The Colorado statesman., 1920-01-31
DEC[ ARAT|ONS OF THE 29TH ANNUAL
TUSKEGEE NEGRO CONFERENCE
Tuskegee, Alabama, January FL, 1920

"HE world has just gone throuS
most unusual year. Though IL
Il has been year OF hoiiiii"'
neace. it has been filled with ankle
rios unrest, disturbances ana strile'
Our own country has suffered lroi,
AGITATION, protests, strikes anu ihoo
violence The South is that sectioh
of the country which was freest from
,,,,nized disorder and veiled attacks
against the government ana socle's'
This is due in no small measure "
rho fact that the masses Oh iaporei'
in the South are Negroes, TO WHOM
yove of country is dominant. ooii-
trorv to anxious and suggestive pre-
dictfon, thousands of Negro soiuierS
returned during the year from patri-
otic service in foreign countries, anu
ou;atlv went to work in the SOUTH
land despite the fact that this meant
for them, returning to conditiohs
often the very opposite of those the9
had fought to establish for men across
the seas. These men have lost none
of their augmented desire for freeuoih'
Justice, and fair play; but they nave
the courage and faith to work patent
ly and peaceably toward those ehus
right here in the South with their
attitude this conference is in sympa-
thv and accord And, we would en-
courage colored people everywhere in
their splendid, mistaken loyalty 10
their country and to their commuh-
tiles.
South Must Raise More Livestock.
We would also urge our people TO
continue to profit by the lessons OF
industry and thrift so effectlveiv
taught by war conditions, and to Keep
IN 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 farth-
ing and practice diversification WHICH
In recent years has proved so great
benefit to the South. And especiai-
lv does this conference urge farmers
to grow sufficient food for their 1aih-
lilies and feed for their stock, ana To
raise more and better poultry, hogs'
and cattle. And the rapidly lncreas-
ing importance of Montgomery, Ala
bama. Atlanta, Georgia, ana othei
places as leading stock markets, ought
in itself to encourage Southern 1arih-
ers in growing of live stock in greater
numbers
The Wars Great Lesson.
This conference also suggests 'iia'
the greatly increased value OF 1arili
products and the better wages "hici
colored men are now enjoying shouiu
result i'm better homes and schools anu
churches. Living conditions must be
greatly improved among our people, II
they would lay sure foundation 1or
future progress. And even WIN oel-
ter homes, there can be no assureu Vi
abiding progress without n deciueo III
crease in intelligence among the
masses of colored people. Inc ""i
revealed an appalling amount OIL ~
norance and consequent meIliciehes
among the Negroes of the South. IliiS
lesson should not be lost upon u.s. Inc
Negro must be educated, or he VIII oe
able neither to serve himseif ellee
lively nor any one else. Coioreo peo
ple must awake to the fact that less
than two-thirds of their children are
enrolled in the schools even Ill su'i'
states as Alabama and Virginia NOT
to mention the less favored coinfiiuii
tiles. And, of those enrolled fe"er