The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-05
LARGE ATTENDANCE
AT FIRST MEETING
OF NEGRO FARMERS
Congress Is Temporarily
Organized-AbOut Five
Hundred Delegates
Present

'All the negro farmer of the past needed
was a little piece of land a mule and a
white man to run him., declared J. T..
Artery of Wilcox county, at a round
table into which the last nights session
of the National Negro Farmers congress
resolved itself at the Sixth Avenue Bap-
tist church.
"Often there was as much brain in
front of the plow as there was behind it,
This meeting of negro farmers is one
of the best things have known our peo-
pie to do. believe every one of us will
go away from here with our eyes open,
determined to make more of our oppor-
tunities and to do better work and bring
about better results than we have ever
done before. We fellows who do not know
must sit quiet and learn from the men
that do There is great deal yet to learn
about farming and farming methods that
5 we have never heard about"
such frank admissions characterized the
night session of the National Negro Farm
ers conferdence, to which about 500 dele
gates from all portions of the south gath
cred on the call of Prof. e. l.. Black
shear. principal of the Prairie View. Tex.
State Normal school.
r. c. Bond of Brownsville, Tenn, de-
clared that the negro farmer must not
only buy more land, but he must keep
1t.
Welcome addresses were delivered by
DR. John w. Goodgame. pastor of the
Sixth Avenue Baptist church and presi-
dent of the nter-denominational Minis
ters' alliance. and e. w. Howell, repre-
senting the Negro Business league. e. w.
Howell in welcoming the deegatesito the
city on behalf of the negro business men,
pleaded for an elevation of negro farm
life and declared that ownership of land
was the only sure way to independence
The first session was opened yesterday
morning by DR.. w r. Pettiford of Bir-
mlngham, chairman of the local commit
tee of arrangements. An address of well
come was delivered by DR.. J. A. Whitted,
pastor of the Sixteenth Street Baptist
church. the seat of the convention More
: than 400 delegates were present at the
opening session representing the follow
ing states: Alabama, Arkansas, Texas,
Mississippi Louisiana. Tennessee, Ken
tucky, Michigan. Iowa. Idaho North and
South Carolina
A brief address of welcome was deliv-
cred by DR.. Whitted. after which DR. Pet
tiford turned the meeting over TO Profess
sor Blackshear. Professor Blackshear
briefly outlined the purposes of the con-
vention and the motives that actuated
him in making the call The governors
of the various states. he declared had
been very willing to make appointments
of ia wi IA 1ad in
some measure in their work, and all of
them had encouraged in various ways
the movement. realizing that in It there
were great possibilities for good In the
course of his remarks, Professor Black
shear said:
'"rhe great majority of the southern
whites, many of whom have often given
us every reasonable encouragement and
every assistance and equitable terms to
induce the thrifty, peaceable negro to own
land and build up a good home life based
on honest toll, and shows most depend
able, most understanding and sym
pathetic friends, and the presence here of
this considerable number of successful
colored farmers, and of rural teachers
and ministers who are effectively engaged
in cooperating with the colored farmers
In improving rural life among us. is an
Illustration of that statement.
Indeed, we negro people are getting to
see that the cultivation and maintenance
on our own part of a peaceful and kindly
attitude, an attitude of friendly conf
dence and good will for our white neigh
bors, and a wise respect for the sentiment,
custom and traditions of the southern
white man, are absolutely essential to
our existence and prosperity"
The temporary organization was per-
fected by electing Prof. e. d. BacSshear
president; IL. j. Mason of Texas, secre-