The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1911-08-10

FARMERS Conferences I'm session bere
'h"rSoay and Friday Of this week
mas Just closed after what was the
largest and most successful Con.
ference in It's history. The Confer
ehce Is an organization Of Negro
farmers and business men that meet
once year to discuss morals meth
obs Of farming, material progress
and Improvement OF schools and
school houses. There were at least
lOoO persons present from all parts
of the country.
PRESIDENT James S. Russell being
absent, Vice President II. c.. Green,
presided. After the welcome al
dress by Maj. McGraw, and Mrs. f..
4. Cornlck' Of the School, and res
Fohses by Revs. Thos. II. Lakeland
and T. a. Brown the Introductory
address was delivered by Vice Presi-
dent II. G. Green. His remarks took
the line Of explaining the work Of
me conference, and some Of its
achievements. He instanced how it
had improved the moral tone, en-
couraged the buying Of land, build
ing OF homes, better schools, better
Churches, and better farms. The
and recommendation
were read and the conference got
down to business. Appointment OF
various Committees was the first
thing then followed the reading of y
cablegram Of cheer ana congratu:u-
ton from President Russell
At this juncture MIS-. DeIlad r.
Hayden, Of Franklin va, and Prln-
cipal Of Franklin Normal and In
dustrial School, and President Of
the St Paul Mothers Conference
and woman's Institute was intro
duced.
The next program number was an
address by w. H. Haines, Supervis-
ing teacher Of the Brunswick Col
Ored School. ''On the value ana
Necessity of Cooperative Effort in
securing longer terms and better
school Houses The speaker urged
more general payment Of capita
ton taxes and local self taxation for
individual communities as means
Of adding to the school fund. He
showed that the Country Eoard was
doing the best it could TO secure
this end with the funds at its dis
posal, but, it was not enough: so
it was necessary for our people to
do as the whites had done, raise
money by cooperative effort, The
Pubnc school report showed tntrr
the Supervisor had visited and held
meetings in % school communities,
1922 had been raised to pay teach
erS for one month at county rates,
and $793.10 for cooperative effort
that is to secure new school houses,
repair old ones, secure desks etc,
making a total of $1.314.1O. Thirty
two out Of the 81 schools had ex-
tended their school term one month
longer by money raised by taxing
themselves.
Miss h. B. Delaney, a returned
missionary from Africa, was intro
duced ana made some very interest
ing remarks concerning African
customs and agriculture. A collec-
ton OF 1851 was raised and the
conference adjourned for dinner.
Afternoon Session.
At p. III. the conference recon
Vened. The report on public school
was completed. Rt. Rev. Robert
Strange, Bishop Of Eastern Caro-
lima now made most practical and
helpful address on Religion which
he declared was tho power of Coo
into salvation. The Bishops re-
marks took the line Of every day re-
lation with God and the necessity
OF the principal of religion as a rule
Of conduct. Bishop Strange comes
to the conference every year and is
always welcome both for his delight
full personality end always helpful
talks.
J. b. Pierce Of the U. S. Depart.
pent Of Agriculture, IN charge Of e;-
pertinent work, made very helpful
and practical address upon methods
IN farming and need Of getting on
the ruts in farm. Special emphasis
was laid upon rotation Of crops.
The Presidents address which fol
lowed this was read by the secre
tary. This address contained many
suggestions and reCOmme ndatiOn!
among which the importance O
raising food and forage crops, build
| Ing up the soil, raising vegetables
use Of machinery whenever possible
and crop roation. The address
showed that the Negroes OF Bruins
, wick owned 52,276 acres Of land
valued with the buildings thereon a
1868 $50 and personal property t