Franklin's paper the statesman., 1910-02-05

PS0PAS WAO NOAhN Al COl
tact with the school. For example
note the common sense advice con
tained in Principal Holtzclaw's an
nual address before the farmers con
ference. He said in part:
The great possibilities of our state ca
never be fully realized until we get ou
of the habit of moving from place t
place, until we settle down somewher
and stay there-make some place our per
manent abode. No people that is con
tinually moving from place tc place ca
hope to amount to much in the world
progress. Health, happiness, even for
tune, are all right here at your door
Too long have we seen the fantastic glo
ries OF great possibilities In some far
away place and have been all the Will
neglecting the opportunities at our doors
! have seen many parts of the. country
but have never seen a spot that / con
slider better place for the Negro thai
right here in Mississippi.
There are yet many things that W,
ought to have and many that will COM
with the progress Of the years-will come
In fact. just about as fast as we cal
make the best use Of them. But the ques
tions that confront US today are: Wha
are we doing to help ourselves? How ar,
we living our lives? Let us go home ant
answer these questions each In his owl
way. Go and buy you little home Il
1t Is but an acre of land. Build n hous,
upon 1t and make II more than one OF
two rooms. Plant fruit trees and shad,
trees. Use some whitewash and paint
Begin the systematic education of YOU
children and teach them how to work
Let everybody work, for our tempora
salvation Is largely bound up In our abil
ity to become intelligent producers by
work
l know you have many things to con
tend with, but you must not let thess
things overcome you. The individual who
gets up in the world is the individual
that conquers conditions, that masters
surroundings, not the one who allows con
ditions to master him Don't get In the
habit Of going about with long face, 6
hung down head. Just look the world ir
the face with head erect and you will
find that the world will make a place fol
you.
Attending this conference were {
large number Of prominent visitors
among whom were: Charles Banks
cashier Of the Bank of Mound Bayou
Isaiah T. Montgomery, founder OF
Mound Bayou, the only all Negro town
In the state; j. A. Martin. principal OF
the largest Negro city school In the
state, from Jackson; l.. X. Atwood
president Of the Southern Bank OF
Jackson; John Green, representative
Of the Jeanes Rural School fund; G
W. Williams, principal Of an indus
trial school, direct outgrowth of the
Utica institute.
The products exhibited from the hor
tcultural and agricultural Department.
were splendid.
Frank admissions as to thei, owl
shortcomings. Of the things that con
tribute toward their failure, were Civ
en- by the individuals as freely as the
proud statement Of successful accom-
pnshments. 81 made good money. bu
l amt got no home, cause | done ca
1t all up" said one man. And yet be
fore that audience he determined to d.
more for his family than ever before
Strange enough, this same man ha.
successfully educated his three chill
dren, two Of whom hold responsible
positions III southern schools.
Another man detailed how, after tel
years in debt. he covenanted with hi.
wife that they would work for them
selves, and now, after four years hare
work, they have nice home, 120 acre.
of land, with all payments up to date