
 Friday at 10 a. m. the beautiful new audItorium of the Peoples Village School was thrown open and by II o'clock there assembled a concourse or people. Prominent among the visitors were the wife of J. T. Washington of Montgomery, a representative of the Negro Womens' Federation of Clubs, and the wife of c. B. Oliver of Birmingham. The white visitors were Messrs' Judkins and son. Mir. Barnett and MT. Willett of Mt. Meigs. The Hon. J: A. Wilkinson and the Hon. Leon McCord of Montgomery were there, accompanied by MT. Chas. h. Billingsley.
 Addresses were made by the Hon Mr. Judkins, Hon. Mir. McCord. the wife of J. T. Washington and the wife of c. B. Oliver. The former woman represented the reformatory at Mt. Meigs. The latter spoke on the same work. MT. Judkins gave advice to those who lived in his midst. Profes- sor Carver spoke one hour. giving val uabIe lessons on soil preparation, seed planting and cultivation.
 The Hon Mir. Wilkinson handled us without gloves, but the advices were good. Mir McCord's speech was most encouraging. He spoke well on the fidelity of the negro On motion of Rev. c. J. Davis a vote Of thanks was given these gentlemen of the su- perior race for coming to us and heip- ing us advance along practical lines.
 The music consisting wholly of negro songs was well rendered. We hope all our institutions will perpetuate this class of music. It helps to preserve the traditions of a race.