The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1908-02-07

increase their opportunities for in
come.
''Mr Chairman, a great deal of the
poor lands of your State can be raised
to high state of cultivation by wise
and thoughtful management so that
they can be productive of great
wealth among our people. The new
methods of farming and caring for
lands, is an art that the association
ought to see is put in the hands of
the Negro people If you can start
the Negro people in the way of Great
ing wealth at first hand, then it is
with them to administer their wealth
to the uplift of others. 1t is the first
step at independence. If the products
of the farmers of Mississippi were
owned by the colored people, you
would see a material difference in the
banks as well as the business institu-
lions among us. This is a point, sir
that you cannot press with too much
diligence. There is a great profit, also,
to be derived by being careful in not
buying more land than can be easily
paid for. 1t will pay your association
to enter thoroughly into this work Of
giving these lessons in enabling your
men to form companies and buy these
large plantations and sub-divide them,
and raise them to high state of cult
walton. In this way you will be help
ing the white people in enriching this
country and making yourselves larg-
er taxpayers. And should their
wealth continue on the increase, it is
in the hands of those who can man
age it to the interest of your people.
"And in turning from the thought,
beg you not to think that it is out
side of your interests to assist by your
influence and otherwise in teaching
your people these valuable lessons
for it will return to you in good coin
The bankers association of this State
can we'll afford to give some attention
to the farming element, in seeing that
the very best methods of farming are
developed and the products wisely
handled. The uneducated farmer is
often found living on rich land and
the land refusing to contribute to his
wealth, because he has not employed
such methods nor handled the prod
ucts thereof in such a manner as t
contribute to the betterment of thu
lands. Nor is it out of place for thu
banker to be thus engaged, for this
association can bring itself in sucI
close touch with the farmer through
such intelligent processes that the!
will see how to follow up the product.
of their farm in properly outstanding
the cotton seed out of which they
make cotton seed meal and oil, an(
! follow the cotton into thread anC
cloth and get profit at every poin
OF its exchange. If you can properly
teach such lessons, you will have in ;
| few years an increase in the aggregat
ed wealth of your citizenship which
will help them to a position of indie
! pendence
! "Mr Chairman, it is not too far ou
Of place to commence making prepa
ration for owning steamboats, plyinG
the waters of the Mississippi and ad
jacent rivers, handling the produc
and getting the largest amount of prof
it from such labors. In other words
my advice to you, as bankers, a body
of intelligent, thoughtful and ener
getic men, who are sincerely interest
ed in the upIift Of your people, is t
cultivate and increase all of thes,
agencies as resources to your business
and in so doing you will sustain sucE
/ a relation to them that the profits &C