Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 14 November 1908 — Page 1

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Vol-Xll No. i9

INDIANAPOLIS. INDIANA SATURDAY. NOVEMBER i 4 1908

Happier Outlook For Farmers

Objects For Which the Commission on Country Life Was Appointed by President Roosevelt—Why Farmers Need to Co-operate to Lessen the Farm Drudgery and Make Life More Attractive to Themselves and Their Families.

y A. i!i>Grh."T CTR. f ^■w^WO of the most Important actions 9 of President Roosevelt or of any £ president in recent times v/ere nonpartisan in character and in any sense of strict construction were outside the prescribed duties of his office. One was the calling of the convention of governors to consider the conservation of our natural resources, and the other was the appointment of the commission to investigate the condition of our farmers and report methods for their improvement. It would be difficult to llnd two more praiseworthy objects. Into both of them all patriots and lovers of their race can cuter with the utmost heartiness. The two subjects are kindred in character and together with the beautifying of our cities and villages constitute a field of effort in which the • harvest is ripe, but the laborers are few." It is difficult to measure the relative importance of contemporary movements. but it is the opinion of the writer that the future will find none more < ommendable than the broad and general crurade Included under these three heads. It Is philanthropic in the highest degree. That it is necessary the destruction of our forests and the abandonment of our farms demonstrate. its alms are for betterment, the creation of more beautiful sur roundings and the increase of happiness. It not only goes with nature., but brings men back to nature. It is both practical and idealistic. It means the improvement of the outer and inner man. It makes for happier homes It tends to an increased love of nature and hence an increased love

brought the farmer somewhat nearer to his kind. What is now required are good roads, the beautifying of the landscape and the advancement of social and intellectual life in rural communities. In a business way the farmers need more co-operation among themselves both in buying and selling. Now they are at the mer.-y of market manipulators and middlemen. If they would band together, bad warehouses iu which to store their products until the market was most favorable and would buy In large quantities they would save at both ends. These objects can frequently l>e brought about by organisations ruch as the Orange, the Alliance, the Farmers* union and kindred bodies. Such movements serve another desirable object iu that they increase the social life of the farmer and heighten his intellectual life, the lodge room often serving as a debating club, a literary society and a school. The writer has advocated a general movement embracing all these objects. All of these efforts seemed to him related and capable of being included in one general work. In a gardening and landscape page he has repeatedly urged this entire programme, at one time giving it a definite statement thus: It has occurred to the writer that there should Le a general movement inaugurated along certain djoftnlto lines that are kindred and t’oet naturally support each other. The first of these should,he a propaganda showing the importance of horticulture and landscape gardening. This should not fee confined to large estates, but the people generally should be Interested In it. Second —A movement should be inaugurated against the prfrn, precise and fonn-

FOUR MEMBERS OF THE COUNTRY LIFE COMMISSION.

of country". It helps fhose now living, bat still more it helps the generations unborn. It benefits the farmer, on w hose well being the prosperity of all nations rests. May it not well be that in years to come this crusnde to improve the life on the farm, beautify landscapes, cities and villages, conserve and replant our forests, make better roads and better streets, will grow to be a fountain of blessing to the race and will receive the plaudits of that greater, wiser and better humanity that the future is to bring forth? Need of Co-operation. I know of no humanitarian effort of modem times that appeals to my soul more powerfully than does this. With •the Improvement of transportatiou facilities through the automobile, the electric road, the steam road, and,latest and greatest, the ships of the air, men will live more arid more distant from their places of business. This will end the frightful congestion of our cities and will improve the appearance of the country and the conveniences of rural life. Then the lessening of the drudgery of the farm and the increasing of the social and intellectual life of the farmer and his family will tend to stop the flocking of young men and women to the city and Will increase the prosperity, the intelligence and the happiness of our most numerous class. In many European nations the farms are so cut up that those who till them can group their homes Into little hamlets. This removes the lonesomeness of country life and adds to social pleasure. Iu this country the Introduction of the telephone and rural free delivery has W

al and in favor of following nature on fines of natural grace and beauty. Third.—Both of these should support the campaign for the beautifying of cities and villages, with which they are sc closely connected, and in turn should be supported by It. Fourth.—They should also lend sympathetic aid to the efforts at tree planting and the preservation of forests, which should be made to serve the ends of beauty as well as those of utility. Fifth. —All these relate, although somewhat more remotely, to the movement for good roads In the country and. for cleaner and better preserved streets in village and city. Sixth.—The beautifying of farm sur roundings and the making of farm life more attractive and interesting to the young is another part of the same general movement. Seventh, and most important of all perhaps. Is the beautifying of school grounds and Interesting children in all the general advance here outlined. Here is a definite programme. Why should not all the societies interested in any phase of the subject be appealed tc for this general programme? Why should not all these societies support each other In this common work? Why should not the newspapers, the pulpit, the woman’s clubs and the teachers take up the crusade? Why should not our agricultural department be interested in a definite way in this entire programme? Why should not a general national movement be Inaugurated on these fines that would enllsl the support not alone of a few expert* and specialists, but of the people generally ? Value of Good Roads. After writing along these lines sc long it can be imagined with whal gratification I greeted*’ the presidents recommendations when they came. II Is true that his programme only directly concerns the sixth item, that relative to making farm life more attractive, but It will necessarily include alsc the fifth or good roads feature and the

oi lauc reiatiuy; to stliool VYur*. on those lines. The selection of Gifford Pbichot, the efficient head of the forestry bureau, as a member of the commission gives assurance that tree planting will also enter Into consideration. As for landscape gardening and the beautifying of environments, these must come both in city and country. The president specifically mentions the school feature, and the work of the commission has already developed the imperative need of good roads. Good roads not only assist the farmer in getting to market, but facilitate travel and add to the amiability of all concerned. It would be frightful to contemplate how many men have gone wrong through swearing at bad roads. The five gentlemen asked by the president to serve on the commission are Professor L. H. Bailey, director of the New York State Agricultural college; Gifford Pinchot, head of the forestry department; Henry Wallace, editor of an agricultural paper at Dos, Moines, la.; Walter H. Page, editor of the World’s Work, and Professor Kenyon L. Butterfield, president of the Massachusetts Agricultural college. Enthusiastic Forester. Gifford Pinchot is the first real forester we have had In this country. He is a man after the president’s own heart, one who is not satisfied unless he is dclng something every available hour of the day. Even when he plays games he puts his whole heart Into it. He belongs to the president’s "tennis cabinet” and "also accompanies Mr. Roosevelt on tree chopping expeditions. Mr. Pinchot’s Immense services to the country in stopping the depredations of timber thieves, in putting bounds on greed in the cutting of lumber, in introducing a scientific system in the choice of trees for lumber so that the forests are not left depleted, iu planting trees on laud useless for other purposes, in caring for the woodlands already In existence and in extending the knowledge of forestry cannot receive too high praise. Not till a future generation w’lll the worth of this work be fully appreciated. Had it not been for some such man stepping into the breach there would have been a timber famine iu this country inside of a half century. Even as it is the peril is not entirely past. The secret of Mr. Pinchot’s success is that he is one of those men -who believe iu their cause. He believes in it so much that he is ready to devote his life to it. It is that kind of man that moves the world. Pinchot and others are rapidly educating this country up to the needs of planting trees and preaerviug those we already have. It is certain that he will take up the kindred work of Improving life on the farm with the same fine enthusiasm. A Work of Great Import. Walter H. Page in his magazine, the World's Work, has long advocated such a movement as the president has put under way. His intelligent appreciation of the importance of the task may be judged from the following paragraph, which appeared in an editorial summing up the farmer and his

future:

Getting a living from the soil is now a scientific and profitable pursuit for those who know best how to do It—those who take advantage of all the new knowledge. As the number of such persons increases and better and better methods are used the profits and the'joys of country life will grow. Organization will take the place of wasteful individual work. The Intellectual life will be cultivated. The time dreamed of by the poets and philosophers will come—may come--throughout the great fertile stretches of our country, and it would come within a remarkably short time If all the forces now at work for It could be co-ordinated and directed right. A great common movement toward such an end would take rank as the most Important work In our land, perhaps the most important in the whole world. That has the right ring. With two such men as Pinchot and Page on this commission something worth while will follow. I do not know the other gentlemen, but judge from what little I have heard of them that they are ol the same sort. It is the president’s desire that the commission deliver its report not later than the beginning of the new year, after which he will embody its conclu sions and some ideas of his own in a message to congress. The commission has already written nearly a half million letters to farmers and other persons connected with country life.- Answers to these will be tabulated by the census bureau, and unusual or notable replies will be read by some member of the commission. Hearings are being held throughout the country which will extend well Into December. What Farmers Need. In all fairness it must be said that our agricultural department is already doing an immense service to the farmers. It Is spreading knowledge of scientific methods, is conducting important experiments and in the south is carrying on schools that are of greul practical benefit. As far as it goes that work is well. As the president says, however, "agriculture is not all of country life.” It is important to got the largest possible crops out of the soil. It is also important to get the most of joy and progress out of thf heart and soul of man. What the farmers need is to unite for their own protection, stop the leeches from bleeding them to death, get all the latest machinery and scientific knowledge tc aid them, have warehouses and band themselves together both to buy and sell, organize for mutual benefit, improvement and social life, beautify their homes, make life more attractive to themselves, their wives and theh children, learn to eliminate the drudgery—In a word, to find themselves and discover the secret of all happiness in knowing how to live. It can be done, and with Intelligent investigation and persevering effort It will be done. The farmers need what we all need—tc learn how to co-operate.

ROOSEVELTAS EDITOB President’s Connection With the Outlook and His Duties.

WILL DO SPECIAL WORK.

Position to Bo “Analogous to That of Consulting Engineer” In an Undertaking Like Panama Canal—Hailed as a World Loader—To Write What

He Pleases.

The Outlook, of which the Bev. Lyman Abbott is the editor, recently announced the part that President Roosevelt will have in the conduct of the magazine after he retires from the presidency. This Is the statement: On and after March 5> 1909, Theodore Roosevelt will be associated with the Outlook’s editorial staff as special contributing editor. As the beginning of the nineteenth century was characterized by the movement'toward political democracy, so the beginning of the twentieth century has been characterized by a movement toward Industrial democracy. In this world movement Theodore Roosevelt has been recognized as a world leader. No one who knows him has believed that his leadership would cease with his retirement from the presidency. We congratulate ourselves and our readers that this leadership, exercised for the last seven years in presidential messages, will be exercised in the future through the columns of the Outlook, which will be the exclusive channel for the expression of his views on political, industrial and

social topics.

Mr. Roosevelt will be more than a mere contributor. His headquarters will be at the Outlook’s office, and he will be In frequent and, we hope, in constant consultation with its staff. His position will thus be somewhat analogdus to that of a consulting engineer who .Is called In to give the benefit of his expert co-operation to the staff of engineers in charge of a great undertaking like the Panama canal. But the editorial control of the Outlook will remain unchanged. Mr. Roosevelt’s contributions, though editorial iu their nature, will be signed by his name and will be the absolutely free and unmodified expressions of his personal convictions.. We anticipate that on occasions both the interest and the value of the Outlook will be enhanced by frank discussions between this journal and Its distinguish-

ed associate.

As already announced in these columns, Mr. Roosevelt after retiring from the presidency will sail for Africa, and the reports of his scientific hunting expedition will be published exclusively in Scribner’s Magazine. During this period his contributions on questions of the day will necessarily be somewhat restricted. Yet the Outlook will have the benefit of bis foresight before he sails and will give to it/ readers occasional articles from his pen on topics of current interest which will foreshadow his larger editorial activity upon his return to his

native land.

“The history of the world,” says Hegel, “is none other than the progress of the consciousness of freedom.” Ever since Its birth in 1870 the Outlook has been endeavoring to interpret current history in the spirit of this definition. We count ourselves very happy in being promised in this work the co-operation of an American so eminent in the essential qualities of leadership as Theodore Roosevelthigh ideals, extraordinary quickness and largeness of vision, the long look ahead, a consistent and progressive political philosophy, practical wisdom in applying the great principles to present ard prospective conditions, unfailing good humor, faith In God and in bin fellow men and always indomitable ard unquestioned courage.

NO SEDUCTION

President Roosevelt Frowns on (Jrumpacker Plan

Negro Disfranchisement Receives Approval of Nation’s Chief Washington, Nov- 8.—President Roosevelt has arousad considerable comment here by expressing his condemnation of Representative Crumback's plan for reducing the congressional representation in the Southern states to 5 ake it conform more nearly to the number of votes actually cast under the restricted suffrage enforced there. Iu this letter to Wyudam R. Meredith, a “Taft Democrat,” who is presi dent of the Virginia Bar Association, Mr. Roosevelt says: “White House. “Washington, Oct. 27, 1908. *‘My Dear Meredith—I have your letter, I n t believe there is a single individual of any cousequce who seriously dreams of cutting down South ern representation, and I should have no hesitation in stating anywhere and at anv time that as lui.g as the elec- ; tion laws are constitutionally enforced, without discrimination as to color, the fear that 5>omhern representation in Congress will be cut down is both idle and absurd.) Faithfully yours, “THEODORE ROOSEVELT." Mr. Meredith did not make the letter public until after election for politcal reasons. The President’s action is all the more surprising in view of the fact that the last House embobied Mr. Crnmpacker’s idea in the publicity bill it passed, which measure was ordered favorably reported to the Senate by Senator Burrows’s Committee on Privileges and Elections. Mr. < rumpacker has been one of the most outspoken administration Republicans, and his views on Southern representation have been generally accpted as the views of most ail of his party in both Houses of Congress.

Negro Elected to Ohio Legislature Along with the great Taft victory the Afro-Americans of Cleveland and northern Ohio are rejoicing over the lection of Henry Tolbert Enbanks as a member of the legfslatttte. IflTrEubanks’ plurality is 8,614 This is a decisive victory in view of the unwar-

TO HOLD DOLL FAIR

Colored Women’s Clubs of Illinois to

Give Unique Exhibit

Duquoiu, 111., Special—At the last meeting of the several coloted womens clubs of this city it was decided that they should unite in one effort to give what will no doubt be the first Negro Doll Fair ever given in the United States. The date for holding the fair has been set for November 23 30. Heretofore the same organizations have held anonal fairs but for no special ourpose expect to raise fnnds for charitable and missionary work. This year they have other objects in view primely for introducing into the homes of Negroes dolls that will not be a re flection upon the moral standing of the race and the infusing of race pride in the children of the race. Mrs. J. R. Benoett’s expression on the subject, “We want real Negro dolls for our homes." It seems that Duqnoin, like many other Illinois towns, including, Springfield, is following in the wake of the National Baptist Convention which was no doubt the first national body to pass a resolution indorsing the Negro doll idea. It will be remem ber that it was at their meeting at Lexington during the month of Hep tember that the following resolution was passed: “Whereas, Oar people for half a century, because of the uncomely and deformed features of Negro dolls.have spent thousands of dollars upon white dolls for Christmas, etc., therefore, be

it

“Resolved. That we do here and now give our indorsement and hearty approval of the Negro Doll factory, and not only urge the patronage of the people of onr churches as Baptist but of the race at large throughout the

United States."

The Illinois Federation of Women’s Clubs, which met a Bloomington, took similar action, endorsing the Negro Doll Factory at Nashville, Tenn., and recommending the idea to all the worn en of that state. Duquoin has already received a shipment of these Negro dolls from the Negro Doll Company at Nashville, Tenn. The city is fairly wild over them. The fair promises to be a brilliant success. It was farther learned from Mrs. Bennett, who is ' orresponcing Secretary of the Women's Auxiliary to the Baptist State

NEGRO CITY PROSPERS

Merchant Places Order For Consign-

ment of Negro Dolls

Mound Bayon, Miss, special—This city, characteristic because of its distinctively Afro-American municipal government, has again exhibited its love for true race enterprise. 'Aside from claiming the distinction of being the largest, most prosperous and most up-tb-date city of its kind in the Unit ed States, it claims to be the first in the country to place a large order for Negro dolls. It ia learned that the order was sent to-day to ibe Negro Doll Company at Nashville, Tenn. The firm who placed this order was C. S. Stringer & Co., who own the leading general merchandise and dry goods store of this city They ordered a large assortment of these dolls. While it only called for 825 00 worth of dolls, it is but the beginning. The member of the firm. Mr. C. R. Stringer, stated thated he wanted to be among the first to help bring to this city the Negro dolls. Mound Bayou has Negro every thing else save these, hence Mr Stringer was of the opinion tnat the addimr of the Negro dolls will complete the list. He is looking for the shipment real soon. Scores of families are anxiously awaiting the arrival,and the town people will, uo doubt7Y>e eager to welcome them in this part of the

South.

runted attacks made on Eubanks by

the Municipal association, the ] a bor ] Convention ’ that similar ste P s are be_ unions and a few members of his own | * n £ taken in almost all Illinois towns race who were too cowardly to reveal. flS we ^ as ' n other states. Miss N. H ♦ I Bufrougbsof Louisville, Ky., a woman ’ • of international reputation, is in tine As we stated last week. Mr. Eubanks i with the movement, as is Miss E. B. made a good record as a former mem- Delanv of Fernandia, Fla.; Mesdams ber ol the legislature and there is S. W. Lavton of Philadelphia; Ella M, every reason to believe he will make a Abner of Texas; E. Arlington Wilson good one now. The CleveLnd Jour - j of Kansas; V. W. Broughton of Nash nal joius his friends incongratulating ville; M E Goins of Missouri and P.

; James Bryant of Atlanta. Ga. There

| is a gratitude in the hearts of these

dear people for Dr. R. H. Boyd for his new movement as in the case of the publishing house movement begun

several years ago.

82,822 Negro Farms in Georgia The majority of the Negroes in Geor gia are tillers of the soil and Very successful ones at that. According to the

Georgia records of the 224,300 farms ENTERTAINED COLORED PIANIST in the state our people own 82,822! Miss Hazel Harrison, of Laporte, farms of this soil. Seventy-two ne-; Ind., who has attracted attention by groes own more than 1,000 acres eaeb, her talent as a pianist, was the guest 368 own between 600 and 1,000 acres of the Chicago Woodlawn Woman’s each, 1,475 own between 200 and 500 Club at a luncheon Tuesday, at the acres each, 3,540 own between 176 and | Masonic Temple, Woodlawn. After

270 acres each, 10,372 own between 100 and 175 acres each, 16,076 own between 50 and 100 acres each. 39 652 own between 20 and 50 acres each. This is a creditable showing indeed.

luncheon a musical and literary program was enjoyed. Miss Harrison faking part. Three years ago Miss Harrison played in Berlin, Germany. She leaves for England in the spring to give a series of recitals in London.

Race Discrimination Legal Says Court Washington, Nov. 9—In deciding the case of Berea College vs. the State of Kentucky favorably to the State, the Supreme Court of the United held that the States of the Union may constitutionally legislate to prevent the co-operation of the white and black races. The case was instituted to test the validity of the State law of 19 04 prohibiting white and black children from attending the same schools. The higher State court took the position that the white and black races are naturally antagonistic and that the forced separation of the children of the two is in line of the preserva-

tion of the peace.

The opinion of the Supreme Courtwas handed down by Justice and affirmed by the finding of both the Kentucky Circuit Court and the Court of Appeals. Justice Harlan and Day dissented.

-

THE MOST POPULAR MINISTER CONIES! ONE Vote REGULAR BALLOT, NOV. 14

Name of Minister.

of Church

City or Town.

Name of Subscriber.

Address.

Date..

.1908

The Indianapolis Recorder is conducting a voting contest to decide who is the most popular minister of the race in Indiana. Ballots will appear weekly and are good for one vote, if received at the Recorder Office before the first of next month. Special Ballots will be given with all subscriptions as follows; 1 year, 100 votes 6 months, 50 votes; 3 months, 2$, votes. A $50.00 suit of clothes will be presented to the successful minister by the Recorder. Watch the vote each week.

Price 2ct

NEGRO TOWNS Two Types of Cities and Pre dominating Influences The One Ideal and Prosperous while the Other Ruled by Politics From Leominster (Mass.) Enterprise. The following will be found of f*" eral interest. This ; c * and also, because the *- the truth that the col makes very little diffc vv . litical outcome. Where politicians rule, there la corruption, whatever be

thecoior:

Interesting examples of towns actually governed by Negroes may be found today. One of these is but nine ty miles from Chicago and ninety-five miles from Detroint, known asCalvin, Cass county, Mich. Its history is characteristic. The Quakers among its founders made it a haven of ref age for the fugitive slaves on their way to the Canada borders, so that by 1860, of the 1368 Negroes in Cass county, 795 lived In Calvin township. They were in fact the majority of the population, and have continued to be so ever since, being in fact sixty per cent, of the population, about 1,500. today. It was not, however, till 1875 that the first Negro was elected to oflSce, and it is only within the last fifteen yeara that the town government has been chiefly In the hands of Negroes, The officers of the municipality are supervisor, clerk, treasurer, road commissioner and school directors. All these except the treasurer are colored. The Negroes who make up the township are as a rale land owners, and the market value of their property is about $40 0 000. A majority of the pieces of property owned are farms of between twenty and eighty acres, rais ing corn, wheat, oats and potatoes. But there are no “professional politicians" in the community, and the Negroes themselves reject any idea of ‘dominating" the township. They are proud of the fact that the ofiices have so generally fallen to colored in-

cumbents.

There is another Negro-governed community which presents a very dark contract to this agncul’ural town ship ruled by Negro farmers. It is the suburb of Easf St. Louis called Brooklyn, Illinois. This Negro town also rose from an early “station" on the “underground railroad” for fugitive slaves. Many of the runaways remained in Brooklyn instead of continuing the flight to Canada, and the population is estimated at ever 1600 today. The Negroes of Brooklyn ^re principally railroad hands and laborers in the stockyards and steel works there. There is a standing offer to the chiefs of police of the surrounding towns for all the Negroes they can send to Brooklyn, so lively is the demand for coarser kind of day labor. The corrupting influences of the large corporations have produced the type of Negro politicians who fix property. As the paper in the Southern Workman, (organ of the Hampton Institute), from which these facts are drawn, says: “Instead of paying tsx. I am informed that the corporation often buy off Negro politicians, so that they have only a small tax to pay. The politicians permit an employee of the company to be elected as sessor.soae to assess the company’s property Thus, as in a hundred other municipalities where politicians rule, corruption is rampant.” Then the enforcement of the liquor law by Governor Folk has driven^the saloons and other evil resorts and their patrons from St Louis across the river. The colored ministers are in despair over the situation of their town, although the mayor, treasurer, e'erk, inspector oi streets, fire chief and chief of police and the six members of the village council are aM Negroes. Standing In The Most Popular Minister Contest. Rev. Chas. Hunter, Presiding Elder..,2483 Rev. Lemuel Stokes, city., 2 35 2 Rev. R. D. Lenard, Union Tabernacle Baptist Church 1985 Rev. G. W. Ward, Mt. Zion Bap. church 1681 Rev. G. H. Shaffer, Bethel A. M. E. Church 685 Rev. G. C. Sampson, Allen Chapel Church 580 Rev. H. J. Callis, Jones Tabernacle... 451 Rev. Chas. Johnson, city 200 Rev. H. L. Herod, 2d Christian church. 152 Rev. G. A. Martin, Corinthian Baptist church 15 2 Rev. K. Warren, Olivet Baptist church 133 Rev. J. S. Bailey, Simpson Chapel ch’rch 125 Rev, H. H. Hinton, M. E. Church, Con ville ' 125 Rev. J. C. Patton, ShilohBaptish ch’rch 125 Rev. Chas. Williams, Cavalry Baptist church - 75 Rev. White, Witherspoon Presbyterian 80 Rev. Morris Lewis, Presiding Elder A. M. E. Church 5° Rev. Mitchell, Metropolitan Baptist church 5° Rev. J. Francis Robinson 50 Rev. J. C. Campbell, City 50 Rev. J. P. Wallace, Terre Haute, Ind . 50 Rev. N. A, Seymour, New Bethel Baptist church 5° Rev. C. E. Hardmon, Franklin, Ind . .. 50 Rev. W. M. Winfield, Penick Chapel.. 36 Rev. Patterson New Hope Baptist 25 Rev. B. F. Farrell, Mt. Paron Baptist Church 2 5 Total Votes 11620