Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-09-01
ADVISES COLORED RACE !
TO RETURN TO THE SOIL
Senator Jones Addresses Sum-
day School Pupils at
Madre Park.

Did you ever think that the owner OF
land is the only real free man and the
only man who can act with independ-
ence?" said Senator Jones of Washington
this afternoon, addressing a meeting of
the colored Sunday schools OF this city
at Madre Park. Senator Jones urged
upon the colored people the need OF get
ting to the soil" and declared that II was
gratifying to him 10 learn that there is
strong tendency among the colored men
In this country to go TO farming.
The meeting today was in celebration
OF the fifuetn anniversary of the eman-
cipation proclamation. Senator Jones
congratulated tho colorea race upon tho
rapid strides it has made during the last
fifty years. He said, in part:
Progress of White Race.
THE white race is justly proud OF its
advancement, civilization and wonderful
achievements in science. the arts. indus
tries and government, but IL has been
nearly Loo years since our ancestors
were being sold as slaves in the market
places Of Rome or wandering about
among the fens and forests OF England.
clad in the skins of wild beasts. From
such conditions We have developed our
pTeSeHL UlSH STATE OI ClNlflZdtlOn, Dul IL
has taken us almost fourteen centuries
to do IL. Considering what you have
done in fifty years, 1t almost staggers the
imagination to try to conceive what may
be your condition and your development
during the next 400 years.
From the most reliable Information
that 1 could secure, l ind that you have
accumulated more than $SO.OuO0O worth
of church property ard have erected
about 10000 churches. with a seating
- a hr<saf
100000 of your children are attending
the public schools and more than 10000
are attending higher institutions of learn
ing; more than 10000 are teachers and
q thousand or more hold life certificates.
Twenty-eight thousand are learning
trades and several thousand are pursuing
classical, scientific and business courses.
You have more than 80 institutions OF
higher learning, with 100000 volumes In
your libraries. About 1900 OF your race
are doctors and physicians; 1000 are law
years. and there are more than 500
newspapers and magazines under your
management You have over $50 incuiance
companies, more than sixty banks, 32.I
drug stores. 5000 grocery and supply
stores.
Colored Men on the Farm.
"of the 6.361.5o2 farms operated in
1910, IS per cent were operated by
native whites and go. 1893, or 14h per
cent. were operated by colored farmers.
From 1900 to 1910 colored farmers in
creased 10 6-10 per cent.
II do not believe 1 could give you
better advice than to say go to the
land, be tenants and tillers OF the soil
and become owners as soon as possible.
The demand for farm products Is SO
great as to make more remunerattve
prices than have ever been received
before. This must continue az long a.
the city population continues to in
crease. There are millions Of acres OF
unimproved lands suitable for farming
that you can acquire cheaply. and by
energy, thrift and frugality you can
soon become independent and make
yourselves and families happy and
comfortable"