The Denver star., 1915-12-04
RESULTS OF COOPERATION.
How the Organization Society Helps
the Masses In VIRGINIA,

| eno masses In Virginia.
| Whenever all the colored people of a
community unite earnestly in asking
and working sanely and wisely for q
| needed Improvement. whether it is a
better schoolhouse. manual training
or cooking equipment. better teachers,
better sanitation or anything else worth
while, they usually get 1t. Scores of
delegates at the recent third annual
meeting of the Negro Organization So
ciety. which was held in Petersburg.
Va. testified to this truth.
Major Il. r. Motion, commandant at
Hampton institute and president of the
society, said in part:
The movement among colored peo.
pie for better schools. better homes.
better health. better farms. seems to
have made an irresistible appeal to all
the people of the state. Religious, be-
nevolent, secret and educational organ.
izations of every character have joined
In this movement. Leading white peo-
pie, including the officials of the vir-
ginia boards of health, education and
of charities and correction. have been
most cordial in their support.
The state wide campaign for clean
premises. clean homes and clean lives
has received help and support lit
tie dreamed Of The two races have
been brought together on the ground of
common needs Of humanity. We have
given white people a chance which
they have long desired-a chance to
help the Negro without compromise or
embarrassment. They have met us
more than halfway.
81 am most anxious that we shall
continue to be sane and wise in what
we do and say and not be swept off
our feet by t':r,5e who feel that the
great problems Of humanity can be
solved by abusing those with whom
we do not agree.'
Reports from delegates, including
many women. showed clearly that
hundreds Of rural communities are
waking up to the possibility OF ma king
genuine progress by having people
work together for common economic
and social interests. regardless of re-
ligious or fraternal affiliations. Ideas
gathered at preceding meetings have
been carried to distant rural districts
and have been the means of doing
much good.
Professor J. NJ. Candy. president OF
the State Normal school ut Petersburg.
who is the executive secretary of the
Negro Organization society. reported
that in one year over 5000 people
had been addressed on subjects reiat-
ing TO community improvement. JO2
school terms had been heightened. GOA
school leagues had been reached. $40
had been given TO five schools and that
these small gifts had inspired the peo-
pie to raise thousands upon thousands
OF dollars for their own schools.
Il. c. Erwin OF Petersburg. the So
ciety's field agent, reported that 38I
and $40 individuals had
become members OF the Negro Or
ganization society. Professor Erwin |
has been at work in thirty-eight Vir-
sinia counties. He has carried a mes |
sage of new hope through organization |
to thousands OF men and women. He
has reached school Improvement |
leagues in nineteen counties and has
aroused the people to the necessity OF
practicing self help and working ont
u constructive plan.
DR.. II. b. Frissell, principal OF Hamp-
ton institute, paid warm tribute TO
the achievements OF DIR. Booker 7.
Washington. He declared that the Ne
gro Organization society stood for
three big ideas which had rnre trims |
forming power-co.operation good VIII
and service.
Several hundred delegates attended
the annual meeting and heard address
cs by Mayor Cabaniss and Professor
james +. Shields Of Petersburg. Rev.
DIR. l. l.. Downing. Roanoke; Professor
S. C. Atkins. Winston Salem, N. G.. w
r. Il. William. Hampton institute; J.
II. Binford. Jackson Davis, Ennion G..
williams. Il. @. Stcarnes and Miss Ag-
mes d. Randolph of Richmond: Princi-
pal f. A. Long Of Christiansburg. Or.
w. L. Atkins and Mrs. jamie Porter
Barret Of Hampton and many ether
w'iite and colorcd speakers who are
6 xperts in community improvement