The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1920-01-29
LOYALTY OF The
SOUTHERN NEGRO
RACE ADMONISHED TO CONTIN-
UE TO PROFIT BY LESSONS
OF INDUSTRY AND THRIFT

The twenty-ninth annual session of
the Tuskegee Negro Conference which
just ended at Tuskegee, Ala, last
Saturday issued the following declar-
alton which will be of especial inter-
est to Negro readers of The County
| Record:
"The world has just gone through
a most unusual year Though it has
been a year of nominal peace, it has
been filled with anxieties, unrest, dis
turbances and strife. Our own coun-
try has suffered from agitation, pro-
tests, strikes and mob violence. The
South is that section of the country
which was freeSt from organized dis
order and yelled attacks against the
government and society. This is due
in no small measure to the fact that
the masses of laborerS in the South
are negroes, to whom love of country
is dominant. Contrary to anxious and
suggestive prediction, thousands OF
negro soldiers returned during the
year from patriotic service in foreign
countries, and quietly went to work
in the Southland. despite the fact that
this meant for them returning to con- J
ditions often the very opposite OF
those they had fought to establish
for men across the seas. These men
have lost none of their augmented de-
sire for freedom, justice and fair
play; but they have the courage and
faith to work patiently and peaceably
toward those ends right here in the
South. With their attitude this con-
ference is in sympathy and accord.
And we would encourage colored peo-
pie everywhere in their splendid, un-
shaken loyalty to their country and
to their communities.
For The Farmers.
"We would also urge our people to
continue to profit by the lessons Of
industry and thrift so effectively
taught BY war conditions, and to keep
up the increased impetus to acquire
homes and farms. But We would re-
mind them that, in order to make
these farms yield their greatest re-
turns, they must intensity their, farm
ing and practice diversifcation, which
in recent years has proved so great
benefit to the South. And especially
does this conference urge farmers to
grow sufficient food for their families
and feed for their stock, and to raise
more and better poultry, hogs and
cattle. And the rapidly increasing
Importance of Montgomery, Ala, At
lanta, Ga, and other places as leading
stock markets, ought in itself to en-
courage Southern farmers in growing
lives took in greater numbers.
"This conference also suggests that
the greatly increased value Of farm
products and the better wages which
colored men are now enjoying should
result in better homes and schools and
churches. Living conditions must be
greatly improved among our people,
if they would lay sure foundation
for future progress. And even with
better homes, there can be no assur-
ed or abiding progress without a de-
cided increase in intelligence among
the masses of colored people. The war
revealed an appalling amount Of ig-
norance and consequently inefficiency
among the negroes of the South. This
lesson should not be lost upon us.
Must Be Educated.
"The negro must be educated, or he
will be able neither to serve himself
effectively nor any one else. Colored
people must awake to the fact that
less than two-thirds Of their children
are enrolled in the schools even in
such states as Alabama and Virginia,
not to mention the less favored CONF
munities. And, of those enrolled, few
| er than one-half are in school every
day of the brief school terms. In this
connection the conference urges upon
school boards the Importance of CIV
ing a larger and fairer share of the
public funds to negro schools to the
end that they may have larger and
better facilities for the training of
negro youth in intelligence and eff
cheney. The South has in the negro
not only an enviable amount of trac-
table and potentially capable laborers,
but a group of citizens thoroughly
American, who are eager to make