naturally are in predominance.  These people come as far as thir-
ty or forty miles, over terrible roads, starting, in some cases sev-
eral days  before hand, in order to be present.  They come in carts
and on horseback and, occasionally, in comfortable carriages.

    Mr. Washington is the presiding offier, and a most remarkable  
one he proves himself.  In such a gathering it is difficult to keep
speakers either to the subject under discussion or within bounds
of time.   Mr. Washington  accomplishes both successfully.  Every
speaker who rambles in his remark has the part of them  that is
to the  point sifted out, when he has finished, and tersely present-
ed.  Every one who runs over time is courteously thanked and
stopped.  No one who has achieved anything, the recital of which
would be of value to others fails to be called out.  Mr. Washing-
ton stands in the Conference hour after hour, never  once drop-
ping into his chair.
    The meeting for the present year o1897 may be cited as show-
ing  the real aim and wide scope of Booker Washington's work.
An unusual number of distinguished visitors were  present amoung
them Dr. Frissell, President of Hampton; Mrs. and Miss Arm-
strong, the widow and daughter of General Armstrong;  President
and Mrs. Cravath of Fisk  University, Nashville, Tenn ;Dr. Rank-
lin, President of Howard University,  Washington, D C.;  Dr.
Bumstead, President of Atlanta University; Dr. Sanders, President
of Biddle University, Charlotte,  N.C.; Dr. Whiten, of the Out-
look Magazine, and Mr. Collingwood, of the Rural New Yorker
Reporters from two leading  Boston papers and various South-
ern papers were  in  attendance.  After prayer and singing, which
opened the morning meeting, Mr. Washington addressed the Con-
ference.  In the course of his remarks he said:
     "I wish to call attention to the original  purpose of these
Conferences.  They were designed for the rank and file of the peo-                 
ple with the view of finding out such troubles as were within our
power to remedy.  We can remedy our industrial condition, we can
lengthen our school term  with money and labor, we can have a
higher order of religion and better morals, and we can acquire
property. I hope each one has come to get something to carry
back with him.  The Conference will not amount to much if you
consider yourself alone.  You  must carry into your community
the help you get here.  Lay hold of something that will help you
and then use it to help somebody else.  We want to see evidence
of the value of these meetings in every community.  I hope you
will all speak out.  We want to know the truth, whatever it




			

OHS Archives/Library Pamphlet Collection

Description of the Work at the Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute, Tuskegee Alabama, A