Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-23
ADVICE TO NEGROES
Addresses Delivered at Farm
ers' Conference.
TALK By WHITE PLANTER
Colored People Told of Advantages
Offered Them in Climate
and Surroundings.
Special Correspondence Of The Star.
TUSKAGEE INSTITUTE, Ala,

TUSKAGEE INSTITUTE, Ala,
January 20, 1910.
More than 1900 negro farmers,
with their wives and children. attended
the annual session of the Tuskegee negro
farmers conference. which was held here
yesterday in the institute chapel. ]. NJ
Parker Of the firm of J. NJ. Parker & Co,
cotton factors. New Orleans La, who is
perhaps the largest individual cotton
planter in the country, made an address
to the conference in addition to the open
ing address by DIR. Washington.
DR.. Washington Address.
Dr. T. o. Fuller of Howe Institute.
Memphis, Tenn. opened the session with
prayer, following which DR.. washington
gave common sense advice to the people
of his race, and was enthusiastically
cheered by the immense audience
In delivering his address before the
farmers and other visitors, DR.. Booker
Washington said. in part:
We expect every person who comes to
these conferences to learn to grow, not
only plenty of cotton. but to grow plenty
of good vegetables. He should have fruit
grain, poultry and pigs in plenty. BY
reason of these conferences, we should
see fewer people in idleness. and there
should be far less crime in each COM
munity.
There is no excuse in a climate like this
for any one to be in want or in poverty
We have, right about us the best soil and
the best climate. In this soil any kind
of vegetables can be grown; all kinds OF
poultry and live stock can be raised,
aid under these circumstances, it is not
necessary for strong. able-bodied men
during the month of January to be hank
ering around asking for somebody to
run them during the year.
1--WE must learn, also. that no man can
succeed as a farmer until he learns to
days. The farmer is the only man en-
gagged in business who expects to sue
coed by working only half of the year.
Il want you to fully realize the advan-
tages that we have about us. / know
of no other working class of people any
portunities as we have. We live in bet
ter houses, we wear better clothes, we
eat better food. and while you may not
agree with me in this last sentence,
know of no place on earth where the
black race is surrounded by better class
of white people than is true in the south.
Speaks From Experience.
With the exception Of DR.. Washington $
white planter from New Orleans, was
the only set address on the program. He
gave from his experience as planter.
using negro labor for thirty years. some
valuable information. and dealt strongly
with the shortcomings of the negro
farmer. concluding by giving them some
wholesome advice.
The speaker declared that he was born
and reared in the south and that for the
past thirty years he had had dealings
with negroes as laborers, tenants and
share troopers, ard had travelled ex-
tensively in every cotton-producing state.
This. he stated, made him familiar with
conditions. and he prepared his large au-
dience of negro farmers. their wives and
children for the advice he meant to give
them by declaring that while he was
going to speak frankly it was meant not
unkindly.
With reference to the shortcomings of
the negro farmer, Mr.. Parker declared
that the vast majority Of the negroes