Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1913-01-31
AFRO-AMER|CAN 'CULL|NCS

Tuskegee, Ala.--"Agricultural Cred
it" and Finances of the Negro Public
School" were the two principal topics
Of discussion at the tweRty-second an
nual negro farmers conference held
at the Tuskegee Institute, Tuskegee.
| Ala. s...
The first days conference was given
over to the negro farmers. AS stated
in the program. the subject for discus
sion was How to Secure Cheaper
Money for Running the Farm" This
put the problem of agricultural credit
in terms that the negro farmer un-
derstood, and was interested in. Rep
resentative negro farmers from Geor-
gia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana
| and Arkansas described the present
condition of the negro farmer in the
states from which they come and the
| present methods Of obtaining loans,
rates of interest and SO forth. Indi-
vidual farmers told how they have sue
ceeded in reducing the principal and
rates of interest upon their yearly
| loans.
r. l.. Smith of Waco, Tex, who IL
! the head of a negro farmers co-opera'
| tive association in that state, which
| has established a bank, discussed the
subject of cooperative credit and the
success of the Texas farmers in cut
ting down the item of interest in the
| farmers annual budget.
Charles Banks, cashier of the Bank
| Of Mound Bayou, Mississippi, which
supplies a large share of the funds
| necessary to conduct the agricultural
| operations of the farming communl-
ty in which the little negro town OF
Mound Bayou is the center, discussed
the question from the point OF view OF
the man who makes the loans.
One of the features of the days
proceedings was the exhibits showing
some of the results of the demonstra-
ton farming work being done in the
several counties adjoining Tuskegee
Institute where the demonstration
method of teaching farmers has
been in operation. The report of the
| demonstration agents was followed by
distribution Of prizes to the corn
clubs organized and conducted in these
counties.
The second days session of the
conference was the meeting OF
teachers, principals, school trustees
and others actively interested In school
work The subject for discussion was:
How to Secure More Money for the
Public Schools Teachers and prin-
cipais of schools in Mississippi, Ten
nessee, Alabama and Georgia de-
scribed the present condition OF the
schools in their home communities,
and the various means employed by
the county school teachers to secure
the interest of white planters, county
school superintendent, and others, in
meeting the needs of the negro
schools. They will also report upon
the extent to which the negro farmers
are taxing themselves in order to i'm.
prove the school building and length
en- the school term in different local
communities.
Representative of the Anna T.
Jeanes fund, for the improvement OF
negro rural schools, and also the
new state supervisor of negro public
| schools in Alab4ma spoke at this
conference session.
Philadelphia, Pa.-Dr. Booker T.
Washington addressed the students
at the University Of Pennsylvania in
TIL Iio {hnv ttrThn
ress Made by the Colored Race During
the Forty-nine Years of Their Free
DOM" At the conclusion of his talk
he was asked about the intermarriage
of races. 1--WE do not teach it." he re-
piled quickly.
lie Steele of Paris, France, pub
fishes from the Colonial Bulletin the
| following article under the headline
IAN Example" The negro through
out the world will learn with pleasure
and satisfaction of the great recogni-
ton given representative Of the
negro race by the great government
of France. The French republic is
not afraid to honor such of it's black
citizens as deserve honor and who, by
worth and achievement, deserve it.
The march through Fashoda several
years ago Of portion of the French
army was under the command of Gen
eral Dodds, also representative of
the negro people. The French seem
to believe in the square DEAL" and
are not afraid Of giving honor to those
to whom honor Is due.
A new skyscraper, a six story Odd
Fellows building, to cost s135,000 is
the work of Negro contractor, Mr..
R. q. Pharrow of Atlanta, Georgia.
This Is only one Of great many
buildings he has erected, among which
is Sale Hall of Atlanta Baptist Col
lege, and the First Congregational
church of Atlanta. ....s.,'
DR.. G. W. Gates, late president OF
Fisk university, died at Winter Park,
Fla. a suicide from wounds in the
throat inflicted by his own hand. Con.
tinued i'll health is supposed to have
been the cause. ~ =
The punishment for. bad manners
and habits Is more certain than the
punishment for crime.
The man who does not seek first
the kingdom q God and his righteous
ness, will find little else that will do
him much good. ~
There are lightweight establish.
ments for the production OF gold and