Metropolis weekly gazette. (Metropolis, Ill.) 1???-19??, 1916-01-07

ASA AotVVo bdiitio, 0uiic III ABiH cut
received 10000 for $4,000 barrels.
In clearing away their agricultural
exhibits from the courthouse, says
dispatch from Normal, Ala, the Ne
groes of Madison county wound up one
of the most significant agricultural
meetings which has ever been held
in this section. The meeting was
called to order by Prof. p. c. Parks.
director of agriculture at the Agricul-
tural and Mechanical college for Ne
groes at Normal, and agents for the
Smith-Leyer extension fund in the
Tennessee valley.
The courthouse was decorated with
the choicest products of the Tennessee
valley and the walls were placarded
with pointed epigrams which indicate
that the Negroes are waking up to
the latest ideas in farming. The oh.
ject of the conference was, Alabama
Must Feed Herself" The audience
was made up principally of Negro ten
ants and land owners, but there was
large number of white people pres.
ent also. Speeches were made by
prominent white landlords among
them Mr.. Roe OF Triana. From Mr..
Roe's address it would appear that the
large land owners OF the Tennessee
valley are anxious to join In any move
ment which will tend TO improve the
efficiency and happiness of their ten
ants.
The meeting was opened by David
A. Grayson. chairman of the board OF
trustees of the Agricultural and Me-
chanical college at Normal, who Ia.
troduced Ed Johnston. who in turn
presented Congressman b. b. Almon.
who delivered the principal address.
Congressman Almon spoke at length
upon the natural resources OF the Ten
nessee valley and the superior agri-
cultural advantages which it offers.
He said that the one-crop system has
throttled the South since. the Civil.
war and caused the southern farmers
to be borrowers instead OF lenders.
He said that only Is per cent OF the
western farm lands are under mort
gage. while IS per cent of the south
ern farm lands are under mortgage.
Congressman Almon favors a rural
credit system with low interest ard
long term payments. He seems to
regard rural credit. crop diversified
ton and intensive farming as the sal
walton OF the South.
DIR. w. H. Nixon. presiding elder Of
. he - # -. fxf..
Methodist Episcopal church, made a
very brief and apt response TO the ad-
dress OF Congressman Almon In which
he urged more friendly relations be-
tween the races and paid high tribute
to the friendship OF the white man for
the Negro.
In closing the conference. President
Buchanan called attention to the fact
that in the Tennessee valley alone are
about 1900 Negro tenants. 1900 Ne
gro farm owners and about rs 900 Ne
gro boys and girls of school age who
must be the future Negro farmers OF
this valley. This great host OF 25.-
taught TO improve their own efficiency
and the productive power OF the soil
which they cultivate and be made bet
ter satisfied with life upon the farm.
To this end he expressed great salts
faction in the fact that Negro ten
ants and owners had assembled in this
conference and discussed in the most
encouraging manner the most funda-
mental problems OF rural life. namely.
better farming, better religious and ed
vocational facilities and better rela-
tions between landlords and tenants.