The Twin City star., 1916-09-16
PROMINENT Men \.
TOUR VIRGINIA
Organization SOci:,y Makes
Educational Campaign.
SEVERAL COUNTIES VISITED

Many NotabIes Are Included In Party
Which Recently Accompanied Or.
Robert r. Motion on Trip Through
Important Sections Of Old Virginia.
Rural District People Encouraged.
Hampton, Va.-"Better homes, better
farms, better schools and better health"
is the motto Of the Negro Organization
Society Of Virginia, founded by DR..
Robert R. Motion, principal Of Tuske-
gee institute and at present president
Of the organization. DR.. Motion put to
work In the establishment Of the soci-
ETY. one Of the most important factors
for the uplift Of the race in the coun-
try, and its influence is farreaching in
the rural districts.
At the annual session in November
DR.. Motion on account Of leaving Vir-
ginia will give up the presidency, and
another strong man will be selected in
his place. The representatives Of the
society have just completed a tour of
some of the counties of Virginia. where
talks have been delivered to the people
along the line of better homes, better
farms, better schools and better health
In the party were DR.. Robert r. Mo-
ton, principal of Tuskegee institute;
Major Allen Washington, commandant
of Hampton institute and treasurer Of
the society; Professor w. T. B. VIII
liams, Hampton agent for the Slater
and Jeane funds; Rev. A. A. Graham
Phebus, chairman Of the executive
committee Of the Organization society:
Professor T. c. Erwin, Petersburg.
field agent, Organization society: Pro
fessor ]. M. Candy, Petersburg. rresi-
dent Virginia Normal and Industrial
institute; Professor M. w. Connor, Pc
tersburg, Normal and Industrial insti-
tute; ]. B. Pierce, district farm dem
onstrator Of Virginia.; Frank Trigg.
president of the Virginia Collegiate in
stitute; R. Nathaniel Detts, director Of
music, Hampton institute; Professor e.
A. Long, principal Christiansburg insti-
tute; Rev. l. L. Downing, Roanoke
Presbyterian church: Charles Stewart.
A. NJ, D. d.
The party left Portsmouth, Va, over
the Seaboard Air Line. going to Frank
lin, where the first meeting was held
and was attended by a large number
Of people from both races. The mayor
Of Franklin declared that it was the
most helpful meeting held in that sec
ton for the past fifty years. At night
a meeting was held In Suffolk, the par
ty returning by the Seaboard to that
point, and after the meeting they were
carried by automobiles to the wharf
and put on the Hampton yacht. where
the rest of the tour was made.
The next point made was Smithtield.
where the party was met by a COM
mittee with automobiles and carried
to Isle Of Wight courthouse, where an
other interesting meeting was held.
Then to Scotland county courthouse.
a meeting being held in the Baptist
church; thence to Ruthville. At each
Of these points the people turned out
in large numbers. DR.. Motion was the
principal speaker. The people were
anxious to see and hear him, because
1t was the closing Of his administra-
ton as president Of the society and
the opening Of larger things for him.
becoming the success of DR.. Booker T.
No IN to1 70 <Io
new principal and then shake the
hands Of the foremost educators Of his
race.
DR.. Motion was himself and delivered
some strong practical addresses to the
people. At each place his addresses
were punctuated with outbursts of ap-
plause. Major Allen Washington was
also an important figure, because he is
the successor to. DR.. Motion at the
Hampton institute.
Education" was preached to the
people by one of the most noted and
perhaps the best posted educators in
the race, Professor w. T. B. Williams.
This was his speciality, and he handled
it we'll, while Professor Candy ham,
mered away on health. "Plenty soap
and water" were urged to play a part
In the uplift Of the race.
1t seemed that every man was a spe-
cialist in his particular line and was
prepared to instruct the people who
were anxious to hear and receive the
much needed advice. ..
The party also visited historic James
town, where the first cargo Of slaves
landed in this country. They went
through the old fort, viewing the
graves Of those who figured in the
early settlement Of Virginia and count
ing the time of the landing Of the first
slaves to the present. viewing the won
derful progress made by the race they
sang "Praise God From Whom All
Blessings Flow" And why not?
It was interesting to see the farmers
and their families lay aside their work
and go to school. as 1t were, for a few
hours. Then to see how they honored
their leaders. In the matter Of better
farms the organization is assisting. as
well as in the matter of better schools
They are encouraging and helping to
lengthen the terms in the rural dis
tricts where they are short, helping to
build substantial school buildings and
advocating the employment Of the very
best available teachers for the rural
schools. as well as those in the city.
The next annual session Of the Ne