The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-11-12

the city loses $4,000 a year because
of the Illness and the death of these
people, which might be prevented.
The Negro Organization Society
with the help and cooperation of the
I leading State officials of Virginia, in
GLIDING State Board of Health Is lead
Ing in the vigorous campaign for the
improvement of the health among the
colored people. The National Negro
Business League is now planning a like
campaign for next April. when 1t is
| hoped that week will be devoted to
the cleaning up OF the homes and sur
roundings of our people throughout
the United States. and our white peo-
! pie have bsen most cordial in their
response for help. advice and encour
agement
Another thing the Negro Organi-
cation Society is doing that lis essen
TALLY necessary for the common good
of all the people in our State. en-
phasizing better homes, better farms
better schools and better health. 1t
has not always been easy for our
people to work together harmonious
~ for any given object. We have
been entirely too suspicious of each
other. but | am glad that the day
light is breaking so far as co-opera-
ton along altruistic lines is concerned
among US.
Have Marvellous Opportunities.
We must take into account in our
development, industry. We must be
more conscientious in our work. The
industrial opportunities that are open
Ing up to the negro In this country
just now are perfectly marvellous.
The demand for labor skilled and I'M
skilled IS great and am concerned
just now that the negro will not only
secure good positions hut that when
the war is over and emigration be-
gins to pour into America. that the
black man will be filling his toh so
we'll. shown that he Is faithful to such
extent, 40 efficient. so prompt. 20 re-
liable. so courteous and so consci-
entious in work that he Is doing.
whether in the shop. or In the kitchen.
or on the farm, on the street. that
his employer will refuse to dispense
with his service because he has been
found In every way 30 reliable. so
satisfactory.
Virginia's Helpful Hand.
We have a great deal to be thank
full for in the State OF Virginia There
Is no State In the South where the
negroes have made so much progress
along certain lines az Is true of the
colored people in this State. IN tdu-
cation, in ownership of land LIS every
reason for encouragement. want
to thank the white people, not only
for the help they have given to this
organization, but for the encourage
ment they have given the nesroes
throughout the State. TO get possess
sion Of little pieces OF land. am
proud OF the Improvement that has
been made In the State. including
church property, something like $50
oeo, GEO, Mr.. Jackson Davis. super
visor OF rural schools IN this State
in a recent report said; The year Just
closed has been marked by substan-
ttal progress In negro rural schools
OF Virginia. Thirty five counties have
supervising Industrial teachers There
are sol schools in these counties: $40
OF these schools extended the terms
by private subscriptions. such extern
sion being rewarded in almost every
county by further extension from the
public funds. They contributed in
cash for new school equipment, ex-
tension OF terms $500 with tho
sum OF $500 contributed by the local
leagues through Principal Long. OF
Christansburg Institute, president of
tn, State Teachers Association
The eolored people OF this State ap-
preciate the generous provisions a city
like Roanoke is making for the educa-
tion of negroes. and ] hope the state
generally Will take pattern. 1t is worth
while for our white friends to be in
terested IN cur progress
We must work together to wipe
out disease and TO purify the home.
Disease will not draw the color line.
from the negro cabin Il will ind It's
way to the white mansion The race
must be clean physically and morally
II must be intelligent II must have
good schools. We appreciate our
school facilities and the interest the
white people are taking IN us
There to In this city as hne type
OF colored men as can be found any
where, Such men as l. /. Downing
A. J. Oliver, Green. Penn. and nv peo-
pie take great pride In them. We are