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Image provided by: University of South Carolina; Columbia, SC
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WHY THE NEEBO SHOULD STICK TO THE FARM. Read Before the Last Race Con Held in Columbia-A Splen did Paper. Mr. Chairman. Ladies and Gentle men : It is unfair, I claim, to ask an unpopular set bf men to speak on an unpopular subject the last day of the Conference. It is to bc remembered that most of our young men want to take up some trade or profession or to go to town to live easy, therefore you can't expect us to entertain the people. We like to follow the white peo ple, dress fine every day and ride around. Wc never stop to think that the white people had our help more than two centuries before we began the life that has counted for something. The Negro is, hy nature, adapted to agriculture. We were pre pared for this work on thc banks of the Nile. When the cultured white people of Virginia stood in need of farm labor a band of Ne groes were imported winch were used in the cultivation of tobacco. The white people could not work, the Indians would not, so it was left for the people of our father land to contribute the muscle neces sary for the agricultural advance ment of the United States. For more than two centuries the majority of us spent our time on the farm under the strict super vision of white farmers, who had been well educated. It was in this capacity we learned the art and habit of industry, so that when we became emancipated wc had some idea of farming from a business point of view, as well as an idea of cultivating the soil. I know of no business or trade which thc Negro had been so well prepared to make his way in life as a f ee man. I say it without v4any just fear of^ contradiction that the reason why we; as a race, have been so much more successful as farmers is due to thc training we received at the hand of intelligent masters. It is claimed that we spend every year $60,000,000 for medi cine and advice from practicing physicians. This could be greatly reduced if we would go where we could live in a healthier atmos phere. The condition of the masses in towns and cities is far from that which is conducive to long life. Poorly built houses in unhealthy places, eating poor and half pre pared food will shorten the life of any race, nation or individual. Statistics show that farmers live longer than any other people. Not withstanding, a farm properly con ducted requires business judgment, there is less risk, less worry, more out-of-door exercise where we can breathe more pure air and eat more pure food. It was not till the Negro began to enter the skilled trades and pro fessions that he became a victim of consumption. As long as he stayed in the air he was healthy. The need of a practicing physician was seldom felt. A race spending two hundred years in one life and changing to another could expect no less. It takes time to become skilled in any trade or learned in any pro fession, or perfect in any business. The vast number of inventions that have facilitated muustry, thoughts that have mouled senti ment, the men who with brain held the masses in their hands, were not the efforts of a day. This being a free country, every person must meet competition in nearly every walk of life, the farm being the exception. I do not mean to be understood as meaning that the Negro is un able to compete with his white brother, because I believe the Ne gro has the ability, if properly trained, and can do anything for which he is by nature fitted. Bul we have to contend with prejudice which has made its way into laboi unions. A race half intelligent and pov erty-stiicken cannot compete witl a people superior in number, stronger intellectually, stronger financially, with the law of thc country at his back. Our success must bc along uncontested lines. While the records show that the Negro is gaining in other occupa tions, only goes to show that thc trained Negro is gaining ground, but not to the point to insure sta ble success. There are 2,143,176 Negroes en gaged in agricultural pursuits or 21 and 7-10 per cent, of all persons is by no means displeasing. There seems to be an unrest of leaving the farm and going to town to live hy wits, but it seems the interest is greater among white than among Negroes. From 1900 to iQto, the increase of white farm ers was 9 1-10 per cent., that of the Negro was 19 per cent. Thc Negro farm labor decreased nu merically, while the Negro farm ers increased. This is due to the fact that farm work is depreciated, thc masses of colored people are made to feel that it is more honor able to move to town and follow some trade and half starve. The poor white man has neither thc money or the brain to control Negro labor. Some leading white politicians arousing race hatred, make the poor white man feel hu miliated working in the fields with Negroes. The well-to-do white man will not do manual work, at the same time prefers to live in town where he can educate bis children. The poor white man finds employment in cotton facto ries. This leaves the farm to the Negro and the mule. Here is a chance to buy land and live unmo lested. Our white friends are grieving over the race problem. Let us buy farm land, cultivate it intelligently and let our white friends talk poli tics and look dignified. Sell Kim all that he needs, in short, let us produce while he consumes. This will solve the problem. There are in the South several millions.o? acres of .unimproved land which the Negro can buy and cultivate successfully, which, if we wait a few years, will be owned by some one else. The newspapers and the railroads are advertising the South in for eign countries with the hope of bringing people of foreign birth, foreign ideas, people who are in lit tle or no sympathy with conditions in this country, for thc sole pur pose of maintaining white supre macy. In case this country is overrun with these ignorant people the question that ought to concern us is : where will we stand ? We arc practically debarred from white labor unions, hence thc unimproved land is our place. Notwithstanding there is little 01 no inducement to the unthinking young Negro, the Negro must takt that as his lot and thank God it if no worse. The National House of Repre sentatives seems to be un favorable to the progress of Negro agricul ture, and in no State do we get al the encouragement necessary foi intelligent farming among Ne groes. But this is tn no way du? to the white people of character anr ability. Anything done to discour age the Negro in his progress on ward is the work of the politiciar whose stock is in arousing the hat red of the poor, ignorant whit? people against colored people. Let it ever be remembered thal the white people who have stooc for progress among their own rac? have extended a helping hand tc the Negro struggling, the Negrc who wanted to rise. There an hundreds of farmers here and else where whose success has openec the way for Negroes to stick to th? farm, and whose career stands a< possibilities. They owe their sue cess to the kindly advice and finan cial ltelp of their white friends. But we must not let any of thesi ' prove barriers in our way. To b t sure, we must go the faster. ; We must bear in mind that w r are no longer slaves, but free mer walking and thinking as other pee - pie. 1 We, like the other people whoi God .lade, owe something to so ciety. We are not here just to slay until we die. God made us for .something. We can best serve the end for which we were created by doing that which we are best pre pared to do. I believe that we can better teach our people the habits of in dustry and honesty on the farm.! There are no tricks to be learned' nor practiced on the farm. i i There arc hundreds of Negro, farmers who are making good, j What they are doing others can do. Why remain in crowded tenement houses in cities, half starve, suffer from contagious diseases, and in a place where employment is hard to get, when in the rural districts la bor is wanted and needed and must be had if material progress con tinues ? Tn the South the people arc wak ing up truck farming and cattle raising. Thc South is now thc garden spot of the country. Peo ple from other sections are coming here finding fortunes in our unim proved land. The United States Government is spending thousands of dollars every year lo eradicate the cattle tick and boll weevil. We must not let the opportunity slip now. To be sure, town property will en hance in value or depreciate as the town builds up or goes down. In the country, property enhances in proportion as we build up our in dividual property. A man in town builds a city home for six thousand dollars. A man in the country buys a farm for three thousand dollars. The man in the city can do nothing with his home but live in it. Tn case he loses out the home becomes worthless prop erty. Thc man in the country in vests just half the amount-three thousand dollars-has room for stock, for chickens, at the same time makes a good living. If you will pardon me for per sonal reference, I own both city and country property. Taking into con sideration', insurance and taxes, country property is the cheapest you can buy. I ask my friends to leave the towns and cities, come to the coun try and help us clear the woods and make things go. Butler General. RAGE RELATIONS DISCUSSED AT MEMPHIS. From (Benedict) College ?Tourna^ Memphis, Tenn., May 7,-The co- operation of the races for the purpose of bettering conditions in the South, as discussed by Bishop Theodore D. Bratton, of Jackson, Miss., and Booker T. Washington, attracted large crowds at the afternoon session of the Southern Sociological con gress here to-day, Bishop Bratton pointed out the necessity of race cooperation in church work as a contributory factor in laying the foundation for the solution of the race prob lem. "The first point of cooperation for the two races, in this" he said, "is the example of a solid religious faith and justice; the second is the points of contact in their churches and schools and sharing with them the benefits of our great public school system. But above all is to live the Gos pel/' The Bishop took to task ex tremist? of both races. Following the address of Bish Bratton, former Gov. Mann, who occupied a seat on the platform, called on R. R. Moton, a leading Negro of Virginia, to lead the colored portion of the audience in singing "Climb, Climb Up Higher," and "Down on the Suwanee River," brought rounds of applause. Booker Washington discussing race cooperation in securing law and order, pointed to the socio logical congress as the best means of bringing the two races to a better understanding of each other, as well as the needs and aspirations of the Negro. His subject was "How can the Ne gro in the South do his part in using this Congress to bring a bout better conditions." He said: "We can use this organization to spread an influence among our people for the prevention of I III World's Best Pianos And PL?YER-PI?NQS SOLD AND GUARANTEED BY 5< PIANO CO. |^ QUAL'tV [Established!910| Sgjfe 1271 Main St. Phone 1316. crime.. In spite of all that may be said, in palliation, there is too much .crime committed by; our people in' all parts Of the country. We should let the world under stand we are not going ito hide crime because it is committed by black people." To You, Mr. Stock Owner Would you own a horse and let him suffer and be satisried ? Why the horse needs a dentist as well as the human beiug does. If you have his teeth kept up it will save other trouble on the horse. When this is done the animal will eat better and give you bet ter service. Do you know that you give away better stock than what you buy every year because you don't call a veterinary sur geon and ask his opinion about it. As long as you do so it will keep you buying stock. Our business is to take care of the stock and his owner. The white people have us to work the same ones over again and then they sell them right back to you for the same price you first paid. Why can't you do the same thing and save the price of another horse or mule ? We are called all over this county to do so for the white people and you are paying for it. It is time to wake up and get busy. We will do the same thing for you. Yours truly, DR. J. H. SIMS. Veterinary Surgeon and Animal Dentist. 1518 Williams Street, Columoia, S, C. Phone 2677. Small Farms Five acres and up with dwelling Productive Soil Will rent, Sell or Exchange for oilier property. ? Few New Lots and Houses Low Prices. Easy Terras Martin Storks i544 Main Street, Columbia DR. L. M. DANIELS PHYSICIAN & SURGEON Office Hours: 9 to 10 A. M. ; 1 to 2 P.M. ; 3 to 4 P. M. ; 7 to 8 P. H. Residence 1610 Sumter Street, Office, 1100 Washington Street. PHONE 1429, : : Columbia, S. C. I. L. BAILEY Licensed Architect & Builder ' Plans and Specifications gotten out for Residences, Churches etc. 1330 PINE ST. - COLUMBIA, S. C. \ mo Mail Orders No need send to the mail order houses for what you want. We have it here at the same price, if not cheaper. You owe us a trial anyway. Send a list of what you require and let us figure on it. We have specially laid ourselves out to execute mail orders and you may rely on prompt attention. Our PAINT de? partment is unexcelled in this country. L?rick & Lowrance (INCORPORATED) Columbia, South Carolina. fl Palmetto Meat Market J. S. DENT, Prop'r. Butcher and Green Grocer, Fish. Oysters and Game in season, 1330 Assembly St. Phcne 172. Columbia N. K. Collin's Big Department Store THIS is the store that gets the new things first. We are now showing many new and stylish STETSON HATS-a Hat for every face-for every taste. 1125 Washington Street, Columbia