Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-15
PLAN TO AID THE
SOUTHERN NEGROES
riaI Correspondence Of Tie Star.


BIRMINGHAM. Ala. August H. 1909.
-HAT promises to be one of the
NJ most far-reaching and effective
" movements ever inagurated in the
south for the Improvement of the negro
laborer has been established here
by the most practical and successful
negro business man in the south, and
from the beginning is being given general
support by several of the large industrial
corporations and leading white business
men. who expect to get extensive benefits
in the way of more efficient negro labor
for the furnaces and mills. as well as a
| higher standard of citizenship among the
race. This movement has just been pat
on a working basis In limited way.
ana III few weeks has far
demonstrated its wisdom that more than
$1,000, has been subscribed 10 it by in
dustrial operators representing the iron
and steel trade. and many thousands
more have been promised.
The Birmingham Ministerial and
Economic Institute was established by
w. r. Pettiford. who is president of
negro savings bank. which ne organized
eighteen years ago "a few hundred
dollars capital and has built i; up to Il
pretentious institution with SJp,opJ capital
stock and a quarter of million dollars
deposits. 1t is the only penny negro
savings bank in the south and it's sue
cess is illustra ed by the fact that III
the panic of 1898 II not only did not sus-
pend nor limit payment to the depositors.
but loaned money to the white banks to
tide them over. and il was the only bank
in this section in the panic of 1907 which
did not limit Withdrawals by lis de-
posters. nor issued scrip or clearing
house certificates The Ministerial and
Economical Institute is supported by sub
! ind t.-t, 1al
priseS, and numbers among its patrons
many of the largest employers of negro
labor in this industrial district. They
declare that they are paid back for their
donations i'll the improved conditions of
the character and labo". as a result of
the influence of tie institution. 1t has
four regular instructors, and is III Ses-
sion three days III the week. Ii addi
ton 10 the four regular instructors. there
are four o her persons who give instruc-
t't1ons In reading clubs throughout tic
district. visiting every section where
negroes are found in large numbers and
lecturing 10 the masses. as well as tn
local leaders in each community. There
are no fees of any kind. and AL the
negroes are permitted to attend the in
stitute for instructions. which consist of
practical talks in simple language. Negro
preachers are also given instructions OH
practical topics, and the sole object of
the movement is to improve negro labor
and elevate their modes OF living. The
chief topics for instructions are SANTA
ton Of the homes, proper care Of the
health. saving and correct expenditures
of earnings. industry and putting in good
time at work. The work is intended 20
reduce largely the high death rate among
negro laborers, and impress upon them
the Importance of making good Workmen
and solid citizens. Already the influence
of the work is being felt in the recon
struction of the sentiment among negroes
here relating to laboring conditions.
while many negro dives have been broken
the negroes shows a remarka BILE de-
crease. Reports from the settlement
workers directed by the institu; ion show
that hundreds OF negroes who We're here
tofore idle. have gone to work. and are
saving their earnings, reducing their cost
+, of living under more economical prac-
tees, and engaging i'll gardening, dairy
Ing and poultry raising.
The sanitary conditions of many of the
negro homes show encouraging improve
lnenis under the new instruction.
No aid has been asked OF phi
lanthropists at distance. The plan is
10 make TIE institution pay for itself
through contributions from local in
ius.ral circles. in return for which they
get a better character of labor and there
that has come 20 he serious in the last
few years in this district TIE board
in charge of the institu,i Jon consists CT
tircly of negro ministers and negro bust
ness men of this district, who are giving