The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1911-02-23
HELP COLORED FARMERS
Boil WeeviI Convention Held
Near BraxtOn.

|
Piney Woods in the interest of encouraging
/ and helping colored farmers to become
better farmers occurred last Friday at fhs
Colored Industrial School near Braxton.
Prof. Myers arrived at O'Clock and I
little later party of gentlemen composed
of Messrs. r. F. Everett president of thu
Braxton Bank; W. P. Mangum, cashie
| of same bank; banker from Chicago
and Prof. W. L. Hutchinson, .. 5. Elk
pertinent Station lecturer, arrived from
Braxton.
The colored farmers had already begur
to arrive and by II o'clock the chape,
was filled with hundreds of horny handee
tillers of the soil.
After prayer, Principal L. c. Jones in
troduced Prof. Hutchinson, who in a
simple but most effective lecture held the
undivided attention of the immense au-
dience for two. hours.
With simple, forceful English he ham
! mered the fact into the farmers that they
must raise meat and bread and that right
here in Mississippi is. the cheapest and
best place in the United States to raise
corn and hogs.
A greater lecture has never been heard
in this section of the country. Prof. Hutch
inson is the real power behind the throne
in Mississippi. He is leading the far
mers-the bedrock of civilization, the men
upon whom all substantial progress must
depend, to the great victory of common
sense farming.
We need more Hutchinson's, we need
more farmers conferences, we need better
farmers.
Hon. S. r. Myers was then called upon
for speech. He substantiated what had
been said and especially concerning hogs.
He spoke with authority along this line,
being one of the best hog raisers in Rankin
county.
He closed by complimenting the colored
people on their industrial school progress,
and urged them to pay their taxes, to help
uphold the law and make of themselves
greater farmers and better citizens.
Colored farmers were present from II
settlements, and each one felt himself a
beneficiary.
The affarnoop x.,ae Jaxyot.s1I Imar.., r.
testimony from the farmers as to the NUM-
Der of hogs, cattle and amount Of corn
and seed cotton raised per acre.
The following resolutions were prepared
by acommittee composed of e. u. Taylor.
]. R. Williams, Mrs. g. H. Lee, Rev Hec-
tor McLaurin, and Foot of Sylvareno:
''Mr. President: We, your committee
on resolutions, feel that just at this time
the following facts ought to be brought
wildly the attention of the colored far
mers of Mississippi, and especially to the
farmers of the piney woods:
First A criminal waste of time is
charged to the colored farmer, at least
two hours each day, one half of day each
Saturday in parts of November, Deem
Der, July and August and nearly all Of
January and February, total of nearly
one hundred and ninety-six days spent in
idleness which breeds crime and criminals.
Let the slogan be stick six days Freedom
does not mean 'loafing by day and dane
ing by night
Second 1t is cowardly to run from
the boil weevil or any other sort of weevil.
A wandering negro is no good to the race
nor his county. Resolved, that we stay
right where we are and help the white man
to overcome the boil weevil.
III. Resolved. That every one of us
plant more corn on better land than here
| tofore, and give more attention to its cul-
] tivation.
CIV. We ough to rfaise more hogs and
better hogs.
"V. 1t is too true that hundreds of oul
young men are growing up, Ignorant IL
mind, physically lazy, and caring for moth
ing save peg-leg pants, trousers, crap
game or frolic. Fathers and mothers
are to a certain extent responsible for this
deplorable condition. The Sunday school
the church and the school room are thu
only hopes for lettering such conditions.
"vI. We ought to Keep in better re
! pair our homes, barnes and fences whethe
we rent, own or lease.
s1V. We ought to raise more hogs ane
settlement will report to the proper au
thorities its criminals and disturbers O
public meetings bright future is in stor,
for our people.
"VIII. And finally, we ought to eacl
one pledge ourselves to do at least on1
thing for our dilapated rural schools, AMI
i r, encoura ore the Introduction of some snr