>hn viii, 32.
THURSDAY, D3
CHARLOTTE, N. C,
VOI^XLVn./
THE AFRICAN CONFERENCE AT HARTFORD
/* Preservation
of African Languages and Culture and New
Methods of Education Proposed
«*. Movements looking toward a
closer co-operation between mis
sionary, government', scientfiic
and commercial agencies inter
ested in the development of Af
rica, toward the development of
African Negro culture and of a
higher civilization founded up
ob the values in that culture,
toward a concerted effort to
wipe out the sleeping sickness in
Central Africa, toward apply
ing to African educational
methods the accumulated expe
rience gained in the education
of Negroes in Southern United
States,* and towards a central
bureau for the study of African
languages and for assisting in
th;2 production of a suitable lit
erature in these tongues—all of
these movements were inaugu
rated at' the “African Confer
ence’' held in the Kennedy
School of' Missions, Hartford,
Conn., Oct. 30 to Nov. 1, under
the auspices of the Committee
of Reference and Counsel of the
Foreign Missions Conference of
North America. More than a
hundred African missionaries,
board officers and educational
authorities from the United
States were in attendance. Dr.
Thomas S. Donohugh, chair
man of the African Committee,
and associate secretary of the
Board of Foreign Missions of
the Methodist Episcopal
Church, presided. Among the
authorities present were J. H.
Oldham of London, and Dr. A.
L. jWarnshuis, of New York,
Secretaries of the International
Missionary Council; Dr. Thomas
Jesse Jones, chairman of the
lission of the .Phelps
_a study of educa
_ conditions in East Afri
ca ;Dr. Homer L. Shantz, pa
thologist of the "United States
Department of Agriculture ; Dr.
E. C. Sage ofthe General Edu
cation Board; Dr. J. H. Dillard
of the Jeanes and Slater Funds
for the Education of American
Negroes, and Prof. D. Wester
mann of the University of Ber
lin.* ~
Perhaps for Africa the most
important and '-far-reaching
feature of those three days
was the announcement by Dr.
Mabel Pierce of the Rockefeller
Foundation that after six years
of experimentation the Foun
dation is ready to pronounce the
success of its new cure for sleep
ing sickness. “Tryparsimide,”
the only known effective reme
dy for the disease, is now on
the market, its efficacy in the
most severe cases seems as
sured by numerous tests over
the years, and the world may
look hopefully to the early erad
ication of the dreaded disease
from the African continent.
This pronouncement' is all the
more significant at this time
when Europe is turning its at
tention to the development of
Africa, pouring its capital into
mines and industries, and when
Henry Firestone announces his
planifor a huge American rub
ber development, in Liberia. Ac
cording to Dr. Pierce no colony
in Central Africa is free from
the disease and the white men
in these settlements are not ex
empt from its effects. Its extent
varies among 12 per cent to 15
per cent of the people in some
colonies, though in Others as
many as 50 per cent or 60 per
cent suffer from it. She points
opt that it is wholly impossible
to wipe out the carrier fly be
cause of the enormous territory
and the tropical condition of the
country: the only , practical way
to combat the disease is to treat
the affected person.
While the remedy is at hand
if is very costly and the treat
ment of one person extends
well into a year’s time. The
problem now faced by the Rock
x cy for carrying on the work.
Foundation and others
ed in wiping out sleep
iness is to find the agen
V
Shall it be through the separate
governments in Africa, through
the missionary and philanthrop
ic agencies, or through some
agency set up by the League
of Nations? That problem will
engage the attention of the
Foreign Mission Conference and
other agencies this winter
A New Basis For Education
Mr Oldham pointed out that
the pouring of European and
American capital into Africa
since the World War for the de
velopment of her industry and
commerce, has given rise on a
gigantic scale to all the capital
istic problems of the West, all
ithe political, racial, educational,
social and cultural problems
which have for generations
been awaiting solution in Amer
ica and in Europe. "We are liv
ing in a fool's paradise,” he
said, "if we think that mission
aries are to maintain their pres
ent influence in Africa. Mis
sions are now, relatively speak
ing, at a stand-still compared
with the other influences—eco
nomic, political, governmental—
which are changing the whole
life of Africa. Industrial, com
mercial and government forces
are now having great influence
and there ought to be a greater
co-Operation between these
agencies of civilization and the
missionary and educational bo
dies working on the continent.”
One of the most important
Questions raised at the Confer
ence was “What kind of an ed
ucation should be given the na
tive African?”, Several Speak
ers pointed out that the pur
pose^a^h^ifig^shouldnot^be
Western peoine,” but /to give
the African a knowledge which
would enable him to live better
in his native village, to improve
his health and the sanitation of
his village, to understand and to
use the mineral and vegetable
resources of his own neighbor
hood, to improve the home and
family life, and all the while to
preserve those values which are
to be found in his own civiliza
tion, such as music, Negro his
tory, art, etc. This, it was
pointed out, required the devel
opment of a new method of
teaching, based on conditions
and experiences in the native
village, rather than book lessons
based on European experiences
and of little if any value when
the boy or girl returns from
school to take up life in his own
community.
Dr. Schantz and a number of
missionaries suggested that if
any education is given African
boys and girls there should be
included a simple course in na
ture study, in the rudiments of
gardening such as can be car
ried on in Africa, in simple
methods of caring for health,
and in sanitary methods that
can be applied to the grass
roofed hut and to the entire
village. It was felt that the
physical well being of the Afri
can through sanitation and
through a sufficient and varied"
diet must be the understructure
for any plan of higher educa
tion.
In this connection Dr. Sage
and Dr. Dillard were of the
opinion that missionaries to
Africa and those planning to
go to that field, could learn
much from the experience and
methods used in Negro educa
tion in this country. They ad
vised especially the use of
trained educational supervisors,
somewhat like the Jeanes Fund
supervisors of education em
ployed in many Southern
States, for the purpose of train
ing and stimulating the teachers
in the small rural schools. They
advised that the work of Haihp
ton, Tuskegee, Penn school and
other such successful institu
tions should be studied for
methods and plans that can be
applied to primitive African
conditions. Plans are now be
ing made by Dr. Jones and oth
ers to have a large group of the
African missionaries now in
America on furlough visit some
of these schools for a period of
weeks before returning to their
respective fields.
Bureau of African Languages
and Culture.
Missionaries pointed out that
one of the greatest barriers to
educational progress is the fact
that Africa speaks about 800
languages and dialects, that
there is scarcely any literature
in these tongues, and that the
personnel and means of trans
lating seem almost unavailable
at present. In only three or four
;of the more largely used lan
guages of the continent, it was
Ipointed out, could one gather
together a library of 20 books,
while in most of the few that
have been reduced to writing
ithe entire available literature
icould be wrapped up in a hand
kerchief—Mo or three very
small books. Mr. Oldham and
Professor Westermann an
nounced that there is under
way a plan for the organization
of an “International Bureau of
African Languages and Cul-t
ture” in which mission boards
of America, Europe and Africa
and learned societies from all
parts of the world will co-oper
ate for the study of these lan
guages, for the production of
educational literature in them,
and to serve as a clearing
i house and information center
for those engaged in translating
Work. One of the first activi
ties of the proposed bureau
would probably be to prepare a
number of necessary volumes—
such as an agricultural primer,
book of health rudiments, etc.,
in a basic tongue $nd founded
bn African experiences and
conditions; it would then to?
translated-into various
and dialects^ it f& believed that
this plan Would prevent much
unnecessary duplication of
translation work, would provide
a proper material for transla
tion, and would assist in elimi
nating many unscientific meth
ods of reducing unknown lan
guages to writing.
Studying Educational Methods
Announcement wks made
that the Carnegie Foundation
has given the sum of $37,500
to the Jeanes Fund officers
for the purpose of extending the
work of that Fund into Africa.
It will be used in providing for
supervising teachers. James
W. C. Dougall, of Scotland, who
has traveled extensively in Af
rica studying educational con
ditions, has been sent out to
Kenya as the first educational
director under this fund. Amer
ican missionary and other agen
cies are sending to -Liberia to
study educational conditions
James L. Sibley who has had a
number of years of similar ex
periences in Alabama among
the Negro schools; it is expect
ed that he will later make re
commendations for the future
of school work of missions in
that country.—The Philadel
phia Tribune.
POLITICAL TIDE TURNS.
Washington, November 28.—
That the polticial tide has
turned in our favor, and that
important readjustments with
in the Republican party are be
worked out by the Coolidge ad
ministration has been clearly
indicated by recent happenings
which have greatly heartened
colored citizens throughout the
country.
In a good old-time Republican
speech, delivered at Youngs
town, Ohio, last week, Senator
William M. Butler, Chairman of
the Republican National Com
mittee, brought the party to its
original moorings, when, in his
address, which formally opened
the 1926 Congressional cam
paign, he declared: “There must
be a more general understand
ing that after all we are only
members, not owners of the
Republican party, and that we
6ffer membership in a growing
Concern; that we know neither
THE NEGRO
THE NORTH
SANA'
Sanato:
t Novemi
Editor,
The Africo-Ameri
rian,
Charlotte, N. C.
Dear Sir :
I am sending
a copy of a letter
sending to all the
sicians in the State,
like for the inform
tains to reach the
population of the
would appreciate it
publish the letter i
per.
Thanking you in
your co-operation,!
Yours verty
P. P. Mi
Superini
Sanatorii
6 your
4s the
roes in
any in
Noveml
;My dear Doctor :
The purpose
to call your espe
to the opportunity
Negro division of tl
um offers to you
tuberculosis patientsir
best sanatorium for
the South and as ge
the country. The*
the same expert mi
tion, including x-raj
ratory service, as i|
white patients. Yc
know Mrs. Carrie
who is the nurse ii
know of her ability
i'. The institution 1
$eventy-two /jpatiei
are in the Sthte 8,0|
who have tubercular
institution should m
ion is so crowded that patients
have to wait from two to three
months before they can get ad
mission. At no time, however,
have we had more than forty
two patients in the Negro divis
ion. It is very much to be re
gretted that a large per cent of
these beds should be idle when
the people of your race are dy
ing of tuberculosis at a rate al
most three times that of the
white population.
Our experience here does not
bear out the general opinion
that the Negro has no resist
ance against tuberculosis. If
the diagnosis is made early and
if he gets the proper treatment,
we find that the Negro responds
to treatment almost, if not al
together, as well as the white
man. Of course there is no use
sending hopeless cases here, be
cause we can do them no good
and the trip will also be a use
less expense and will hasten the
patient’s end.
Patients who are not able tc
pay more can be taken now af
the rate of $1.00 per day. By
appealing to the local Red
Cross Chairman, to the Super
intendent of Public Welfare, tc
the Board of County Commis
sioners or to your own church.
social or iraternai organiza
tions, you can frequently secure
enough money to enable char
ity patients to take sanatorium
treatment.
Our free diagnostic clinics
are for the benefit of Negroes
as well as for white people. A
free examination can be had at
the Sanatorium by writing here
for an appointment or, when a
clinic is held in your county, by
writing to your health officer.
The institution is one which
the Negroes of the State should
feel propd of. We are anxious
to help you derive the greatest
possible benefit from it and if
you have not already done so we
will be glad for you to pay the
institution a personal visit'.
Yoursr1 very truly,
P. P. MeCAIN,
Superintendent North Caro
lina Sanatorium.
"i ■' 11 —
class, crped,-nor race; that we
stand for * equal opportunities
for all, and wll fight those who
seek to destroy that right.”
I §
TO THE ALUMNI Of1 J. C. S.
UNIVERSITY.
I have read with great pleas
ure the brief account' of the
Washington Chapter V in the
home of Captain J. Edgar
Smith. It is interesting to see
who makes up the personnel of
the Washington Chapter. Now,
do they attend? Are they inter
ested? What do they do When
they meet? Does the Sec. pre
sent a docket containing mat
ters worthy of consideration ?
or do they meet and discuss:
“Well, how are you, Jim? What
do you think of our old Alma
Mater now? Do you think you
will attend the commencement
next June? I wonder when Will
they get those chimes paid for?”
And the answer comes: “I don’t'
know. What did they cost?”
After a few minutes each man
has left for his place. Now, I
do not say that our chapter at
Washington is at all guilty of
this accusation. The men who
constitute the Chapter are hot
that class of men. They are
men who love their Alma Mater
and will work like the Trojans
did to save Troy; but a docket
is a social epidemic in such or
ganization. But as chapters
we can become immune to
such an empty program and do
something definite.
I really feel from the depth
of my inner life that th alum
ni should pay for the chime
clock ? Why can’t we ? If each
chapter would pledge and pay
$100 a year at the very least—
With about twenty chapters
tiered over the country,
t a will—the debt now em
ing the President of J.
mith* University would
canceled.
is our New York
* * s
ban bring things to pass if they
wish. But are you going to al
low the year to pass without
five or six or ten or twenty
chapters contributing no less
than $100 each? Will not twen
ty chapters bring up to the
commencement next June $100
each ? We can do it if we will
organize with a membership of
not more than three. If an
alumnus cannot spare $33.33 a
year for Johnson C. Smith Uni
versity with a chapter of three,
he has weak faith in giving to
the world the best you have and
the best will come back to you.
Last year two members of the
Charleston Chapter, to make up
$100, gave $24 each. But no
pne gave less than $10. Are
we so rich that we can do that?
No, but we love a great insti
tution which means much to the
South; and will mean infinitely
more to the world if the alum
ni will just prove faithful sons
now and on.
Have we not a Chapter in
Knoxville, Tenn? It is a strong
chapter. Will it not answer the
call? How many chapters have
we in and about' the different
and many counties in the Old
North State? We can organize
them anywhere in that old
State. SuDDOse vou do. boys;
and let’s pay the chime clock
debt so we can say we paid for
something on the campus of our
Alma Mater. We should not be
like some of the alligators I see
on the causeway from Edisto
Island to Charleston: they lie
with their mouths open to re
ceive all and seem to have noth
ing to give out. Let us not be
close and modest (?) but liberal
and very active in body and
expression, it will prove
productive of fruits and rich
traditions so well produced by
the men whose lives are crys
talized on our old campus.
I should say in this connec
tion that Captain J. Edgar
Smith’s suggestions to the Sec
retary some weeks ago or
months ago have not' been over
looked. Since those far away
are too modest to send us their
plates, or cuts, for a “write-up,”
we have decided to begin with
our Chapter. I am not
ashamed to “write myself up;”
W. L. METZ,
President j- C. $, UV Alumni,
SWEET JURY DISAGREES—
NEW TRIAL IN JANUARY.
Eight Defendants Oat on 15000
Bail Each, Given by Detroit Col
ored Citizens—Darrow Will
Uige Bail for Remain
ing 3 Defendants on
December 2.
New York, Noy. 28.—Walter
White, Assistant Secretary of
the National Association for
the Advancement of Colored
People, returned this morning
from Detroit where he had been
throughout the trial of Dr. Os
sian H. Sweet and ten other
Negroes, charged with murder
for defending Dr. Sweet's- home
from a mob on September 9.
Mr. White’s report of the
present status of the Sweet
case, which has commanded
nation-wide attention, is as
follows:
After 46 hours of violent ar
gument, which could be heard
sometimes by persons outside
the jury room, the jury disa
greed. It was rumored that
five jurors stood for acquittal
and seven for acquittal of 8 de
fendants and conviction of sec
ond degree murder for 3 of the
defendants. The jury was dis
missed at 1:31 P. M. on Friday,
Nov. 27, and shortly thereaf
ter Mr. Darrow filed a motion
for a new trial and made a sec
ond motion that all eleven de
fendants be admitted to bail.
New trial has been agreed up
on for the first week in Janu
ary. Eight of the defendants
were at once admitted to bail in
$5000 each which was furnished
by colored citizens of Detroit,
but opposition from the prose
cutor in the case of the remain
ing three, led Judge Murphy to
r.
m
return to Detroit in time for ar
gument for bail for these three
defendants who will be held
until then: Dr. Ossian H. Sweet,
Henry Sweet and Leonard Mor
ris.
Contrary published reports
in the daily press, Mr. Darrow
has not yet asked for separate
trials for each of the 11 defen
dants, but he announced that
Jie probably would do so.
The National Association for
the Advancement of Colored
People announced in connection
with the news of the disagree
ment and the motion for a new
trial that it would fight the case
while there was any court in
the land to appeal to until the
11 colored people were acquit
td.
Mr. White stated that the ex
penses of the trial to date had
been about $20,000, the trans
script of testimony alone cost
ing $2,081.60.
“One of the most impressive
sights I have ever seen,” de
clared Mr. White, “was the way
in which colored people in De
troit fiocked to the trial. At
half after midnight on Thanks
giving morning, when the jury
was still arguing and sent out
for instructions, the courtroom
was packed. At 2:10 in the
morning, when the jury was
sent to bed, bailiffs had made
way through the crowd for the
jurymen. All Thanksgiving
Day colored people Remained
waiting and watching, many of
them going without Thanksgiv
ing Dinner in order to be on
hand.
“I want to pay a tribute to
the magnificent way in which
Judge Murphy conducted the
trial. He did his utmost to ex
clude the Issue of race preju
dice and his final charge to the
jury was a masterpiece of schol
arly learning and judicial im
partiality.
“The case has largely changed
public sentiment in Detroit. The
better class opinion is now with
the defendants, although the
Klan is of course more bitter
than ever.* Hut the N. A. A. C.
P. will continue to fight the case
and both Messrs. Darrow and
Arthur Garfield Hayes will con
tinue to lead the defense until
a conclusion has been reached.”