The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1911-01-28
FARMERS LISTEN
TO GOOD ADVICE
Utica( Mlss. )Institute Entertalns
Seventh Annual Conference.
HOLTzCLAW'S ABLE ADDRESS

Shiftlessness, Idleness and Debt
Slavery Condemned.
Utica, Miss.-A strong. common sense
address to farmers by William 81.
Holtzclaw. principal and founder of
the Utica Normal and Industrial in
stitute; remarkable stories by indi-
vidual farmers, who told Of their ef-
forts to purchase land and educate
their children, and sane. conserva-
tive public address by the farmers
and visitors assembled were the prin-
cipal features of the seventh annual
farmers conference, recently held at
the institute.
In his address to the farmers. which
began the exercises, Professor HoltZ-
claw explained the object Of the con-
ferences to be an honest effort on the
part of the institution to be Of service
to the people of the community and
gave some pointed advice to the peo-
pie Shiftlessness, idleness and being
always in debt were strongly con-
demned by the prominent educator.
and, on the other hand, he told his
hearers that if they wanted to enjoy
prosperity they must work for it.
''The price Of success is industry.
thrift. economy and morality" he
said. with these you must mix
good degree Of foresight. For nearly
fifty years you have been renting
land, and you have worked it until
you have literally worked it to death.
Yet there are some present today who
are not worth one cent more than
they were forty -eight years ago. We
get into the habit of believing that the
world Is against US; that the white
man is making an effort to keep us
down. have never found one white
man whose opinion was worth any
thing in the community that was op-
posed to Negroes being respectable
and progressive citizens. On the 9th.
er hand. ! know them by thousands
who have helped Negroes to buy
homes and attain respectable places
as citizens.
The personal experiences of many of
the unlettered colored farmers who
have been inspired by the institution
in its efforts to relieve their condition
formed by far the most interesting
portion of the conference program.
Several hours were taken up in hear
ing these impromptu speeches. and
among the farmers who gave interest
fnn, n,.k Ha(N
ney, Isaiah Marshall. Daniel Lee. Dan
lei Griffin. Henry Samples and many
other farmers who have struggled hard
until they are now in comfortable cir
cumstances.
Significant resolutions prepared by
a committee composed of Professor L.
j. Johnson, F. G. Smith. Mae Dixon.
9. s. Kelley and M. B. Anderson were
read and adopted unanimously. The
resolutions were vigorous and forceful
and expressed the real sentiment of
the progressive colored man. The Ne
gro was commended in all efforts to be
law abiding, to acquire property, to
raise the moral status, and industrial
education was held up to be Of the
A frank statement Of the condition of
the rural public schools and the lack
Of law enforcement was one Of the
noteworthy features Of the address
which read In part:
ut cannot be expected that Negroes
remain on the farm from year to year.
receiving scant wages only once year,
with no educational opportunities, be-
cause their teachers are poorly paid.
This can be changed to a very great
extent. The Negroes Of the state Of
Mississippi make up SO per cent of the
population. yet they receive only "a
per cent of the money for education.
We do not even suggest that the white
children should receive less than they
already receive for education, but the
best interests Of the state demand that
the Negro shall have more" -.
A large number Of prominent men
from various sections Of the state at
tended the conference.