Robert W. Woodruff
Library
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ACE LEAGUE
LIFE AND SPEECHES
OF
RANSOM W. WESTBERRY
BY
PROF. JOHN R. WILSON, A.M., D.D.
EDITOR
A. B. CALDWELL PUBLISHING COMPANY
ATLANTA, GA.
1921
Copyright
RANSOM W. WESTBERRY
1921
All rights reserved
ERRATA
At conclusion of "Foreword" should read, Richard Carroll, Colum¬
bia, S. C., for Richard Carroll, Sumter, S. C.
Page 13, line nine should read, Mattie Savage for Mattie Samage.
Page 23, under sub hrad "Field Crops" line two, should read
amber cane for ember cane.
Page 24, line twenty-two should read, cotton acreage for cotton
prices.
Page 24, line twenty-five after word, "bushel" should read, "The
farmers will not progress very rapidly." Next sentence should begin
with capital letter.
Page 31, line twenty should read, and have escaped persecution
for to escape persecution.
Page 33, line seven should read, which was afterward made a
slace state for which was a slave state.
Page 34, line three, should read segregation for segration.
Page 44, line thirty should read, gathered crops for garnered
crops.
Page 46, line thirty should read capital N in word Negro and
every other place where word Negro occurs.
Page 52, line seventeen should read When Abraham Lincoln for
Then Abraham Lincoln.
Page 53, line sixteen should read, sword for soul.
Page 58, line eighteen should read, highest point in our civiliza¬
tion for the height of our civilization.
Page 65, line twenty-nine should read, Rev. Zurie Holmes for
Rev. Zuell Holmes.
Page 68, line nine should read, Searching the record for seaching
the record.
Page 78, line twenty-three should read, shed its fruit for sed its
fruit.
Page 82, second line should read, yield per acre in cotton has
increased.
Page 85, line thirty-five should read, rice and cotton bales.
Page 86, line sixteen should read, activities in raising food for
actions in raising food.
Pags 87, line twenty-four should read, can get but a little food
and cannot make the yield what it should be.
Page 92, line three strike word, one.
Page 96, line twenty-nine should read, word, "and" after word,
condition.
Page 109, close of article after words, "Colored Committee"
should read South Carolina Food Administration.
Page 111, line thirty should read others for other.
Page 118, line four, strike word, the .
Page 118, line seventeen should read, me for men.
Page 119, line six should read, word nor after word daughter.
Page 119 in ninth Commandment end first line should read, thy
for they .
Page 126, line twenty-seven should read, if your heart were right
for if your heart Avas right.
FOREWORD
It gives me the greatest pleasure to commend this book
by Mr. R. W. Westberry, of Sumter, S. C., to the thinking
and reading public. He is a man I admire for his unselfish
and devoted spirit for humanity and the cause of our Christ.
He is progressive. He has a soul in him that seems to have
been touched by the fingers of Almighty God. A devoted
husband, deacon and church member is he, and liberal to
a fault. May the living God prosper the work in his hands
and "blessings on him."
RICHARD CARROLL.
Sumter, S. C.
PREFACE
My life's work is to preach the everlasting gospel of the
Christ of God. I have no other vocation and desire—none
other. And yet, experience unlimited, observation most
varied, and the unmistakable teachings of the word of God
combine in convincing me that it is as much my duty, as a
herald of the Cross, to get men and women—even children
—to grasp the meaning and to acquire the benefits of this
life as well as to cherish and possess a hope of the life be¬
yond. God made this world primarily for the needs of the
body. As a consequence, the more we can make this world
contribute to the needs and comforts of this life, the more
we thereby pay tribute to, and work in harmony with Divine
Wisdom.
When, in the pulpit, I point to the Christ-like life and
deeds of some consecrated man or woman and use them as
illustrations to show that it is not only possible, but is an
actual fact that a human being, through Christ, can live
up to the requirements of a holy and perfect God, I am
through and by such illustration, preaching with power, the
gospel I was sent to preach. When, on the other hand, I
hold up as an illustration, worthy of imitation—be it in the
pulpit or out of it—some man who has shown, and even
now is showing, how to get out of this life greater benefits
and benefits more numerous for the enjoyments and mainte¬
nance of the body, I am preaching a gospel none the less—
a gospel, in its place, none the less needed.
Infinite purpose that created the soul created the stomach
also. And all preachers—especially those of the Negro race
—would do well to catch and follow the lesson which Christ
so forcibly taught when he performed a miracle and fed the
8
LIFE AND SPEECHES OF
five thousand in order that he might not present the specta¬
cle of telling about the plentitude of the milk and honey up
yonder to a people whose stomachs at that moment sorely
needed fish and bread.
In fact—as a race—we ought strenuously to learn the les¬
son that though we have mansions beyond the skies, it, in
no way precludes the wisdom and necessity of having a
home of our own down here; the wearing of comfortable
and decent-looking clothes and shoes down here on earth
will in no way mar the fit of our long white robe, nor the
comfort of our golden slippers up yonder. And a hungry
stomach never was and never will be a friend to grace to
help us on to God.
If the above statements be true—and they are true—
then a man who devotes his time and unusual talents in the
successful effort of teaching people—in harmony with the
purpose of an all-wise God—how to get the most and the
best out of this world for this life can, in no way, be con¬
sidered inimical to the labors of the minister of the gospel
but, in a true and larger sense, such a man is not merely a
land dealer and scientific farm instructor but is also doing
the work of preaching a wholesome gospel.
The Hon. Ransom W. Westberry is such a man. For that
reason, I have written this biographical sketch, hoping that
by reading his life, so worthy of imitation and emulation,
the lessons which his career teaches may be known to all
and to the benefit of many.
A great trouble and hindrance to us as a race have been
due to this fact: We have had so many preachers and
teachers to instruct us along lines which they themselves
did not follow. To illustrate what I mean, the following in¬
cident may be cited:
There was a man in Winona, Mississippi, one day who was
all twisted and drawn up by rheumatism, and he was sitting
on the corner of the street, selling "a sure cure for all kinds
and forms of rheumatism." Of course the question would
naturally arise that if he could cure rheumatism for other
people, why did he not cure himself?
But the Hon. Ransom W. Westberry is not the kind of
man who advises the Negro to stick to the farm while he
RANSOM W. WESTBERRY
9
himself gets as far away from the farm as possible; nor is
he the kind of man who, while advising his people to accum¬
ulate property, had failed to accumulate some himself. He
has done things and even now is doing them—things which
count for racial uplift and betterment.
In giving this book to the public, threfore, I am persuaded
that I am doing no favor to the subject but to Negroes in
general and the Negroes in South Carolina in particular. I
am also persuaded that I am assisting to preach a much
needed gospel by sending forth this book of "The Life and
some speeches of the Hon. Ransom W. Westberry.
PROF. JOHN R. WILSON, A.M., D.D.
Former Teacher in Benedict College, Columbia, S. C., and
Secretary National Baptist Convention, Nashville, Tenn.
BIOGRAPHY
OF
HON. RANSOM W. WESTBERRY
Seventeen miles from Sumter Court House and three and
one-half miles from the nearest railroad station, in what is
known as Statesburg township, there was born, unto Alston
and Alice Westberry, July 11th, 1871, a little baby boy. He
was an unusually well developed child and well he might be
for his parents represented the best and most robust strains
of negro blood. His paternal great grandmother was a
native, full and pure-blooded African. His maternal grand¬
mother was a fine product of the best type of Virginia
Negro. And while his grand parents on both sides were
noted for longevity, his paternal great grandmother was
known to have lived more than one hundred and five years.
The new little Westberry was in due time named Ransom
William Westberry. But in their excessive pride his par¬
ents jgave him a dozen or more nick-names, to any one of
which he answered as he was then the only child to answer
at all
In due course of time little Ransom passed successfully
through all the ills to which childhood is heir, such as
measles, mumps, whooping cough and the like. In fact his
father facetiously said of him, "That boy has every com¬
plaint that comes along. If a disease fails to catch him, he
goes right out and catches that disease."
In spite of each and every one of these minor ills, little
Ransom was a healthy, robust, well-grown lad. At an early
age, he manifested more than childish interest in the cattle
and the farm. And he was yet a very small boy when he
persisted in having and just had to have a garden and "a
side crop" all to himself. And it was his boyish prattle
about the farm he was going to own when he became a man
that influenced the elder Westberry to make his first ven¬
ture as a land owner. He made his first deal for a tract of
fifty-five acres, and having started, he continued to add to
MRS. RANSOM W. WESTBERRY
Formerly Miss Everlina Anderson, of Chatham, Canada.
Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Anderson.
RANSOM W. WESTBERRY
13
his possessions until in time he became one of the largest
land owners in the county.
In his boyhood days, the public schools for colored peo¬
ple were, for the most part, taught by white people. So
when Mr. Samuel Ballard, a Southern white man, came to
Zion and opened a public school, little Ransom was among
the first pupils enrolled. After Mr. Ballard ceased teaching,
three colored teachers, Mr. Wm. Cohen, of Sumter County,
Miss Alice Smith, of Greenville, and Miss Mattie Samage, of
Sumter, S. C., taught the school. To these and the others
who succeeded them Ransom went also. It was, however,
under Mr. James Diggs, who was a student of Benedict Col¬
lege, that he received sufficient advanced training to enable
him to enter Benedict College, Columbia, S. C. This he did
in the Fall of 1888. There he continued his studies until
May, 1892, at which time he was graduated from the Acad¬
emic course of that institution. During his attendance at
Benedict College, he was the champion athlete. As a wrest¬
ler and baseball player he had no equal. He was happily
converted three months before entering college.
Having taught summer schools during his vacations, while
at Benedict College, he desired after his graduation "to get
around some" as he expressed it. Though then of full legal
age, he asked for and secured his father's consent to go.
And go, he did. He went to Chicago, 111.
It should here be stated that it was not his intention or
desire to go to Chicago merely for "a good time." This was
evidenced by the fact that while he could have secured from
his indulgent father a reasonably good-sized sum of money,
yet beyond his railroad fare, he left home with less than
five dollars. He was going away to hunt a job—to make his
own mark.
He was not long in finding a job when he reached Chi¬
cago—for he took the first one he came across, which was to
fill pitchers with ice water at "the World's Fair" which was
then being held in Chicago. By strict attention to so sim¬
ple a duty he was promoted to the position of "waiter."
Later he was given a responsible position as "night watch¬
man." And while he was well paid in this position, he did
not do as so many of our young men who go from rural
ALSTON CHARLES WESTBERRY
Only Child of Mr. and Mrs. Ransom W. Westberry.
Died when infant of less than twelve months old.
RANSOM W. WESTBERRY
15
surroundings to a city so large and gay as Chicago. He
did not allow the allurements of pleasure to swallow him in
its whirl.
Except the time he passed at the rooms of the Young
Men's Christian Association, all of his spare time was spent
in study—in preparation for the civil service examination,
which he finally took and passed, having made a rating un¬
usually high. He had connected himself with the great
Olivet Baptist Church, of Chicago, and his punctual attend¬
ance at the services with his generous response to all finan¬
cial appeals of his church soon attracted attention among
the large membership of that church. As a result, he was
elected and ordained a deacon of the Olivet Baptist Church
r—being at the time the youngest man who had ever been so
elevated by that great church.
Finally the World's Fair came to an end and Westberry's
well-paying job as night watchman was also at an end. He
then inquired for the best colored school that he could at¬
tend, in a Northern state. Several were recommended to
him but his choice was Wilberforce University, Wilberforce,
Ohio. He spent one term at Wilberforce, was appointed a
letter carrier in the Chicago office and called to report for
duty the month that school closed. He accepted the; posi¬
tion of mail carrier and at the appointed time reported for
duty. His efficiency was soon tested and proven not want¬
ing, and for twelve years he served as mail carrier in Chi¬
cago. He not only earned money but by wise investments
he soon began to make his money earn money. His steady
habits and evident business sagacity caused him to be
elected to a number of positions of honor and trust, chief
among which may be mentioned the fact that he was made
president of The Chicago Mercantile Co., a company with
a capital stock of five ($5,000.00) thousand dollars. He was
also made one the executive officers of the Chicago Letter
Carrier's Association, and when it is remembered how large
this Letter Carrier's Association is and that by far the
greater number of the members are white, and that West-
berry was the only colored man who had ever held office in
it, the honor of the position will be the more apparent.
Westberry had joined the State Militia of Illinois when
16
LIFE AND SPEECHES OF
the Spanish-American War broke out. From the Post Office
Department he received a furlough for an indefinite period.
Then as a non-commissioned officer, he went with the Col¬
ored United States Volunteers to Cuba. There he remained
for eleven months. He then returned to Chicago and re¬
sumed his position as mail carrier and his other positions.
In the meantime he had met and formed the acquaint¬
ance of Miss Eva Anderson, a native of Canada, who, be¬
cause of her exceptional beauty, her splendid mental attain¬
ments, culture and refinement, as well as the respectability,
influence ,and wealth of her family, was easily regarded as
HOME OF MR. AND MRS. RANSOM W. WESTBERRY
Corner Council and Bartlette Streets, Sumter, S. C.
Mrs. Westberry Standing at Gate.
one of the reigning belles of the great city of Chicago. It
was a case of love at first sight and finally the old, old story,
"they were happily married." To this union, one child has
been born.
Up to this time Westberry, though a zealous worker in
his church and at the Y. M. C. A., never allowed his eye to
wander from an opportunity to make honestly or to invest
a dollar. Besides his holdings in several business concerns
RANSOM W. WESTBERRY
17
he had bought and paid for, in Chicago, two handsome two-
story dwellings of twelve rooms each.
On October 12, 1905, he was apprised of his father's death
and the need of his immediate return to South Carolina to
look after his father's affairs. He at once forwarded his
resignation as mail carrier to Chicago and came direct to
his old home.
Having adjusted all the business matters incident to his
father's death, he began to look around and his restless,
observant mind led him to the conclusion that his neighbor¬
ing farmers could, with profit to themselves, greatly im¬
prove their methods of farming while the wives and daugh¬
ters of that neighborhood could, with equal profit, learn
much about cooking and house-keeping. So at Horatio, his
old home, he started a school for teaching "Scientific farm¬
ing, Cooking and House-keeping." His methods were not
so much by mere lecturing as by demonstration. He taught
the women how to cook by having them cook. He taught
scientific farming by having different patches of different
kinds of soil variously planted and making deductions from
the results observed. His earnestness and enthusiasm be¬
came contagious. And the attendance continued to increase.
The people declared that they learned much and Westberry
declared that in and by teaching them, he himself learned
more than any one of them. For two years he continued
this work.
In the meantime, on account of the fame of his work for
and among the farmers in and around Horatio, he was
elected Secretary of the South Carolina Colored State Fair
Association. He was also appointed State Organizer for
South Carolina of the Negro National Business League, of
which Booker T. Washington was then president. Later,
he resigned this position to accept the position of collabo¬
rator, or Instructor in Scientific Farming for Sumter
County, South Carolina—a position which is under the di¬
rection of the Department of Agriculture of the United
States.
Since Mr. Westberry, who was the first negro to receive
such an appointment in South Carolina, under the United
States, received his commission, he has used his influence
NORTHERN HOME, MR. AND MRS. RANSOM W. WESTBERRY
6322 Rhodes Avenue, Chicago, 111.
Reading left to right: Mr. and Mrs. Benj. Sayre with two children,
Elnora and Abbott; Mr. and Mrs. Ransom W. Westberry
with their infant, Master Alston Charles; Mr. William
Heywood, and Mr. John Sayre. (This home
purchased while mail carrier in Chicago.)
RANSOM W. WESTBERRY
19
and caused negroes in seven other counties in this State to
be similiarly appointed. And while he was officially ap¬
pointed for Sumter County, he was in demand all over the
State at Farmers' Unions and other gatherings of farmers.
He was one of the organizers of the Batesburg Fair and
Superintendent of the same. He is also one of the Organ¬
izers of the Colored State Fair, one of its Board of Directors
during the World's War when the South was threatened
with a food famine; The Chamber of Commerce of Sumter
County chose him Food Administrator for the county, to
work among the colored citizens. This work was done so
well that his fame soon reached the Agricultural Depart¬
ment at Washington, D. C., and through Mr. William Elliott,
a leading attorney of Columbia, and who had been appointed
Food Administrator for the State of South Carolina; he
was appointed to take charge of the colored department.
He being the first colored man to be honored with such a
position was given absolute power to arrange a system ac¬
cording to his own judgment. He divided the state into
eight districts, and recommended for appointment the fol¬
lowing persons: Mr. Jonas W. Thomas, the largest colored
farmer in the State, Bennettsville; Prof. J. O. Thomas,
principal of Voorhees Industrial School, Denmark; Rev. R.
J. Crocket, pastor of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion
Church, Blacksburg; Prof. B. F. Hubert, of the Agricultural
Department, State College, Orangeburg; Dr. J. H. Goodwin,
president of the Colored Agricultural and Mechanical State
Fair, Columbia; Rev. I. L. Hardy, pastor of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, Charleston; Rev. R. E. Brogdon, pasior
of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Prosperity; and
Prof. R. W. Boulware, of Harbison Presbyterian College,
Irmo. This work was one of the proofs of the man's ability
to do things on a large scale. He is one of the most un¬
selfish characters in the history of the nation. He makes it
a pleasure to serve and lecture to his people. He is always
ready to give wise and wholesome advice, whether he is
speaking to an individual or addressing an audience.
Mr. Westberry also shows what a determined, progressive
young negro may accomplish and accumulate. Besides his
possessions in Chicago and his money otherwise invested,
20
LIFE AND SPEECHES OF
he owns seven (700) hundred acres of most valuable farm
land, one hundred and fifty acres of good timber land,
twenty dwelling houses, besides the handsome ten-room
dwelling in which he lives in Sumter. And while he in¬
herited something from his father's estate, yet the greater
part of his possessions are the result of the effort, the labor,
and the economy of the Hon. Ransom W. Westberry.
A little more detail is justified as to his work since re¬
turning to South Carolina. After returning to Horatio,
South Carolina in 1906, he began farming and for the next
seven years was one of the most successful farmers in his
section.
He was for five years Farm Demonstrator for Richland,
Kershaw and Sumter counties, under the United States Gov¬
ernment direction. His own practical knowledge of farm¬
ing, and his familiarity with the agricultural conditions of
the counties, enabled him to render valuable service in this
capacity. It also enabled him to learn much of real estate
values, a knowledge which later he turned to good advan¬
tage.
He saw early, like some other leaders of his race, the
wisdom of home ownership among his people and has done
much to encourage and help them along that line.
In this way he has built up an extensive real estate busi¬
ness, which, while making money for himself, has at the
same time furthered the best interest of his people.
He does a large business in city property. With his
growth in experience and the accumulation of means, other
opportunities opened up to him until now a mere list of his
official positions occupies considerable space and indicates
something of the scope of his interests as well as the suc¬
cess which he has achieved.
He is the head of the R. W. Westberry Realty Co.; Secre¬
tary of the Mutual Undertaking and Embalming Associa¬
tion ; Superintendent of the Colored State Fair Association;
President of the Progressive Realty Co.; President of the
Negro Development Co.; President of the National Farmers
Association, auxiliary to the National Negro Business
League, and President of the South Carolina Farmers Con¬
ference.
RANSOM W. WESTBERRY
21
Notwithstanding his many business obligations, Mr.
Westberry finds time for work in his church, of which he is
a deacon, and is also prominent in the work of the secret
orders and benevolent societies. He is identified with the
Masons, Odd Fellows, the Pythians, and the Good Samari¬
tans. He is Grand Deputy in the Masons and a member of
the State Endowment Board of the Odd Fellows. Also a
trustee of the National Masonic Grand Lodge.
In common with all men of experience he holds that edu¬
cation is one of the most needed and helpful things for the
Negro, and has given largely to the support of Christian
education. He is a trustee of Morris College at Sumter,
and of the Mayesville Normal and Industrial Institute, at
Mayesville, South Carolina.
PROF. JOHN R. WILSON, A.M., D.D.
Formerly a Member of the Faculty of Benedict College,
Columbia, S. C., and Secretary of the National Baptist
Convention, Nashville, Tenn.
OUR HOMESTEAD
Reading left to right: Samuel Caskel; Mrs. Elsie Sargent (sister);
Alston Westberry (father), Picture Ransom W. Westberry;
Mrs. Julianne Capers (aunt); Mrs. Florence Williams
(sister); Little Ransow W. Sargent in front of Mrs.
Williams; John W. Kershaw, and Misses Alice
and Lottie Sargent sitting on log.
HOW TO PREPARE FOR WAR AGAINST
THE ENEMY
Delivered before a mixed audience, April, 1917, at Bethel
Baptist Church, Sumter County.
The first thing to do is to prepare food stuff, second is to
train the soldiers with the implements of war. To succeed
in any movement the proper amount of food and the proper
food should be provided for those who are to prosecute the
movement. The farmers are to furnish the first great
weapon of war which is the food supply, and to do this
effectively he must inaugurate a system of planting so that
the farm can produce a food supply continuously.
This section of the country affords the greatest oppor¬
tunity for such a system. There should never be a day in
the year that the Southern farmers should have nothing
growing upon their farms. Our climate and soil are such
that we can grow any plant food. First, the farmers should
have a good garden with every variety of food plants that
grow in a garden, such as onions, beets, mustard, lettuce,
turnips, radishes, cabbage, collard greens, corn, snap beans,
English peas, Irish potatoes, squashes, and other garden
plants.
Field Crops.
Our field crops should be early dent corn, rice, sugar
cane, ember cane, peas, six-weeks peas, six-weeks beans,
wheat, oats, rye, barley, velvet beans, soy beans, cow peas,
and a little cotton. The immediate crop that is necessary
to meet the present emergency. Every family should have
a complete garden as mentioned above, and at least one acre
of six-week peas and one acre of early dent corn; this will
materially relieve the present situation of the high cost of
living. The food supplies of the world are entirely inade¬
quate, and in order to supply it, it is the duty of every man
to put forth brain and brawn and plant every available spot
in food stuff. The eastern nations of the world have been
waring over two years, and our country has been supply¬
ing them with food, and this has cut short our food reserve.
The price of food will remain up until a generous supply
is harvested.
24
LIFE AND SPEECHES OF
His Honor, the Governor of South Carolina, has called
upon a few of the leading citizens of the State and com¬
missioned them to teach civic preparedness for the war,
that the people may be properly informed and induced to
take the necessary steps to raise more foodstuffs. The food
supplies in this country are lower than they have been for
more than fifty years. When a nation is at war, it requires
more food than in time of peace because there is more waste
and less men to make the food. The South is importing
from the North $700,000,000 annually. This tremendous
drain on the nation's food resources is now a menace to the
nation's safety. One pound of cotton at twenty cents buys
less now than a pound of cotton a few years ago at eight
cents.
My advice to the Southern farmers is to cut their cotton
crops half in two. If they don't food will be so high that
very few people will be able to buy clothes. The cotton will
glut the market, and the price will be sure to go down. At
the present price of food, cotton should be from thirty-five
to forty cents per pound. Cotton requires much labor, much
more labor than any other crop. If the farmers of the
South would cut their cotton prices in two, I confidently be¬
lieve that cotton will go to fifty cents per pound. As long
as meat is twenty-five cents per pound and corn $1.50 per
bushel, it will be wise where a man has planted a full crop
of cotton to the horse, to plow half of it up and plant early
dent corn.
Through the ingenuity of Mr. A. C. Phelps and other pub¬
lic-spirited men of Sumter, we have a market in Sumter that
will buy all the corn and grain that the farmers may bring
here at the quoted market price, just as the merchants buy
cotton; so the farmers need not be afraid that any grain
will be left on their hands if they raise more than enough
grain for home use. We plant cotton for no other purpose
than to exchange it for money. Corn and grain can be ex¬
changed into money, into pork by raising hogs, into poultry
and eggs by feeding it to the chickens, into milk, butter and
beef by feeding it to cows, and food for the family. You
see there are several ways to use corn and grain, and only
one way that farmers can use cotton and when that way
RANSOM W. WESTBERRY
25
fails he is put to great inconvenience and is forced to suffer.
The few years that he might gain never make up for the
many years that he loses. As Southern farmers let us be
wise and move our smoke houses and corn bins from the
far West to our back yards and our commissaries.
As I see it this has been the system of the Southern
farmer and the Western farmer. Mr. Robt. Watts, a West¬
ern farmer, came to Mr. Wheeler Dinkins' home, a Southern
farmer, and found ten bales of cotton in the latter's yard.
Mr. Watts said to Mr. Dinkins, "I came to buy your cotton
and I will give you twenty cents per pound for it." Mr.
Dinkins replied, "It would be impossible for me to live at
that price and pay you twenty cents per pound for butt
meat, thirty cents per pound for breakfast strip, twenty-
five cents per pound for ribs, and $2.00 per bushel for
corn. Isn't that the price of your corn and meat?" "Yes,"
said Mr. Watts, "but I cannot give you over twenty cents
per pound for your cotton." Mr. Dinkins: "I cannoi take
less than thirty-five cents per pound for my middling, forty
cents per pound for my strict middling, and forty-five cents
per pound for my good middling. I worked hard twelve
months in last year for this cotton; I hauled straw and
leaves in my lot and stable; I plowed my land deep and
harrowed it well after cutting the stalks down with an
up-to-date stalk cutter; I laid my rows off four feet wide
in order to give the cotton plenty room to grow and make;
I bedded it out again and hauled the manure from my lot
and stable at a high price for labor; then I prepared my
cotton beds and planted it with well selected seed from my
former crop; I began working it as soon as it came up; my
wife and children assisted me under a burning sun, amidst
the heated atmosphere and on a scorching soil. Some days
the dust and perspiration would blind us, but we worked
hard and faithfully with the hope of getting our expenses
out of it and a reasonable profit. You have offered me less
than half what it is worth to-day, and I haven't a home to
live in, not enough bread to last me two months; have not
changing shoes for my wife, children or self; my mule is
poor; my hogs are thin; my cow is gaunted and lowing for
food. Won't you give me enough for my cotton to pay my
26
LIFE AND SPEECHES OF
debts and buy food and clothes for my wife and children
who are discouraged and faint-hearted because of their
much labor and very little reward?" Mr. Watts: "I have
nothing to do with you and your troubles, take them to God;
God made you the same as he made me, and I have used
my brain and thought—I think, but you do more working
than thinking and a very little of either. The Lord has
given this world to man for his glory, and he is king over
all the other creatures, the animate and the inanimate, and
to make slaves of every creature save man, for our happi¬
ness; therefore knowing the facts, I have bought me a
farm of three hundred acres, I have planted upon it clover,
corn and other food crops, and built a fence around it so
that my grain sheaves would not be disturbed by outside
cattle and stock, and my stock could not get away from me
and intrude upon others. My corn and clover grew and
bore fruit wTith very little cost, in fact, after I prepared the
land and planted them, they worked for me night and day
whether I was there or away, until the fruit had come and
all I had to do was to gather them. Then I bought me a
few hogs and turned them loose on my farm, and they
grew fast and multiplied rapidly. Every morning each hog
during the growing period added to his flesh enough meat
for the family's breakfast. Not being satisfied with the
hogs, corn, clover and other foodstuffs, I remembered the
old adage, "Don't put all your eggs under one hen." So I
bought some chickens and they worked for themselves and
helped to support me; every day I had enough eggs to sup¬
port my family and some to spare; this did not satisfy me
for I had more foodstuff than my horses and chickens could
eat; therefore I bought me some cows, and they worked for
themselves and for me; for every morning they give several
gallons of milk, pounds of butter and beef added enough to
their flesh to supply my family, and some to spare. You
could have just what I have, but Mr. Dinkins, you don't
think enough. When a man does hard physical work he be¬
comes physically strong; so it is with the mind, when you
think you become strong-minded and you will be able to
take care of yourself, but the feeble-minded cannot, and
that is the reason for your condition." Mr. Dinkins: "All
RANSOM W. WESTBERRY
27
is true that you have said. I agree with you, but that
doesn't supply my stomach; I want something to eat now."
Mr. Watts: "I am sorry for your condition. I have made
myself what I am, and you have mads yourself what you
are. I will not pay you thirty-five, forty and forty-five cents
for your cotton." Mr. Dinkins: "I will not take less be¬
cause that is in keeping with the price of your corn and
meat." Mr. Watts: "I will not give it to you, for I can do
without clothes longer than you can do without something
to eat, so good-bye."
Before Mr. Watts could get three steps away, Mr. Din-
kins called him, approached him and said: "My wife and
children are hungry, they have nothing to eat and not suffi¬
cient clothes for the winter. What will you give me for
my ten bales of cotton?"
Mr. Watts: "Oh, I don't know, the market is a little off
this morning; let's see the grade of your cotton." Mr.
Watts examined both sides and both ends and offered Mr.
Dinkins the following prices: "Well, for two of your bales
I will give you twenty cents per pound, for six bales I will
give you eighteen cents per pound, and for the last two
bales I will give you fifteen cents per pound." Mr. Dinkins
gladly received the money for his cotton, which was $890.00.
This appears to be a fair price until he pays his rent, his
store and fertilizer bill, then he finds that he hasn't enough
money left, if any, to buy a plug of tobacco.
Now he wakes up from his long sleep; the right thoughts
must have been asleep is the cause of his condition. His
feeble mind begins to gather strength, and he comes to
himself as the Prodigal Son did who left off feeding the
swine in a strange country, and returned to his home. New
thoughts burst into his soul as the glorious sunlight from
behind a dense cloud, and with a deep sigh he meditates to
himself: I am a man just like Mr. Watts and why can't
I do the same for myself that he is doing for me? He is
from the West and I live in the South; he sends food more
than a thousand miles away to feed me, my wife and chil¬
dren. He put his price on my cotton, and I dare not put
my price on his corn or meat. Am I a slave? Does a man's
birthplace have everything to do with his earning a liv-
28
LIFE AND SPEECHES OF
ing ? Why no; when he comes again I will show him some¬
thing, or tell him a few things. I see now very clearly my
mistakes for many years. So Mr. Dinkins began at once
to revolutionize his farm. After a period of five years Mr.
Watts returned, went out to Mr. Dinkins' home and saw
five bales of cotton well packed and placed under his shed.
Mr. Watts: "Good morning Mr. Dinkins, how are you
feeling this morning?"
Mr. Dinkins: "I am feeling fine and bright."
Mr. Watts: "I came to buy your cotton this morning."
Mr. Dinkins: "It's for sale."
Mr. Watts (after grading the cotton): "I will give you
fifteen cents per pound for one bale, eighteen cents per
pound for three bales, and twenty cents per pound for the
last bale."
Mr. Dinkins: "My prices are thirty-five cents per pound
for one bale, forty cents per pound for three bales, and
forty-five cents per pound for the last bale. There are
three grades: good middling, strict middling, and middling."
Mr. Watts: "Why you want more for your five bales than
I paid you for ten bales five years ago."
Mr. Dinkins: "No, you are mistaken, I wanted the same
price that I am asking now, but you wouldn't give it to me.
When you refused to give me the right price, and said that
you could do without clothes longer than I could without
something to eat, my eyes began to open, and I reversed
some of the agricultural accomplishments in South Caro¬
lina. Why Mr. Drakeford, of Marlborough County, South
Carolina, made 255 bushels and three pecks of corn on one
acre of land, and Jerry Moore, a boy twelve years old, a
preacher's son, made 228 bushels of corn on one acre. We
have raised some larger hogs here than have ever been seen
in the West. When I thought of the soil in South Caro¬
lina I began to revolutionize my farm. Come and see the
evidence of my farm; see the meat in my smoke house, the
corn in my barn, the chickens in my yard and don't you
hear the lowing of the cows in the pasture beside the
swamp? My farm is fenced in like yours, and cut up in
sections. It is working for me this time, but when you
were here before I was working for it."
RANSOM W. WESTBERRY
29
Mr. Watts: "But I have got to have the cotton; I have
a large interest in the cotton factories of the West, and
unless I get cotton the mills will have to shut down; and
my family need clothes for the winter."
Mr. Dinkins: "I am sorry for your family, but I must
have my price; for I can hold my cotton till you get as
ragged as a jay-bird. Good day, Mr. Watts, I must be go¬
ing down to the pasture to see about my hogs and pigs."
Mr. Watts: "But hold on, Mr. Dinkins, I have got to have
that cotton."
Mr. Dinkins: "All right, sir, but I have got to get my
price."
Mr. Watts: "Here is a check for $1,000, bring it to town
this afternoon."
Mr. Dinkins: "I will not do it; for years I have been go¬
ing to town buying your meat at your price, now things
have changed; and this is a new South. You will have to
come and get your cotton just as I went to town to buy
your meat. So let it be understood from now on whenever
you want raw material to make clothes; come and get it,
and whenever I want clothes I will go and get them."
EMANCIPATION ADDRESS
Delivered at Mullins, S. C., January 1, 1920.
In the First Baptist Church.
On the first day of January, 1883, Abraham Lincoln
signed the Emancipation Proclamation liberating nearly
four million slaves, who had besn held in bondage nearly
two hundred and fifty years. The signing of the proclama¬
tion was the central act of his administration and was the
greatest event of the nineteenth century. The states hold¬
ing slaves were as follows: Alabama, 443,508; Arkansas,
111,115; Florida, 61,745; Georgia, 462,198; Louisiana, 247,-
715; Mississippi, 436,631; North Carolina, 331,959; South
Carolina, 402,046; Texas, 182,556; Virginia, 450,000; other
states, 832,000.
The history of the Negro race in this country is similar
to that of the Jewish Nation. The Jews were enslaved in
Egypt for a period of more than four hundred years, and
endured great hardships and persecutions under cruel task¬
masters. It was the providence of Gcd that they should
come in touch with Egyptian civilization, receive the neces¬
sary training and discipline to become a great nation, pro¬
duce great leaders, statesmen, poets, kings, judges, pro¬
phets, scholars and give a code of laws to the world. The
Jewish laws are governing the nations of the world. The
Jews were carried from Canan to Africa to be enslaved.
The Negroes were brought from Africa to America and en¬
slaved. God overthrew Egyptian slavery after sending ten
plagues upon Egyptian slave-holders, and overthrew Amer¬
ican slavery by the plague of war which lasted four years.
The Jews numbered about three million at the time of their
emancipation. The American Negroes about four million
at the time of their liberation. The Jews returned to the
land of their nativity by the way of the Red Sea, rassing
Sinai to get laws, statutes and ordinances; camping in the
wilderness forty years to receive discipline and training.
The Negro remained in the land that had been the theatre
of his enslavement and humiliation, and for fifty-,1*even
years he has been sailing upon the Red Sea of trouble, per¬
secution, discrimination, murder, lynching, burning, mob
HANSOM W. WESTBERRY
31
rule, injustices and disfranchisements. About twelve years
ago a Chicago newspaper published the census of the Jews
in all the world, the number was nearly thirteen million, or
about four times the number that Moses led out of the land
of Egypt. God promised Abraham that his seed would be
as the sand of the sea. His word cannot fail. It has been
nearly four thousand years since the exodus of the Jews
from Egypt, and yet their number up to the present is only
about fourfold what it was at the exodus from Egypt. The
Negro came out of slavery about four million in number
fifty-seven years ago to-day. And now he has more than
trebled the number on the day of his emancipation, or about
12,000,000. Where are the Jews? In Egypt they multiplied
so rapidly that a decree was issued from the king who knew
not Joseph, "That every male child born should be put to
death." We have reason to believe that they have multi¬
plied just as fast in other countries as they did in Egypt;
their number should be at this time over two hundred mil¬
lion, and to my mind they have gone into other races by
social relation and marriages to escape persecution and dis¬
crimination. The dark hue of the Negro's skin prevents
him from escaping the persecution, discriminations and in¬
justices that some of the Jews were able to escape. There¬
fore our number has increased year after year with the
same rapidity as the Jews did in Egypt. At the last census
our number was more than ten million. If forty-seven
years shows an increase from four to ten million the same
rate will give in another fifty years 36,000,000. In slavery
they were penniless, ignorant and homeless; and now they
own more than 500,000 homes valued at $500,000,000; 350-
000 farms valued at $950,000,000; personal property valued
at $340,000,000; forty banks and several brick-yards; real
estate business, contracting, haberdasheries and wholesale
groceries. There are 500,000 Negroes in the South who own
farms, 50,000 are part owners of farms, more than 1,000,-
000 are tenants on farms. There are 50,000 Negro churches
in the South, spending more than $20,000,000 annually. It
is reported that a negro who came in possession of more
than $2,000,000 in Nebraska, presented the same to his
former master living at the time. It is sometimes said that
32
LIFE AND SPEECHES OF
the negro is not a good, law abiding citizen. This has not
been proven true. On the Island of St. Helena where there
are 6,000 blacks and only eighty whites, many of the
Negroes own and cultivate their own land, and crime is al¬
most unknown. This is the most critical period of our his¬
tory ; this is a period for wise and careful leadership.
We must continue our war-fare against crime, immoral¬
ity and idleness. This is the time that has put to trial the
souls of black men and women. Let us learn the import¬
ance of race unity—a divided people will always be weak.
The spiritual, intellectual and physical development will
make a great race. The Negro was bound in ignorance and
poverty as well as physical slavery, and is in part now.
Abraham Lincoln only freed the body, but our mind and
condition were still bound in ignorance. Wealth is the
remedy for poverty, education for ignorance and religion
for heathenism. Before any man can be entirely free from
slavery, he must have religion, education and wealth. No
man is well-balanced with culture unless he has the distinct
cultures just mentioned. The spiritual part of man is the
most profound; it builds a foundation that makes him safe
and looks far in the future and prepares for a place in Eter¬
nity. The educational part of man is the part that informs
him before he starts out and helps him to plan for a suc¬
cessful career. Education is previous information. Long
before a man can do his work, a cultured brain will have
laid the plans for execution. Money is necessary in carry¬
ing out and developing all of our plans. Deprive not one for
the other, feed each one with its own nature's food, and let
each grow to the fullness of its power, and the Mighty God
of Nature, the Great God of Wisdom and Infinite God of
Heaven will feel proud of his creature when you meet with
Him in the beyond.
We have at least some rights to this country, and we
should have some protection from our Government under
which we live. When the thirteen original colonies waged
war against England, our mother country, for their inde¬
pendence: Chrispus Attucks, a Negro soldier in the front
rank of the American Colonists, was the first to be killed in
the streets of Boston, also Salem Maverick, and Colwell, and
RANSOM W. WESTBERRY
33
other faithful colored soldiers died for the freedom of
America. During the war of 1812 many Negro soldiers
under the commond of General Jackson at New Orleans,
prevented the British Army from landing and invading our
country. In 1845 when Mexico went to war with this coun¬
try, the Negro played his part in the conflict, and the result
was the acquisition of Texas, which was a slave state. In
every Indian War he was identified. When public opinion
was divided as to whether human slavery should exist any
longer in this country or not, and debate in Congress and
out of Congress could not settle the great question, they re¬
sorted to arms, and the white man's differences were settled
on the battlefield. The Negro was in this war, too, but his
help as a soldier was rejected by the Confederates, while
200,000 Negro soldiers joined the Federal Army. The rest
of the 4,000,000 were with the Confederate forces, either as
servants in the army or left at home to care for the wives
and children of their masters. The colored soldiers turned
the war tide and settled one of the greatest conflicts known
in civil warfare. In the Spanish-American War when the
Rough Riders headed by Col. Wood and Lieut.-Col. Roose¬
velt, were cut to pieces by the treacherous Spanish bullets,
the Ninth and Tenth Cavalry, composed of Negro soldiers,
went to their rescue and saved them from complete annihi¬
lation. They routed the Spaniards from their stronghold
on San Juan Hill and put them to flight. The Spanish block
houses were well fortified on every hill-top around Santiago
de Cuba, and when it looked impossible for any human be¬
ing to approach the well-fortified city of Santiago, the
colored soldiers refused to go to the left flank or to the
right flank, but made a straight charge up the hill, jumped
over the breast-works and took possession of the fortifica¬
tion, putting the Spaniards to flight. It was this victory
that caused the Spaniards to surrender. While going up
the hill their commanding officer was killed, but one of the
colored soldiers stepped forward and took command, and
continued the charge. In our recent Mexican trouble, we
were there both as volunteers and regulars. We were last
to shed blood on Mexican soil for the honor of the American
flag, and for protection of American citizens, and yet we
34
LIFE AND SPEECHES OF
are not protected. Why ? When this question is answered,
we will proceed to correct whatever fault there is. When
the cloud of segration, jim-crowism, lynch law, taxation
without representation, dims and darken the sunlight of
our national life, we should not grow discouraged, for be¬
hind the dark cloud the sun is still shining. Our fate is the
common fate of all. Into each life some rain must fall,
some days must be dark and dreary.
Texas White Editor Praises Tenth Cavalarymen.
"As brave as the bravest, at least," says El Paso Dem¬
ocrat.
"Oh, he's a nigger!"
Sure, but henceforth and forever let there be no doubt in
our minds that courage has anything to do with skin.
As the report from Carrizal filters in, every item of it
shows that the Negro troopers of troops C and K, U. S. A.,
are just as much entitled to the respect of patriotic Amer¬
icans, as the heroes of Lexington, Alamo or the little Big
Horn. The odds were at least ten to one, perhaps fifty to
one against which these black boys fought! If they are not
in history the bravest of the brave, they are as brave as the
bravest! Hats off fellows, to Troops C and K, Tenth Reg1"
ment, LT. S. A.
In 1914, when the World's War started in Servia, and
spread until the commonwealth of America was disturbed,
and American lives were not safe on the high seas, it was
then that this country called upon our black citizens to help
protect the life of our Republic. They came as privates,
corporals, sergeants, lieutenants, captains, majors and col¬
onels until nearly 500,000 colored soldiers were placed in
uniform, carried their rifles and fought as they were trained
to destroy our country's enemy. We believe were it not for
these men the war would have been going on until now; but
when these black soldiers threw themselves on the firing
line that terrible protracted and bloody conflict came to a
close, and a peace treaty was substituted for the theatre of
war. The strength of every man is at its best, when pro¬
tecting his own life, or the life of his country. The Negro
soldiers were among those in the front line of battle, and
RANSOM W. WESTBERRY
Went over the top."
My race is a forgiving race, kind and loving with all the
disadvantages we have in this country. We love the white
race better than they love us. We never bar them from
our jim-crow car, yet none of us are allowed in a smoker
with them whenever our car is over-crowded. Col. J. J.
Dargin, of Sumter, S. C., says in his school history, "The
white man should have it recorded where it can never be
forgotten that the relation between the master and his
slaves were of a most affectionate nature, so much so that
thousands of slaves attended their masters as servants in
the army, where one of the prominent issues was their free¬
dom, and evinced perfect fidelity. Tens of thousands of
Negroes remained at home, taking care of the helpless
women and children with a devotion unexcelled in the his¬
tory of mankind. These faithful slaves refused every offer
of freedom or pecuniary reward to betray or desert their
masters' families. While we are putting up monuments to
commemorate noble deeds in times that tried the souls of
men it seems a plain duty to erect one to the faithful
slaves of the Confederate States. South Carolina already
has one erected by one of her citizens as his individual testi¬
monial. She should have one placed at the Capital by the
white citizens of the entire state."
What has he done for American enlightment and civiliza¬
tion and to advance the farming industry? He felled the
trees, dug the stumps, built railroads, constructed dwelling
houses, and made transportation easy for American citizens.
If we have taxation without representation, we should at
least be protected from the vicious and lawless class.
Agriculture.
At the last census the Negro owned 893,370 farms valued
at $1,141,792,526, an increase over the last census as to
ownership 19.6%, as to the value 128.4% . Mississippi alone
has 164,488 Negro farmers, an increase of 28% , and value
$187,401,976, an increase in value of 116.9% over 1900 cen¬
sus. Georgia has the next highest in number with 122,554
Negro farmers, an increase of 48% , value $157,870,357, an
increase of 224.2%. Alabama has 110,387 farms, an in-
36
LIFE AND SPEECHES OF
crease of 173.1%, value $97,261,114, an increase of 107.3%.
South Carolina has 96,722 farms, an increase of 13.3%,
valued at $118,314,985, an increase in value of 168.9%.
The following farms owned by Negroes, 218,972; tenants,
672,964; managers, 1,434. Number of acres, 42,279,510;
improved, 27,845,190; woodland, 11,938,036; machinery,
34,178,032; buildings, 166,559,439. The number of colored
farms in Sumter county is 3,204; number of acres is 102,-
337; improved, 76,907; woodland, 23,103; other unimproved
2,327; the total value of the land and buildings, implements
and machinery is $3,383,460; land and buildings amount to
$3,267,787; the land alone is valued at $2,795,210; build¬
ings alone $468,577; farm implements and machinery, $119,-
673. The number of colored farms in Marion county is
1,037; total acres, 98,930; improved, 24,467; woodland, 13,-
243; other unimproved, 1,220; total, 137,840. The total
value of the lands, buildings, implements and machinery is
$1,023,652. The land is valued at $888,869; buildings alone
$134,783; farm implements and machinery, $36,018.
Religious Line.
We have made great progress along the religious and de¬
nominational lines. There are sixteen in number. The Bap¬
tist National Convention enrolls 18,534 churches with 2,261,-
607 members, 832,162 males and 1,379,387 females. The Col¬
ored Primitive Baptists, 797 churches with 35,076 members,
6,341 males and 21,438 females. United America Free-Will
Baptists, 251 churches with 14,489 members, 6,458 males
and 8,397 females. Church of God and Saints of Christ,
forty-eight churches, 1,825 members, male 550, and female
1,253. Churches of the Living God, sixty-eight in number,
4,276 members, male 1,686, female 2,590. Churches of the
Living God (Christian Workers for Friendship), churches,
forty-four, and 2,676 members, male 984, female 1,692.
Churches of the Living God (Apostolic Churches) fifteen
churches with 752 members, 291 males, 461 females.
Churches of Christ in God, nine in number; 848 members,
male 411, female 437. Evangelistic Association, three in
number, 425 members, male 150, female 275. Voluntary
Missionary Societies in America, three churches, 425 mem-
RANSOM W. WESTBERRY
37
bers, male 150, female 275. Free Christian Zion Church of
Christ, 1,835 in number, 740 male, 1,095 female. The Union
America Episcopal Church, seventy-seven churches with
4,347 members, 1,785 males, 2,562 females. A.M.E. Church,
6,647 churches, 494,777 members, 177,837 males, 304,150
females. The African Union Protestant Methodist Church,
sixty-nine churches with 5,592 members, male 1,972, fe¬
male 3,493. A. M. E. Zion Church, 2,204 churches, 184,542
members, 67,096 male, 113,405 female. Colored Methodist
Episcopal Church, 2,381 churches, 172,976 members, male
64,988, female, 104,264. Reformed Zion Union Apostolic
Church, forty-five churches, 3,059 members, 1,139 male, 1,-
624 female. Reformed Methodist Episcopal Church, fifty-
five in number with 4,397 members, 1,774 male, 2,623
female. Colored Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 196
churches with 18,066 members, male 8,405, female 9,661.
The grand total of church members is 3,685,097; male,
1,324,123; female, 2,203,537. The total number of churches
is 36,770; the number of churches in South Carolina is
2,860 with 394,149 members, 142,868 male, 240,628 female.
The seating capacity of the Negro churches in the U. S.
is 10,481,738. The value of our church property is $56,-
636,159. The value of our parsonages is $3,727,884. There
are 34,681 Sunday-schools with 210,148 officers and teach¬
ers, and 1,740,099 scholars. We have fifty-one per cent,
of the Negroes attending school from six to twenty years
of age, while the whites have sixty-one per cent. The
illiteracy of the Negro in 1880 was seventy per cent., now
it is less than fifty per cent. The Negro has done enough
in this country to give him a prominent place among the
citizens of our commonwealth.
Our Mortality Rate.
Statistics show that we have made wonderful progress
along all lines; yet there is one thing where we are running
far behind; our mortality is far greater than it should be.
In many towns and cities we are dying nearly twice as fast
as the white people; that is the colored people are dying
nearly two to one to the white people. The following is the
last statistics given by the U. S. Government: Statistics of
38
LIFE AND SPEECHES OF
mortality, the last census taken, shows that the mortality
of the Negroes is much greater than that of the whites.
In Los Angeles, Calif., 29.09 die every year to the thousand,
while only 18.04 white persons die to the thousand every
year. In the District of Columbia thirty-one negroes out of
every thousand die every twelve months, and only eighteen
whites die out of every thousand yearly. In the State of
Maine eighteen colored persons die out of every thousand,
and seventeen whites die out of every thousand. Annap¬
olis, forty-two negroes die out of every thousand, and only
twenty white persons. In the city of New York twenty-
seven negroes die out of every thousand while only eighteen
whites die yearly to the thousand. In Atlanta, Ga., twenty-
seven negroes die out of every thousand, while only eighteen
whites die to the thousand yearly. In New Orleans, where
there are 89,262 negroes, forty-one die every year out of
the thousand; the whites number 249,403, and their death
rate is twenty-one to the thousand. Now, coming home to
our own state, in Charleston, S. C., where there are 31,056
negroes, forty-four die every year to the thousand, and
27,764 whites, twenty-two out of every thousand die each
year. The above can be reduced by bettering our sanitary
conditions, wearing better clothes, drinking less whiskey,
living in better houses, spending more time around the
home except when on business abroad, cooking better food,
saving more money and buying more homes.
We would like to know what other folks are doing for the
advancement of our race, the following are some of the
things that are being done: The white Y. M. C. A. of Lex¬
ington, Ky., has opened classes for better citizenship, and
the study of common school values for colored men three
nights a week. A rescue home for unfortunate colored girls
has been purchased near Columbia, S. C., and is mainly sup¬
ported by the Colored Federation of the State. Jonas W.
Thomas, of Bennettsville, S. C., one of the greatest negro
farmers of the U. S., makes more than 1,500 bales of cot¬
ton. Hon. E. J. Sawyer, Esq., of Bennettsville, is president
of the only negro bank in South Carolina, incorporated for
$50,000. The Grand United Order of Odd Fellows of South
Carolina paid out $53,000 last year to widows and orphans.
RANSOM W. WESTBERRY
39
The Colored State Fair Association, of which Dr. J. H.
Goodwin, of Columbia, is president, took in nearly $6,000
during fair week at Columbia, S. C., November, 1919. The
Knights of Pythias pay to the widows and orphans of every
member that dies in good standing, $300.00. The York
Masons, of which Augustus G. Kennedy is Grand Master,
at the death of each member in good and regular standing
the widows and orphans are paid $150.00. Under the lead¬
ership of Bishop W. D. Chappelle, and R. W. Mance, pres¬
ident of A. U., the presiding elders of the A. M. E. Church
of South Carolina, paid in a single day $25,000 at the official
opening of the school. Mr. Butler General owns one of the
largest farms in the United States, he has more than 2,000
acres of farm lands and has more than forty plows. Under
the leadership of Dr. J. J. Starks, president of Morris Col¬
lege, and Dr. J. J. Durham, president of the State Baptist
Convention the trustees of Morris College, Sumter, S. C.,
have purchased and paid for more than $50,000 worth of
property, for negro education. Miss Emma J. Wilson, of
Mayesville, S. C., is president of the Mayesville Agricul¬
tural and Industrial Institute. This is a mixed school, the
property consists of 124 acres of farm land, three brick
buildings and three farm buildings. The Methodist Episco¬
pal Church has set aside $250,000 to build the largest school
for negroes in the United States, at Chicago, 111. George
W. Camer, of Tuskegee Institute, Ala., is one of the greatest
chemists in the U. S. In 1916 and 1917, according to the
tabulation of the War Department for draft registration
showed 2,347,794 colored men preparatory to being exam¬
ined for the great World's War. The North Carolina Mut¬
ual and Providence Association sliows gross assets of near¬
ly $200,000, and has more than $5,000,000 worth of insur¬
ance in force.
In the Light.
The dead past revived again through retold stories of
yesterday. Some sidelights on negro history worth your
careful reading: It is usually encouraging to read and re¬
hearse the history of our great men. The following are
those who flourished in the political world: For ten years
40
LIFE AND SPEECHES OF
Joseph G. Rainey was a member of Congress, and the third
member of the negro race having that honor. Since that
time nineteen others have been honored with that position.
The following are names of members: R. B. Elliott, R. H.
Caeur, Robert Small, Geo. W. Murray, Thomas M. Miller,
Alonzo J. Rausier, Jesse Harrison, Benj. S. Turner, James
Rapier, Joshua T. Wells, Robert DeLarge, John H. Hyman,
James E. O'Hern, H. P. Cheatham, George H. White, John
R. Lynch, Jeff Long, Charles E. Nash, and John M. Lang-
ston, the last negro member of that body. Three of the
names are of local interest to Chicagoans because of the
recent visit of ex-Congressman John R. Lynch here during
the Lincoln Celebration, and the two other members, Geo.
H. White and Congressman Geo. W. Murray, that resided
in Chicago a short time, and these men in ancestry and a
process of humanizing, began their careers in the New
World in 1565, just seventy-three years after the landing of
Columbus, when the English Ship "Jesus" landed in San
Domingo with 250 slaves. Three hundred years afterward
the ending of the traffic in human beings through the
Emancipation Proclamation came. Prior to that the island
on which began the new world slave trade, had fought
Napoleon with Toussaint's master generalship and determi¬
nation, though with a well-night starved and wrecked army.
The first country to receive slaves, and the first to free
them, we find Hayti, with its warm blood and love for free¬
dom in all things, ending its 1914 insurrection, and bring¬
ing peace out of chaos. Between these two events, the his¬
tory of America contains some of the most cruel and in¬
human tales of civilized nations, and also some of the great¬
est achievements and progress of the world. The negro
playing heavy parts in all from chattels to real estate.
Freedom has been the transition of the African slave who
will become a power to be reckoned with despite the limited
roadway of today. Douglas and Washington; Tanner and
Dunbar; R. B. Elliott, C. G. Groves; Ida B. Hills Barnett;
Siseretta Jones, known as "Black Pattie"; C. F. Walker,
Keller Miller; Scarboro Dubois; Hon. Emmet J. Scott; Major
R. W. Moton, these are beacon lights in our effort to reach
a higher standard in enlightenment and civilization.
RANSOM W. WESTBERRY
41
Co-operation.
Pre-requisite to co-operation is: (1) individual success;
(2) ability to lead men; (3) patience; (4) common sense
and sacrifice. You have not only got to be honest, but your
character and reputation must be above suspicion. The
spirit of honesty should be cultivated until you can see its
virtue. Not honest because you were told by your parents,
guardian or friend, but because you have investigated the
reason why they have told you, and have found its virtue.
To simply carry out instructions, without knowing the good
of such instruction is apt to cause neglect at times; although
you have been well trained, and one mistake many times
injures your success for life. Where one knows the spirit
of honesty comes from God Himself the more he practices
honesty the more he gains favor with God and man. If a
man has in his possession $10,000 of a company's money,
and this could be confiscated without he being incarcerated,
he might yield to the temptation and destroy the institu¬
tion. But if wisdom plays her part in the spirit of the man
and conquers that of a thief, he will assist in giving his
help to wise investments to increase the confidence of the
investors in a reasonably short time. In any society or
business for the common good of all, they have been fooled
so many times by those who took the wrong view of racial
progress, until now you will find it rather hard to get them
to believe in your ability and honesty, but time and labor
will prove to them just who you are, and lecturing and
teaching will bring about co-operation.
"HOW TO REDUCE THE COST OF
LIVING"
An Address Delivered Before the National Negro Business
League, Philadelphia, Pa., August 19, 1920.
To the President and Members of the National Negro Busi¬
ness League:
Greetings: As president of the National Negro Farmers
Association, I bring to you greetings.
A GOOD GARDEN AND HOME OF MR. AND MRS. HARRISON
MAYRANT, OF HAGOOD, S. C.
We are planning a reduction in the price of food in the
near future; this we hope to do by an increased production.
To accomplish this we must have organized farmers.
When I was chairman of the Colored Department of the
Food Administration in South Carolina we organized the
entire State into districts, counties and communities. We
had eight men appointed by the government to assist the
chairman in taking care of the food situation in South
Carolina.
RANSOM W. WESTBERRY
43
The state was thoroughly organized and our people were
educated to the necessity of growing more foodstuffs.
Under this system we grew enough food to supply the state
without any outside aid, but since the Government has with¬
drawn its assistance along this line food production has de¬
creased and the prices have gone much higher, and will not
get normal again until encouragement is brought to us
through the Government or organizations of our own.
We realize that we cannot easily lighten the burden of
the high cost of living without the co-operation of the
other business men, therefore we ask your assistance in
every possible way.
Many of our cotton planters.contend that if they should
plant more foodstuffs than is needed for their own con¬
sumption it would become a burden and that they would
lose thereby.
If more grain than necessary for home use is gathered
they should offer it to the nearest neighbor, in need of such
food. This can be made known by the daily papers, post¬
ing and other convenient means of advertising that which
is for sale. By this system our community or state may be
made self-supporting, and much of the present cost and ex¬
pense of exporting and importing food prevented.
In all problems, cause and effect must be dealt with,
change the cause and the effect will also be changed. Hence
to produce more food there must be some means by which
we can remedy the scarcity of labor on the farms. Many
theories have been advanced and plans suggested, and still
we find that each year the situation grows more acute.
We are presenting a few suggestions for your considera¬
tion which we believe will have quite an effect if given
proper consideration.
More Attractive Homes on the Farm.
We, the farmers of this country, have a great deal of
responsibility resting upon our shoulders. This responsi¬
bility became heaviest soon after the World War began, but
we conducted ourselves in a way that proved that we were
equal to the task. However, since the armistice has been
signed and peace declared, high wages have reached such
a height that our farm laborers have been attracted from
44
LIFE AND SPEECHES OF
the farms, causing the production of food to be lower than
it has been for some time and the price higher than it has
ever been.
It is now up to the farmers of the country to make the
farms more attractive than the cities, this can be done by
pointing out the beauties and virtues of country life.
First: There is more freedom in the country than can
be found elsewhere.
Second: Our economic conditions are better.
Third: The members of the family and all concerned
can have an equal share in the business of developing the
farm.
Fourth: The air is more wholesome and pure than that
of the dusty streets and crowded houses of the towns and
cities.
Fifth: The waters from the bubbling springs, artesian
wells and deep pumps, afford a copious stream of sparkling
waters which mean life to man and beast.
Sixth: The growing crops are our silent companions,
dressing themselves in beautiful green and giving us fruit
on the day of our expectation.
Seventh: The crowing cocks, squealing pigs, lowing cat¬
tle and whinnying colts give life and variety to our sur¬
roundings, and compensate for the noise and hurly burly of
the cities with less strain on the nerves.
I now recommend to the farmers of the country that they
build attractive homes, with enough rooms for the comfort
of the family, paint them in beautiful and pleasing colors.
Build barns and sheds to shelter your cattle, farming im¬
plements, and to protect your garnered crops. Install water¬
works, lighting plant, and every modern convenience that
can be gotten.
We will never be able to retain our farm labor unless we
have something better than the attraction that draws
them away.
To begin with, every man likes his own home better than
any other place, but when he finds that some other home is
better than his he will either leave or improve his home;
young people usually do the former.
I further recommend better schools with longer terms,
RANSOM W. WESTBERRY
45
and the best teacher that can be secured.
Get an efficient pastor, and see that the Sunday-schools
are better attended, beautify your church, both in and out¬
side.
A recreation ground for every community, social clubs
and organizations among the farmers.
With the above improvements we will be able to keep
more labor on the farm and our children will be content to
stay at home.
We have observed material progress among some of our
farmers in the last few years. They are living in large,
well-furnished houses, beautifully painted, with large barns,
lighting plants, water-works and well-planned systems of
farming. We find some Negro farmers who own three
thousand acres of land and who are using one hundred
horses. This is the exception, but we hope to make it the
rule for the colored farmers to own their homes and con¬
duct their own farms.
We are looking forward to the time when the farms will
be so attractive that not only will those employed there de¬
sire to stay, but those who visit the country for pleasure
and recreation, will be so impressed by the beautiful homes,
schools and churches, so enchanted will they be by the
heavenly strains of music sounding forth from choir and
organ that they will long to tarry where peace, plenty and
beauty abound.
A REPLY TO THE MAYOR OF UNION,
S. C.
Specially Prepared for the Annual Session of the Grand
Lodge G. U. O. of O. F., at Union, S. C., August, 1919.
Master of Ceremonies, Ladies and Gentlemen:
This is indeed a great pleasure and a privilege to reply to
the Honorable Mayor of Union, S. C., for in "Union there is
strength."
We have met here from every section of this state for the
purpose of doing business for the people whom we repre¬
sent, and to make reports to our constituents. Therefore,
in our reports will be encouched your address of welcome.
I voice the sentiment of my constituents when I say that
we enjoyed the kindly remarks and encouraging words that
you have spoken, for that is what we need now. When a
dark and gloomy cloud seems to shadow our racial ambition,
such bright stars of hope, such as you are, will always live
in the breasts of black folks and you will be numbered with
the immortals.
I wish I had a voice in adjusting the peaceful affairs of
the Nation. I would ask Congress to appropriate $100,000,-
000 for peace lectures, making the theme "The Prince of
Peace, which is Jesus Christ." From an economic stand¬
point it is far cheaper to preach peace than to wage war.
Churches are better than trenches. The Gospel of Jesus
Christ is the best lecture to give men.
Money can not correct, nor was it designed to transfer
justice from man to man, but the application of the Gospel
of Jesus Christ brightens all things and makes our living a
pleasure.
This war has created a world-wide interest in human jus¬
tice. It has given the negro an opportunity to demonstrate
his worth as a citizen and his value as a man. It has
brought thoughtful white men to a new and deeper sense
of appreciation and obligation to the colored race.
We invite you to meet with us often in our gatherings
and hear our deliberations. There is no secret treaty
among us.
The Spanish Influenza claimed for death in 1918, 500,000
RANSOM W. WESTBERRY
47
persons. Therefore, to prevent the repetition, Congressman
Fess, of Ohio, is asking Congress for an appropriation of
$1,500,000 to employ medical skill to determine the cause
and find a remedy. Medical science may find the cause and
may apply a remedy, but as long as there is a general prac¬
tice of sin, the result of which must be punishment, and
diseases of some form or another will reduce our ranks.
"An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure."
LIEUT. JOHN H. ALEXANDER'S LIFE
AND DEATH
The following poem was written by R. W. Westberry in
1894, while attending Wilberforce University in Ohio, upon
the life of the first colored lieutenant who was sent by the
government to train colored youths in military science:
A greater man has never been born;
He made his mark in early morn:
From the lands where prejudice is enclosed,
This great man with modest nature rose.
To the highest academy he was sent;
With high aspirations his soul was bent,
In this bright world he ran his goodly race,
Now he is in heaven—a better place.
Skillful he was in military science; full of power—
In doing much good he never lost an hour,
For great aims his heart had learned to prize.
His aims to raise the weak and to rise—
Now he no longer exists here; life has passed;
In the bright heaven his soul is cast.
His voice never failed him—how distinctly he would say:
"Pay attention boys, we didn't come here to play."
"My Mother! My Mother!" were his constant cries.
A dear mother's love in his bosom lies,
But in the grave lies her loving son,
Many had thought his life had only begun.
I heard the bell toll on his burial day,
I saw the hearse that bore him slowly away,
Just in front walked my schoolmates and I,
With sorrow and grief within and a constant sigh.
And we walked together, two and two,
To the silent tomb; wept our last adieu.
Like soldiers we bravely marched through the town,
Yet slowly, though the sun was almost down.
RANSOM W. WESTBERRY
Drums and soft music were heard in the street
As we tramped through the mud with our feet.
Only two armed soldiers shot in his lowly grave.
Who knows whom God will spare or will save?
Our aims we are not sure to meet, but death;
When we hear sad news we shorten our breath.
But yet God is our comfort and our guide,
He guides our footsteps as over the world they glide.
But me, still hoping to attain that rest,
My lonely soul like his by God is blessed,
And day after day with my teachers' force
Set me more firmly upon my scientific course.
PRESENTATION AUDITORIUM MORRIS
COLLEGE
Presented May 11th, 1921, on Commencement Day.
To the Chairman and Members of the Trustee Board of
Morris College:
This occasion is one of the greatest in the history of our
denominational life. As missionary Baptists, we have cov¬
ered the state and have found every nook and corner here-
DINING HALL AND AUDITORIUM, MORRIS COLLEGE
(Forty-seven by one hundred twenty-five feet)
Dedicated during Commencement Exercises, May 11, 1921.
in, carrying the light of a Christian civilization to every
soul now in darkness. Our membership has grown to the
enormous number of more than 260,000. But carrying the
gospel and winning souls is not enough for a great denomi¬
nation.
We decided some years ago to do some constructive work,
and today we come to add one more building to our educa¬
tional plant.
Man in the flesh is an animal, but the addition of the
RANSOM W. WESTBERRY
51
soul makes, him the image of God. God has created and
made Homes for all His creatures, even those who are un¬
born. Dr. J. J. Starks, president of Morris College, true to
his-God like'nature, with the aid of the Trustees, the Bap¬
tist denomination and other friends, has built this beautiful
edifice, which we now dedicate this day. The purpose for
which it is built, has. made it sacred to the cause of hu¬
manity.
The mere animal makes.no improvement on the home he
finds in the world, but simply reproduces himself and re¬
mains in the same state or condition. The man who does
not improve himself and his surrounding conditions is not
far from the primitive period of man. It shows that his
mere animal, nature dominates his soul and he is unable to
show his God-like image. But the man who improves him¬
self and his surroundings imitates his God.
Shakespeare says, "What a piece of work is man? How
noble in reasons, how. excellent in faculties, in form and
movement, how expressive and admirable. In actions, how
like an angel, and in apprehension, how like God."
As. chairman of the Finance Committee and member of
the Board, I present to you, Mr. Chairman (Rev. R. W.
Baylor) and members of the Trustee Board, this beautiful
building, which was built for a dining hall and auditorium.
And it is dedicated to the education and elevation of the
negro youth of South Carolina, which will be a legacy to the
unborn generation and a monument to Dr. J. J. Starks'
administration. >
THE SECOND, THIRD AND FOURTH
EMANCIPATION
This address was delivered at Timmonsville, S. C., March
2, 1921, to celebrate jointly the birthdays of Frederick
Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. Douglass was born Feb¬
ruary 14, 1817. Lincoln was born February 12, 1809.
Master of Ceremonies, Ladies and Gentlemen:
This occasion is one of the greatest in the history of our
race. We have gathered here tonight to pay tribute to two
of the greatest men that the world has produced—Abraham
Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. To show your apprecia¬
tion for a great deed done for you is the highest tribute
that you can pay these men for the service they rendered
your race when it was in physical slavery. At that period
of our racial life we were absolutely helpless and could
not break the fetters that bound our limbs, until Frederick
Douglass had made many of his abolitionist speeches, which
helped to a great extent to mould and make new senti¬
ment for the abolishing of slavery. Then Abraham Lin¬
coln became president of the United States, and when the
time was fully ripe, Abraham Lincoln signed the Emanci¬
pation Proclamation liberating four million slaves.
This could not be done by the slaves themselves, but had
to be done by the friends of the slaves and the lovers of
freedom.
Dear Soldiers: You have come here tonight from every
corner of this country to listen to some words of encourage¬
ment, and to hear what hope awaits you in the future.
Whatever you get in this life, you must fight for it. Noth¬
ing good ever comes and hands itself to you. Most of you
are still suffering under three forms of slavery. The slav¬
ery of sin, the slavery of ignorance and the slavery of pov¬
erty. These slave-masters must be destroyed by weapons
suited to each master. For instance, when you were fight¬
ing on the front in France you had many different weapons
of warfare. When the enemies were a long distance away
and were making their advance, you used cannons or long-
range guns to weaken their forces before they got to you.
When they got nearer you used rifles or shorter range
RANSOM W. WESTBERRY
53
guns. And when they got nearer you used pistols and hand
grenades, and when they got nearer still you used your
bayonets and swords and made a hand-to-hand fight. At
that stage of the fighting the cannons and other weapons
previously used, were now useless. The weapons used in
their proper places made the most effective fighting. The
point I wish to show you tonight is that no weapon that was
used out of place was effective against the enemy, who was
determined to make you a slave had he conquered.
You have returned to this country to the home that gave
you birth, to meet face to face three great enemies that are
very destructive to your manhood. And can be only de¬
stroyed by using the proper weapons for each one. These
three enemies are: the demon of sin, the monster of igno¬
rance, and the fearful poverty. Sin must be fought with
the weapon of Jesus Christ; Ignorance with the soul of edu¬
cation, and poverty with the saber of wealth.
Our first form of slavery, I shall not discuss it tonight.
But my theme is the Second, Third and Fourth. But such
slaveries from which no man can free another man, unless
the man who is enslaved is willing and struggling to be
free. If both of your hands were tied tight to your body,
and your feet were tied securely together and making it im¬
possible for you to free either one of them, and someone
should come along and free your right hand and pass on;
what would naturally be your next step? You would proceed
at once to use the right hand to unloose the left hand, and
then you would use both of your hands to unloose your
feet. This would give you absolute freedom to both hands
and feet, and you would be at liberty to walk, run or move
around in any way you might desire. And by properly ex¬
ercising your freedom you will develope physically strong
like other men.
Many of us are slaves to sin, and I shall style this as the
left hand of the body. The man who is a slave to sin can¬
not be freed unless he consents and is willing to be freed.
No man can preach the gospel into another man unless he is
willing to receive it. You might be as great as Paul or an
Apolos, but it would be impossible for you to have any
effect beneficial to the soul of a man who objects to your
54
LIFE AND SPEECHES OF
preaching. No*man writes his emancipation unless he has
willingness of mind. Pre-requisite to freedom from sin is
to get the person who is enslaved willing to be freed. The
next that I shall discuss is the enslavement to ignorance,
which I shall style as the left foot. This is a great curse to
any race, or individual. No race can make progress in
ignorance. Ignorance is destructive. It is a disease that
destroys more lives than any other cause known in the
history of mankind. It has caused wars, lynching and burn¬
ing at the stake, and more bloodshed than any destructive
forces known in history. With all of its destructive forces,
no man can help another man unless intelligence is put in
the place of ignorance, and only then if the man who is a
slave to ignorance consents to the exchange.
You might build school houses all around his home and
fill his room with books, and employ instructors to teach
and inform him the intelligent way of living. None of
these things will move him one inch, unless he is willing to
be taught. Ignorance should be destroyed, and must be de¬
stroyed, but it cannot be destroyed unless the proper
weapon is used. The weapon that should be used for the
destruction of ignorance is education.
And we ask you tonight to use this constructive weap¬
on of education to destroy ignorance, and to destroy every
form of ignorance that lurks in your soul. The weapon of
education will destroy the Monster Ignorance quicker than
any other weapon known to mankind.
The last, but not least of these subjects which I will
discuss is the enslavement to poverty, which I shall style
as the right foot. No man can free another, from the slav¬
ery of poverty unless the man in poverty is willing to be
freed. He might be given every opportunity to make and
save money, but unless he is willing to save it by wise in¬
vestments and otherwise, no man can make him do it. You
might pile up money before him until it reaches the ceiling
of the house that he lives in, but so long as he has not made
up his mind to save and to have, your efforts are futile.
The weapon that should be used on this frightful - slave¬
holder is the mighty dollar. After using the mighty dollar
intelligently for a length of time it will destroy every par-
RANSOM W. WESTBERRY
55
tide of poverty and you will be free to go and come when
and wherever you will. For poverty prevents your going
and hinders your coming.
Dear Soliders of the World's War and Friends: I've tried
to show you the different forms of slavery that are yet
among us and have told you what weapons to get to de¬
stroy each one of them. You are physically free and able
to go and get each weapon and start your warfare and de¬
stroy each slave-holder. When this is done you are at lib¬
erty to develop in your full strength and power. King David
said on one occasion that man is wonderfully and fear¬
fully made. If a man would free himself from all forms of
slavery and develop himself fully he would become yet more
wonderful. War occurs between nations or individuals when
one thinks the other has hindered or is hindering its or his
progress; and a fight occurs to remove one or the other out
of this path of progress. In like manner the slave-masters
of sin, of ignorance and of poverty have crossed our path of
progress, and to remove them we must wage war against
them. We will not be successful in our warfare against our
masters unless we use the proper weapons for each one's
destruction.
First: The weapon that is most destructive for destroy¬
ing sin is the gospel of Jesus Christ. Second: The weapon
that will destroy ignorance is education. Third: The weap¬
on that is most destructive to poverty is the mighty dollar.
Therefore, I ask that you get each one of these weapons for
the destruction of each one of your slave-masters.
HOW TO OBTAIN ONE'S DESIRE
Before obtaining one's desire the price must be paid. We
often desire things but haven't the price. Hence, we do not
get them. If a man wants a suit of clothes, the merchant
will require a certain price, according to the value of the
clothes. The higher the price the more the customer will
pay. If a man goes to buy land he must pay the agent, or
the owner, the price he asks, and this pay is usually based
upon the value of the land. If the land is poor and will not
produce good crops, then the buyer pays a cheaper price.
But if the land is rich and highly cultured he pays a much
higher price. These are material things; the clothes and
land which we have mentioned.
The crying need and desire of our race today is to get in¬
telligence and education. What is the price? Time and
sacrifice. We must sacrifice ignorance, frivolity, idleness,
foolish conversations, loud talking in public places, and get
a Christian education. Get culture, get racial consciousness,
get an ideal, get hope. We are today suffering in political
slavery. The price of our freedom is a Christian education,
service to our fellow man and to our God. We are asking
for justice. To obtain it we must go to the doors of those
who have it and make our demand, with patience, intelli¬
gence and a strong determination. If we are turned down
once, we must go again, for the price is greater than one
effort. The price is many efforts and as many efforts as
it takes to get our rights, should be put forth and we will,
be sure to obtain them.
We hold today many positions in the North and in the
South that we have never held before. But we paid the
price. If today we have not all that we want, it is because
we have not paid the price, and perhaps have not the price.
When a young man or young woman is educated, it should
not be from a selfish motive, but they should educate them¬
selves for the purpose of helping others. A little learning
is dangerous. Our political rights and civic justice will only
be obtained by a large number of intelligent men and women
co-operatively making the demand. There are some things
that can be obtained by the individual, but there are other
RANSOM W. WESTBERRY
57
things that can be obtained only by several individuals mak¬
ing a concerted demand for the things hoped for and can¬
not be obtained otherwise. Therefore, it is the duty of
every well-informed member of the race to see to it that
every individual who has not an education shall get an edu¬
cation ; and they, too, must be so instructed to teach others
when they are able to do so. I know that justice has not
been given to us through the school funds. But God has
blessed us bountifully with monies of our own and this
money should be converted in paying for our churches,
building better school-houses, educating our children and
buying better homes.
In order to solve the so-called race problem, some public
speakers have advised that the negroes buy homes, while
others advise them to get an education. Others say get
Christian religion. I wish to say right here that no one
thing will pay the price of everything. No one thing will
serve to perfect our racial manhood or womanhood. We
will have to acquire all the things mentioned, and be pre¬
pared to use each and every one when needed. In the great
World's War the soldiers were not armed with one weapon
alone, but with several different kinds. With rifles, pistols,
swords, hand-grenades, cannons, trench-guns, submarines,
airships and knives. All were necessary to subdue the ene¬
my. There were times during the war that the enemies
were far away. But they were making their advances just
the same. And the only weapon that could be used to check
and change their plans were big guns, called cannons. And
there were times when the enemy was near enough to
make a drive and then it was necessary to use rifles to stop
their progress. And there were times when the enemies
were still nearer and would take them by force of strength:
then it was necessary to use hand-grenades, swords and
knives. You can plainly see that with only one weapon in
warfare against the enemy, we would have perished.
In like manner we need to arm ourselves against all op¬
position for rights that rightly belong to us. We should
have a Christian education to demand our share in this
civilization. We should have property to demand our share
of the taxes. We should have education to intelligently de-
58
LIFE AND SPEECHES OF
mand our rights. None of these can be obtained until we
pay the price. I know that it has been said by many that
many of us have paid the price, and yet have not obtained
our civic justice. But my friends, I repeat, there are not
enough of us with education and property to obtain what
we most desire as a race. The cause of our condition is
ignorance and poverty. The remedy is education, wealth
and Christian religion. When a man buys a home he ought
to see to it that his neighbor buys one also. And when a
young man or young woman is educated or receiving an
education he or she ought to see to it that their playmates
or neighbors are educated. And you who have obtained the
Christian religion should attend church and persuade oth¬
ers to do likewise.
It is generally circulated that the graduates from the dif¬
ferent schools do not attend church often. This is a very
dangerous thing to inject in your character and life. The
height of our civilization is measured at the church and not
at the school. However, it begins in the home, strengthens
in the school, but developes in the church. Let me advise
the graduates who are now under the sound of my voice:
when you return home, teach your people by precept and
example. Let the words that come from your lips be prac¬
tical and inspiring. And let them see that you keep the
best company, attend church regularly. Help in the Sab¬
bath school. Get among the leaders of every progressive
movement in the church. By so doing you will get a great
hold on the community and you can succeed with great suc¬
cess. For the price of your success will have been paid.
Now, my friends and fellow graduates, let this be impressed
upon your memory. From the cold and chilly lakes of the
North to the warm waters of the Gulf on the South. From
the turbulent waters of the Atlantic ocean on the East to
the peaceful waters of the Pacific on the West, every man
is free. The breath of liberty is in the nostril of every one.
And every man can go and come when and where he pleases.
How shall you use such liberty? Shall it be to destroy the
hopes of the race with idleness, frivolity and foolish conver¬
sations? I hope the answer is no. When I shall return to
my home I shall use my culture and my freedom in helping
RANSOM W. WESTBERRY
59
to cultivate the minds of others and to free every man from
the enslavement of ignorance.
SCIENTIFIC FARMING BY NEGROES
Reports of Results of Experiment Station in Sumter Coun¬
ty, South Carolina, Conducted by R. W. Westberry,
County Demonstrator in Charge of Work Among
Negro Farmers.
Many different varieties of cotton and corn were planted
on a farm at Horatio, S. C., to determine which would make
the best yield. The several plots were planted in one field
so as to give each about the same grade of land.
A SPLENDID FIELD OF CORN AND MODERN GIN HOUSE
All of the cotton plots were planted the same time with
the same amount and kind of fertilizers, and worked with
the same implements and the same way. The plots were all
planted April 10. The soil was dark gray. The first pick¬
ing was August 21, the second was September 28, third was
November 15. The different varieties were as follows: The
Money-maker produced 1,800 pounds of seed cotton to the
acre; the Toole produced 1,600 pounds of seed cotton to the
acre; the Hites prolific produced 1,400 pounds of seed cot-
HANSOM W. WESTBERRY
61
ton to the acre; Cook's big boll, 1,500 pounds of seed cot¬
ton to the acre; Dillon wilt resistent, 1,350 pounds of seed
cotton to the acre; the Bates, 1.750 pounds of seed cotton to
the acre; Latents improved, 1,550 pounds of seed cotton to
the acre; Peterkin, 1,400 pounds of seed cotton to the acre;
Russell big boll, 1,600 pounds of seed cotton to the acre;
Morse's improved, 1,525 pounds of seed cotton to the acre;
"Bank Account," 1,200 pounds of seed cotton to the acre.
Among the different varieties of cotton mentioned, the
Bates is the most favored, the yield of lint was forty-one
per cent. The Money-maker made the largest amount of
seed cotton, but the lint was only 34 per cent. The Russell
big boll makes the finest lint of any of the short staple cot¬
ton. The Columbia long staple was planted near the experi¬
ment station, June 1, after oats, a little more than two acres
were planted, and the amount of seed cotton gathered from
the same was 1,524 pounds, lint cotton 510 pounds. The
amount paid for the lint was $73.50. The seed are being
sold for $1.50 per bushel, which will amount to about $45.00,
making a total of $118.50 for one bale of long staple cotton
and seed. It would be a good idea if the farmers plant a
portion of their farms with the good varieties of long staple
cotton. There are factories in South Carolina that use no
other cotton but the long staple, and whenever South Caro¬
lina farmers cannot supply the demands, it is ordered from
other places.
Cotton coming in from foreign markets is very likely to
bring pests into the state that would be very injurious to
our cotton crops, such as boll weevil and diseases, that have
been kept out of the state thus far.
The names of the different varieties of corn were: Dr.
Simms, Marlboro prolific, Strawberry, Hudson, Aldrich per¬
fection, Sanders Improved, Jerry Moore, and Charlie Sand¬
ers. The number of bushels made per acre by each were
as follows:
Dr. Simms, 45 bushels.
Marlborough Prolific, 431/2 bushels.
Strawberry, 49 bushels.
Hudson, 49 bushels.
Aldrich Perfection, 40bushels.
62
LIFE AND SPEECHES OF
Sanders Improved, 491/2 bushels.
Charlie Sanders, 38V2 bushels.
Jerry Moore, 70 bushels.
The Hudson variety is not a good seed for this section of
the state, the weevils were in abundance on this plot. It is
an early field variety, having matured nearly two weeks
earlier than the other varieties. The Jerry Moore variety
proved to be much heavier than the other, while Dr. Simms'
was more prolific.
Charlie Sanders variety has a great deal of nutrition, it
will not decay or rot as easy as the other varieties, and the
corn weevils do not affect it as much. The experiment sta¬
tion will be planted in the same plot this year with refer¬
ence to the use of fertilizer.
WHAT CROPS AND HOW MUCH SHOULD
THE SOUTHERN FARMERS PLANT
It has been a puzzle to my mind for a number of years
as to why the small farmers of the South do not meet with
a larger degree of success. One of the reasons for their
slow success is, they do not produce enough food for their
families and cattle. They ought to produce enough food,
not only for their own consumption, but to supply the non-
producing citizens of the state.
BARN WITH MODERN CONVENIENCES AND SHELTER
Millions of dollars worth of food are shipped in here
every year from outside states. For the above reason I
shall attempt to map out a program as to what the Southern
farmers should plant. Not more than one-fourth of the
Southern farmers' crop should be planted in cotton; one-
half in grain, such as corn, peas, oats and wheat; one-fourth
in sugar cane, german millet, potatoes and peanuts, and
what other food crop is convenient and adapted to your
soil. This will enable them to raise more cattle and hogs
64
LIFE AND SPEECHES OF
for the supply of the local and foreign markets. I am try¬
ing to make the farmers see that they cannot make any
progress as long as they allow their planting system to
compel them to buy food of any kind. Cotton is all right,
but when you have to use it to buy food, it will become
expensive.
The food raiser will always charge you more for his food
than you can get for your cotton. Don't let the fleecy locks
lure you away from reason and enslave you any longer.
Only raise it for the exchange of something that you cannot
raise. And in this way it will pay, otherwise it will not.
NEGRO FARMERS MAKE PROGRESS
Prizes for The Colored Demonstrators of Sumter County.
A good many farmers and boys who were members of the
Gorn Club, demonstrated from one to five acres of cotton
and corn for prizes offered by the good citizens of Sumter
county, through the demonstration agent, and Richard
Roach, president of Sumter County Farmers' Union. The
boys winning prizes were as follows:
As to quantity, Henry Irvin Capers, Dalzell, S. C., 70V2
bushels on one acre, first prize; Ben Edward, Dalzell, S. C.,
65 bushels on one acre, second prize; Willie Robinson, Ho¬
ratio, S. C., 63 bushels on one acre, third prize.
As to quality of seed corn: B. F. White, Sumter, R. F. D.
No. 4, first prize; W. E. Martin, Dalzell, S. C., second prize;
Edmund Holmes, Sumter, R. F. D. No. 4, third prize.
As to expense account: Wm. Floyde, Dalzell, S. C., first
prize; McCaw Colclough, Stateburg, S. C., second prize;
Carlyle Wilson, Mayesville, S. C., third prize.
The Girls' Tomato Club: Miss Mary Holmes, Sumter,
R. F. D. No. 4, first prize. She sold fifteen bushels and
canned fifty quarts from one-half of an acre.
Miss Carrie Richardson, Stateburg, S. C., second prize;
Miss Essie Robinson, Horatio, S. C., third prize.
The Farmers' Corn Club, as to quantity: D. W. Williams,
Sumter, R. F. D. No. 4, seventy-one bushels on one acre,
first prize; Herbert Shannon, Catchall, S. C., 631/2 bushels
on one acre, second prize; Hayes Kershaw, Horatio, S. C.,
■57Y2 bushels on one acre, third prize.
As to quality: Wheeler Dinkins, Horatio, S. C., first
prize; Rev. Zuell Holmes, Sumter, R. F. D. No. 4, second
prize.
As to expense: S. Watts, Dalzell, first prize; Webster
Bennet, Sumter, S. C., second prize; B. Robinson, Horatio,
S. C., third prize.
Five acre cotton contest: Mike Osborn, Hagood, 15,000
pounds on five acres, first prize; B. Robinson, Horatio, S. C.,
12,000 pounds on five acres, second prize; R. Roach, Catch¬
all, S. C., 8,505 pounds on five acres, third prize.
One acre cotton contest: Edgar Dinkins, Hagood, S. C.,
66
LIFE AND SPEECHES OF
3,000 pounds seed cotton to the acre, first prize ; J. Ken-
drick, Clearmont, S. C., 2,817 pounds of seed cotton to the
acre, second prize; Robert Richardson, Wedgefield, 2,800
pounds of seed cotton to the acre, third prize.
The quality of the corn was judged by Mr. Herbert Hayns-
worth, County Superintendent of Education, and Mr. G. A.
Nettles, a prominent farmer of Privateer, in the office of
the superintendent.
Every effort is being made to improve the farmers of
Sumter County. A big contest will begin this year among
the farmers of this county.
We especially thank the Ashpoo Fertilizer Company for
their donation of one ton of 8-3-3 fertilizer. All such en¬
couragements coming from the citizens of our state will
ever be remembered by the farmers of Sumter county, who
have made a steady progress since the Government has sent
out instructors.
Among my many demonstrators and co-operators I shall
make special mention of Thos. Capers, of Horatio, who is
about the eldest of them all, and yet because of his knowl¬
edge about gardening. Mr. Ira W. Williams offered him a
position to do garden work if he would agree to leave home,
but the old man refused to leave his family with whom he
had lived for more than forty years. He raises cabbage
plants for the market, and made more cotton and corn last
year than ever before.
Jennings Kendrick, Clearmont, who won second prize on
his demonstration acre of cotton, only used the hoe once to
block the cotton out, the rest of the work was completed
with harrows and plows.
Harkless Gaines, Horatio, made two hundred and fifty
(250) bushels of corn, and sixteen (16) bales of cotton,
assisted by his wife, grand-child and one mule.
Many of my farmers insist on planting at a certain time
of the moon, and I have been asked many times while lect¬
uring, "What time of the moon is best to plant ?" My reply
is always that I never instruct farmers to plant in the moon,
but prepare well the soil upon the earth and plant any day
during the planting season except Sunday. The last talk I
had concerning the moon and planting was with a member
RANSOM W. WESTBERRY
67
of the tomato club. She said she had had quite an experi¬
ence as to the time of planting them. I inquired as to the
best time of planting, and the scientific reason. She said
"it was best to plant from three days before the moon
fulled to three days after she fulled. These six days of her
service constitutes her greatest strength and at this period
the earth has greater germinating power. The moon does
more than shine, it influences vegetation life as well as the
tide of the sea." Then I said, if the ground is not well pre¬
pared and the cultivation is not judicial, the crop will never
make its best yield.
The Government agent, and the officers of the Farmers'
Union give many thanks to those who have contributed to
the prize fund. We are hoping for a successful year among
our demonstrators.
R. W. WESTBERRY,
U. S. Government Agent, Sumter, S. C.
AGRICULTURE. THE MOST IMPORT¬
ANT SUBJECT OF TODAY
This Address was prepared by special request and delivered
during the Race Conference, which was held in
Columbia, S. C., February, 1916.
The first mention of agriculture is found in the writings
of Moses; from them we learn that Cain was a tiller of the
ground, and that Abel sacrificed the firstlings of his flock;
and that Noah began to be a husbandman by planting a
vineyard.
Seaching the records we find that all races and conditions
of men from their time to this present day have given their
strictest attention to agriculture.
In many countries the process of human economic and
social development has been from the savage state of hunt¬
ing and fishing, from these to the pastoral state, from it
again to agriculture and thence finally to commerce and
manufacture; though even in the most advanced countries
every one of the stages mentioned excepting only the first
and in part the second still flourish.
The tillage of the soil has existed from a remote period of
antiquity. In all countries and ages history records no in¬
stance of any civilization attained without noteworthy prog¬
ress in agriculture.
It appears that in very remote antiquity an excellent
system of agriculture was carried on in the Valley of the
Nile and the Euphrates. So sensible were the Egyptians
of this blessing that they ascribed the invention to super¬
human agency, and even carried their gratitude to such an
excess as to worship the ox for his service as a laborer.
The Carthagenians carried the art to a higher degree
than other nations, their contemporaries.
The same agricultural perfection attended by much the
same exceptional conditions of a population which distin¬
guished the oldest civilizations of the world is still charac¬
teristic of such oriental countries as retain their national
vitality, especially India, China, and Japan.
In the middle ages agriculture was not properly carried
on throughout Europe and consequently civilization was
RANSOM W. WESTBERRY
69
generally at low ebb. Without exception all of the European
nations that enjoy eminence today have carefully developed
agricultural systems.
The wealth of France lies not in her luxurious capital,
but in her well-cared for acres.
Holland and Belgium, the richest regions of Europe in
proportion to their area, owe their pre-eminence to elaborate
cultivation of the soil. Now coming across the waters to
the American Continent, we find her banner floating high
on the pole of civilization owing to the unsurpassed agri¬
cultural system.
From the details of primitive agricultural methods given
in ancient writings and represented in monumental inscrip¬
tions, it is evident that not until the nineteenth century
had anything very material been done toward creation of a
distinctive agricultural science. Now a division is made
into theoretical and practical agriculture. The composition
of the soil, manues, etc., require for its determination agri¬
cultural chemistry. The weather can not be properly un¬
derstood without meteorology. The plants cultivated, the
weeds requiring elimination, the fungous growths which
often do extensive and mysterious damage, fall under the
head of botany.
The domestic animals and wild animals, birds and insects
which prey on the produce of the field are under zoology.
The complex machine and even the simplest implements
are constructed upon principles revealed by natural phil¬
osophy. Farm buildings can not be constructed without a
knowledge of architecture. Finally finding it necessary for
trained men to successfully carry on agricultural science,
agricultural colleges were established under Government
control to successfully teach scientific farming.
In 1862 the U. S. passed a land grant act, the object of
which was to provide a special fund for the creation and
maintenance of state agricultural colleges, where experi¬
mental stations are found from which helpful literature is
distributed in all districts.
The Bureau of Agriculture, established by Congress in
1887, sends throughout the U. S. by daily, monthly and an¬
nual reports, the latest and most valuable agricultural in-
70
LIFE AND SPEECHES OF
formation and introduces and distributes new seeds and
plants.
So great has been the progress of agriculture owing to
results accomplished by various organizations, that not¬
withstanding the enormous expansion of industries, agri¬
culture is still the greatest of the occupations of man. In
the U. S. about two-fifths of the population are engaged in
farming, which is probably due to the many named reasons
arid also to the many labor-saving devices which have been
invented.- The U. S. leads the world in the invention and
use of improved appliances for the tillage of the soil, and
it is estimated that the mowing-machines and reaping-
machines now save annually the labor of two million men
at harvest time.
Agricultural machinery has given us the steam plow,
Sulky plow, harrow, grain drill, reaper and binder, hay
tedder and loader, the threshing machine, potato digger and
many others too numerous to mention.
The growth of agriculture and the evolution of enlight¬
ened governmental administrations have uniformly gone
hand in hand.
The greatest distinguishing characteristic of the dark
ages in Europe was the oppression of the rural population.
The lifting of burdens resting on the agricultural class
has in all countries, marked the beginning of the era of en¬
larged civil liberty and of intelligence. The marvelous prog¬
ress of the U. S. is, above all, the results of the rapid culti¬
vation of lands by her citizens. Our great U. S. has left
no stone unturned in encouraging her citizens to stick to
agriculture.
The North, South, East, and the great West, with its
arid regions which have been made possible for agriculture
by the unequaled irrigation system, are all open to us.
Uncle Sam has made it possible by the Rural Free Delivery
and Parcel Post for all farmers to read their daily papers
and trade with city merchants at a very small cost.
The day has passed to look down upon agricultural opera¬
tions as the poorest means of support; with the rotary sys¬
tem of crops no man need be a failure.
Right in our own state, Jonas Thomas, of Bennettsville,
RANSOM W. WESTBERRY
71
South Carolina, sells his bales by the hundred and runs
sixty-eight plows, and there are many other men of the
race who own their acres by the hundreds and sell their
bales by the hundred.
Uncle Sam stands with outstretched hands, calling to all
citizens to join heart and hand in this great fight for agri¬
culture. Have we not resources rich in wealth; can we not
feed and clothe ourselves at home? Our exports far ex¬
ceed our imports.
We have the cotton fields of the South yielding its mil¬
lions of bales of cotton.
See the fertile Mississippi Valley with its wheat, barley,
oats and corn. Glance o'er the rich Western Plains and see
the great wheat fields and in California, the vast acreage in
delicious fruits. Within our walls we have bread enough
and to spare.
The total number of farms operated by negroes in the
U. S., according to the last census, was 893,370, an increase
of 19.6% in ten years. Total value of farm property $1,141,-
792,526, an increase of 128.4%. Total value of land $756.-
158,264, an increase of 133.2%. The South alone operates
880,836, or 98.6%. The total number operated in South
Carolina were 96,772, total number of acres 3,939,592, im¬
proved, 2,597,497 acres; woodland 1,196,175 acres; others
unimproved 245,920 acres. The total value of the farm
lands, building implements and machinery was $102,333,-
604; land and buildings, $98,966,444; land alone, $84,018,-
490; buildings, $14,947,954; implements and machinery, $3,-
367,160.
The total number of farms operated by negroes according
to the last census in the State of Tennessee was 38,300;
number of acres, 1,605,694; improved, 1,161,985; woodland,
338,863; others unimproved, 104,846. Total value of farm
lands, buildings, implements and machinery, $44,004,147.
Land and buildings, $42,183,226; land, $35,237,523; build¬
ings, $6,948,705; implements, $1,820,921.
The expression, "Truth Crushed to Earth will rise again"
is a very fit application of a farmer's duty to his country.
Though he has been crushed and discouraged for many
years. Today he has pressed his way to the summit of
72
LIFE AND SPEECHES OF
human endeavor and so important a part does he play in
the affairs of the world, that if he should step out of the
field six months, the people of the world would loose their
energy, forget their activity, and starve to death.
. Proud America, Arise! Let the world see what thou
canst do! From Florida's Everglades to Maine's tall pine
tree shades. From Gulf to Lakes art thou awake?
Proud America, Arise! See the light on the western
skies. From sea to sea thou shall always be a great agri¬
cultural land.
THE FARMER'S OPPORTUNITY
Address before the Colored Business League of South
Carolina, July 4, 1912.
Mr. President, Ladies and Fellow Farmers:
This opportunity which I now have to meet the farmers
from all parts of the state is to me a great deal of pleasure.
The farmers have a great opportunity for permanent
progress. No class of people does the world depend on as
much as that of the farmers. Much responsibility rests
BEAUTIFUL AND MODERN FARM HOME OF MR. AND MRS.
T. B. WRIGHT, OF HAGOOD, S. C.
upon their shoulders. They feed and clothe the world.
There are many things a farmer must do to make the best
success on the farm. The one thing that stands head and
shoulders above them all is love for work. To see a man
plowing in the field and his wife carrying him a drink of
cool water and the crops growing with a fresh and green
color with all the surroundings of nature and art; form a
noble picture of civilization. It was God's first commission
74
LIFE AND SPEECHES OF
to man, and his commission has never been discharged. He
represents every element of human sustenance and prog¬
ress. I shall ever be thankful that I learned to work on the
farm. There are no short-cuts to riches, but there is a steady
and substantial growth to wealth if you only know how to
farm and then do what you know. We have the earth for
our dwelling place, the blue sky for our canopy, the sun,
moon and stars for our candles, the woods and flowers for
our companions; the birds and breezes for our music, and
the beasts for our helpers as we toil we can sing, and as we
eat we give thanks to God; as we sleep we rest from our
labor and when the Sabbath day comes we can go to the
house of worship and then we enjoy the old-time religion
and it is good enough for anybody.
Agriculture is an absolute and fundamental necessity.
Every thing in commerce and manufacture, in peace, and
in war, in progress and prosperity, depends upon the farm
and the farmer. No man has yet discovered the art of
manufacturing food and clothing except from the elements
of nature. Let the famine and the drought come upon the
farmer and all other industries will perish. If the farmer
fails, the mighty steamers that plow the briny deep and
bring the old world to the new and links the new world to
the old world, would have to anchor in some harbor and the
captain disband his crew.
The great engines that carry food and supplies to feed
the nations of the world, would have to stop and not a wheel
could turn. The great factories with their thousands of
wheels and big engines that belch forth might and power
would cease, their noise and their mighty plants would be
still, and the people would inquire as to where is our Jos¬
eph. He was the greatest farmer the world has ever seen
before or since his day, for he made and stored away in
store houses and bins enough grain to last the world seven
years. No man before or since has fed so many people
from the farm during a famine. I have seen some farmers
who were unable to feed their families from their own barn
seven weeks after harvest, with forty years experience on
the farm. Joseph made enough on Pharaoh's farms in
seven years to feed the Egyptians fourteen years and the
RANSOM W. WESTBERRY
75
world seven years. Let the wisdom of Joseph be the wis¬
dom of our farmers and we will clothe and feed the world
with ease. Paralyze the hand of the farmer and you par¬
alyze the world. If there is a human being under heaven
whose interest should be protected, supported and honored
at the hands of our great Government, it is the farmer.
The trouble has been that most people look upon farm¬
ing as a sort of common drudge. I once had occasion to
ask a man what business he followed, and he replied with
apparent sincerity, "I have no business, have never had any,
I am a farmer."
Now, that man's opinion, like a great many people's opin¬
ion, sadly needs revising. For I assert and the facts will
compel you to agree with me, that the most important busi¬
ness of man is that of farming. Compare the business of
farming with the best business of the world, and put it
just a little ahead and you will put farming in its rightful
place.
ADVICE TO NEGRO FARMERS
Delivered Before Farmers' Union of Anderson County,
April, 1914.
Friends and Fellow Farmers:
It is to me a great deal of pleasure to speak to you con¬
cerning the better methods of farming. No greater com¬
mission could have been given to me by Mr. Bradford Knapp,
who is special agent in charge of the Farmers' Co-operative
Demonstration work of the United States Department of
Agriculture, than the privilege I now enjoy.
The farming industry was among the last to be helped by
our great Government. It might have been for the want of
a man to champion the cause. The man was found in the
person of the late Dr. Seaman A. Knapp, who, through dem¬
onstration agents to large extent, has changed the old
methods of farming to a new and more successful system.
This work is being carried on now by his son Mr. Brad¬
ford Knapp, who is fully able to do the work and we believe
will carry it on to success. Two years ago last March,
through Mr. Ira W. Williams, State Agent for the Depart¬
ment of Agriculture, I was appointed to carry on demon¬
stration work among the colored farmers of Sumter, Ker¬
shaw and Richland counties. Since the close of 1910 I have
been relieved of two counties. Now I am only working
Sumter county. Wherever I have carried the work, farm¬
ing has been improved. Many of my demonstrators have
doubled the yield of corn and increased the yield of cotton
forty per cent with about the same amount of fertilizer.
New ditches have been dug and the old ones re-opened.
The robbing of land is being pushed to the rear and becom¬
ing past history; the old common plow stocks are being re¬
placed by new and better ones, and assisted by harrows and
weeders, horses are being replaced by good mules and more
of them.
Deep plowing is taking the place of shallow; eight and
twelve inches deep instead of four and six inches.
They are buying two-horse plows, disk harrows and
smoothing harrows. Seed patches are being planted and
better planting seed being selected every year. They are
RANSOM W. WESTBERRY
77
more careful in giving the rows proper distance according
to the grade of land.
Shallow and intensive cultivation is practiced during the
growing period of the crops and a systematic rotation of
crops are being made every year. Build up your land by
the use of leguminous crops, such as cow peas, soy beans,
velvet beans, peanuts, clover, etc. Put humus in the soil and
it will prevent stiff land from compacting and hold the mois¬
ture in light lands.
Raise all the food that is used on the farm. It not only
becomes cheaper than buying it from another man's crib,
but it is much more convenient and saves much time. The
time lost buying food that you can raise makes it more ex¬
pensive than you imagine. Keep an account of all you raise
on the farm. It is of great importance to the farmer to
keep an account of all his expense and to know about the
net gain of all that he plants. The art of mixing fertilizers
should be known to every farmer. It saves the farmer
from twenty to forty per cent. Money saved is money
earned. The prices of mixed fertilizers are from $25.00 to
$30.00 per ton, while the unmixed, such as acid phosphate,
cotton seed meal, and potash or kainit the prices are from
$18.00 to $20.00 per ton.
One of the secrets of success is, to save all that you can
of what you have and spend only that which is necessary
for the desired purpose. The farmers have more time to
mix their own fertilizers than they have money to pay the
merchants or manufacturers. Why the farmers do not
practice mixing their own fertilizers? Among some of the
reasons given: First, because the mixed fertilizer is better
and produces better crops; second, because the plant food in
the prepared fertilizer is different from the plant food in the
unprepared fertilizers; third, they do not know how to mix.
First, the mixed fertilizers were once un-mixed and when
the farmer mixes the unmixed, it becomes the same value
of the mixed at much less cost. Second, plant food is
plant food no -matter where it is found, for instance, phos¬
phoric acid is phosphoric acid no matter where it is found,
whether it is found in the phosphate beds of South Caro¬
lina, the mines of Tennessee, or elsewhere. Since it is avail-
78
LIFE AND SPEECHES OF
able plant food, it fills its station in the plant. Second, when
the plant food is mixed properly by the farmer, it is equally
the same as the already mixed fertilizer. Fertilizers being
mixed at the factory doss not give them any particular
value. The greatest value in home mixed fertilizers is to
have a formula suited to the grade of land to which it is
to be applied. Third, in mixing fertilizers, only the plant
food that each sack contains are to be considered. The
filling is not to be considered. For an instance; in a sack
of sixteen per cent, acid phosphate there are only thirty-
two pounds of plant food and in a sack of cotton seed meal
seven pounds of ammonia, phosphoric acid, one and one-half
pounds, potash one pound. In one sack of kainit twenty-
five pounds of potash. In one sack of potash, there is fifty-
per cent, potash or one hundred pounds.
The standard of mixture is 2000 pounds, or one ton.
To make an 8-3-4 formula, mix 925 pounds acid phos¬
phate, 850 pounds cotton seed meal, 143 pounds potash.
Divide the plant food of each mixture by twenty and the
result will be the formula. Every farmer should mix his
own fertilizers to suit his different grades of land and to
suit the different crops. For an instance; lands that rust
or cause the plant to sed its fruit should have more potash
than that of the general farm, and potatoes should have
more potash than that of the general crops.
Corn needs a little more potash than cotton.
Farmers as a rule are not able to pay for as many differ¬
ent formulas already mixed as they need on the farms.
Exchange your cotton seed for cotton seed meal. In this
way your ammoniated fertilizer can be bought much
cheaper, except your nitrate of soda which you may buy
for top dressing. And your acid, kainit or potash can be
bought cheap and when these are mixed into formulas,
they will be a great deal cheaper and just as good as fac¬
tory formulas. Commercial fertilizers play a good part in
the making of the crops, but it cannot take the place of
other agents. Every agent must do its own duty in making
the crops if the farmer hopes for the greatest success; for
instance; fertilizers do not prepare the soil for the plant;
neither select seeds for planting; neither plant legumes,
RANSOM W. WESTBERRY
79
such as cow peas, velvet beans, soy beans, peanuts, etc., in
the spring; nor winter cover crops in the fall; nor drain the
low lands with ditches. Fertilizers will carry its work as
far as the other advantages or disadvantages will allow it.
It does not buy proper farming implements; neither does it
properly cultivate the crops. No agent can take the place
of another. Thorough preparation and intensive cultiva¬
tion with proper amount of plant food will bring success.
The things I have just mentioned should be practiced. All
waste lands should be planted in the spring with legumes of
some kind to build up the land for the next crop and good
seeds should be carefully selected in the fields before the
general crop is gathered. Buy profitable farming imple¬
ments and stronger stocks and raise the standard of farm¬
ing if possible to the admiration and love of all men, for
from its field all men are fed. Take advantage now of this
wonderful opportunity and get all you can from the out¬
stretched hands of the United States Government.
All governments like their thrifty and industrious sub¬
jects, especially those who feed the country and give life
to the people.
This Farmers' Union is the right step towards securing
help for yourselves. No man can help another unless he is
willing to help himself. You meet together every month
and exchange ideas and discuss the best methods of farm¬
ing, you are compelled to grow stronger and learn more
about farming. Let every man try to make more this year
than he did last and let the report of this Farmers' Union
be a great credit to the farmers of the country and state.
Now, I shall turn my attention to the ladies, who have gath¬
ered here in large numbers to receive a few words of en¬
couragement to their tomato clubs. No race of people can
rise above their women. They should be encouraged in their
efforts to teach the girls how to raise tomatoes. Mrs. Dr.
Miller Earl is promoter of these clubs and we fervently hope
that her work will be fruitful. My friends, encourage the
girls to raise tomatoes, and the boys to organize and raise
corn. We hope the next generation will understand the
arts of farming better than we do. For the course in this
science is longer than our season to live. There is some-
80
LIFE AND SPEECHES OF
thing new always coming in view of our knowledge, and
when we meet in our clubs and unions we can always find
some one to tell us something new. I know no other be¬
ing who is more willing to learn new things than the fe¬
males. Learn all the good you can and execute it to better
the condition of the farmers. Let each day pay its own
expense and have something left. May God bless you all
and bless your homes from the fields of labor with fruits in
abundance.
THE FIRST MAN TO SEE
Delivered to the Farmers' Union in the Sumter County
Court House, February, 1912.
Ladies, Gentlemen, and Fellow Farmers:
We have gathered here from all parts of this county to
hear words of encouragement from the men of our race, but
my short talk will be strictly to the farmers, their wives,
and children. You are the back-bone of the nation; if you
fail, every machine in the land must stop, not a wheel can
turn.
Your prosperity has made every business under the sun
and now you must arrange to keep them going. The negro
has played his part well in feeding and clothing the people
of the world.
The Department of Agriculture has in the City of Wash¬
ington one hundred and sixty-four colored employees with
an aggregate compensation of $89,816.95. Outside of Wash¬
ington the Department has 102 colored employees with a
total compensation of $53,217.50. This is a total of 266 em¬
ployees in the Department of Agriculture with a total com¬
pensation of $143,034.45 annually.
There are now thirty-eight regular agents employed in
connection with this work who are paid salaries ranging
from $25.00 to $100.00 per month. These agents are car¬
rying on regular farm demonstration work with farmers in
the communities where they are employed, conducting dem¬
onstrations in the raising of cotton, corn and other crops,
and generally fostering and encouraging better farming
and better living on the part of the negro.
Sumter County is playing her part along the progressive
farming line. In the last three years the farmers in Sum¬
ter County, under my instruction, have bought 1,013 acres
of farm lands; have built several houses, some have painted
their houses and some have white washed their's, while
others are waiting for a chance to do likewise.
Last year these same farmers sold over 2,000 bushels of
corn, 400 bushels of peas, ten tons of hay and fodder. Pre¬
vious to the Government work in this county the most of
these same farmers bought corn and forage every spring to
82
LIFE AND SPEECHES OF
carry them until the next crop was made.
The yield per acre has increased from twenty-five to 100
per cent. Where they have been making one bale to the
acre, they are now making a bale and a quarter and two
bales to the acre.
Corn has been increased about 100 per cent where they
have been making about twenty to twenty-five bushels they
are now making from forty to fifty bushels.
Hog raising is now gaining its proper place among the
farmers. Several hundred more hogs are raised as a re¬
sult of the increased grain crop.
Better cows are being bought and more chickens are be¬
ing raised by the women and children. Many farmers'
wives are making so much pin money from their chickens
and eggs that they often loan money to their husbands and
they keep making it, as their husbands never pay them
back.
This work is practically an extension of the Government.
The Government has colored agents in the following
states teaching the farmers the latest methods of farming:
Oklahoma: I. J. Russell, Council.
Mississippi: 2, A. W. Beck, Mound Bayou; and M. A.
Jones, Indianola.
Alabama: 8, T. M. Campbell, Tuskegee Institute; W. A.
Tatae, Tuskegee Institute; J. B. McPherson, Wedowee; C.
D. Menafee, Opelika; T. J. Murray, Fort Davis; G. W. Pat¬
terson, Huntsville; Harry Simms, Snow Hill; Clifford Dove,
Tuskegee Institute.
Florida: C. F. Robinson, Tallahassee.
Georgia: 2, J. A. Booker, Fort Valley; P. D. Johnson,
Covington.
Arkansas: 1, Ralph Ames, Meto.
South Carolina: 7, James A. Bates, Orangeburg; Dr. J.
H. Goodwin, Weston; J. E. Blanton, Frogmore; H. S. Mur¬
phy, Camden; E. D. Jinkins, Denmark; R. W. Westberry,
Sumter; C. W. Jones, Greenville.
North Carolina: 2, N. A. Baily, Greensboro; C. S.
Mitchell, Parmelee.
Virginia: 11, Mattie Holmes, Phoebus; J. W. Lancaster,
Farmville; R. D. Lemon, Sassafras; G. E. Oliver, Crewe; A.
RANSOM W. WESTBERRY
83
W. Pegram, Ca;rson; J. B. Pierce, Wellville; C; C. Hv Thomp¬
son, Blackstone; R. E. F. Washington, Roxbury; J. F. Wil¬
son, Keysville; R. L. Wynn, Wellville; W. G. Young, Upper
Z'ion. " We" report these names to show you what encourage¬
ment is being given the colored farmers in the South.
IMPORTANCE OF MAKING AND
SAVING FOOD
An Address Delivered at Enon Cross Roads Baptist Church,
February 10, 1918.
Gentlemen and Ladies:
Our country is at war with a foreign nation and we, as
citizens, must do our part. There are several ways in which
we can help to win this war: We can help by raising food
and by saving food in the kitchen; not hoarding, but saving,
as well as crossing the waters and fighting in the trenches.
In the spring of 1917 when war was declared against
Germany, the Imperial Government of Europe, this coun¬
try was wholly unprepared to meet the emergencies of war;
not enough food, no ammunition to begin war, and the
Southland was in a worse condition than any other part of
the country; it had but a very little food, not enough to
last us six weeks. Conferences were held in cities, towns,
churches, lodge-rooms, Chambers of Commerce, court
houses, on the streets and on the public thoroughfare; dis¬
cussing the situation and striving to find a solution to re¬
lieve a threatening famine.
Instructors were sent out to warn and instruct the people
upon the farm to plant more foodstuffs, and the people in
the cities and towns were urged to use more economy in
food saving and to plant gardens. Public-spirited men and
women volunteered to do their bit. The people everywhere
with a very few exceptions, obeyed the counsel of the pub¬
lic-spirited men and women, and the result is that the
South has more foodstuff than it has ever had; now we are
better prepared to have our men meet the country's foe in
the trenches, and to win for this world—Democracy. The
farmers made more cotton by intensive cotton farming and
far more grain because it needs less than cotton to produce
it. Despite the high cost of living, the Southern system of
farming last year has more than doubled the net income.
As president of the State Negro Farmers' Conference, let
me appeal to you with all the persuasive power I can com¬
mand not to plant as much cotton as you did last year, but
plant more grain, sugar-cane, sweet potatoes, white pota-
RANSOM W. WESTBERRY
85
toes, molasses-cane, and a better garden. To win this war
for Democracy we must learn how, and this school must
start on the first line of the trenches. To know how to
make food and conserve it is the first start in warfare.
I hope to general this food campaign in such a way among
the colored farmers of this state that the President of the
United States will not be ashamed of us, nor afraid of the
German army when he reads of the thousands of tons of
foodstuff that we will produce in South Carolina to send to
the Allies as greetings from the first line of the trenches.
My friends, this is the time when color has but little to
do with efficiency; this is the time when all nations and in¬
dividuals are judged by their worth. The nations who are
rich and prosperous are called upon to supply the nations
whose resources have been depleted by the war. . Those who
are at war are put to a supreme test, and the nations who
have boasted of their superiority and power are now put
to test.
The race that is asking for equal rights and privileges
has a chance now to prove their willingness, their individual
boast of manhood and to rise to the summit of their am¬
bition.
The farmers should not only plant more grain and food¬
stuffs, but should raise every breed of cattle and hogs avail¬
able, that the country and the allies might be supplied with
all the meats and fats necessary to live and carry on the
war.
I hope such a correct record will be kept of our doings on
the first line of the trenches as will be kept in the battle
trenches, so that when the war ends, which it is compelled
to do some day, and history shall speak of the doings of the
different races, nations and sections of the countries of the
world, we want history to tell that South Carolina rolled up
her full measure from the first line of the trenches with
corn, peas, potatoes, flour, molasses, sugar, rice, cotton bales
for making clothes and gun-cotton.
The leading thought that people should be educated to, is
the commandment of God that says, "Six days shalt thou
labor and do all thy work, but the seventh day is the Sab¬
bath of the Lord thy God, in it thou shalt do no work."
86
LIFE AND SPEECHES OF
The seventh day is the only day set apart for rest and spe¬
cial worshipping of our Creator. It is as much sin to idle
either one or all of the six days which we are commanded to
work as it is to labor on the glorious day, which is Sunday.
... The people should be informed by the leading men of our
race who are best informed and prepared to teach them.
In a crisis like this that is facing our country now, no
teacher should inject in his teaching any political aspects
that would in the least divide the country against itself.
There should be one common slogan, "Our Country first
that Democracy may grow supreme."
Every negro newspaper should help to mold the senti¬
ment for more food raising and more food saving. One of
the worst sins that we can commit is to hoard food while
others are suffering from famine. We should redouble our
actions in raising food. The world is expecting us to so do;
and in the future no man will be judged by what he said,
but by what he was able to do and did.
PREPARATION OF THE SOIL FOR
PLANTING
Delivered at Mayesville Institute, January, 1913.
If the farmer expects a good harvest from the corn
planted he must prepare well his seed-bed long before the
seed is planted. The land should be thoroughly broken up
from four to eight inches deep in clay soil, and from six to
twelve inches in dark sandy loam soil, then harrowed with
the two-horse disc harrow and with a smoothing or tooth-
harrow and when the tooth harrow cannot be obtained, a
medium-sized log-roller should be used to roll over the land
and make it perfectly smooth. This will conserve or hold
the moisture for the crop during the winter months, and in
the planting season there will be enough moisture in the
land to grow the crops off without much delay. There should
be a great deal of humus in the soil, such as grass, corn
stalks and broadcast lot and stable manures. This will de¬
cay in time to be used up by the new crop. Every time a
beating rain comes the plowed land should be harrowed
over to prevent the escape of the moisture, and if there is
a great deal of humus in the soil it will help to hold the
moisture also for the crops. If the soil is well broken the
feed roots can travel faster and at a greater distance and
get a larger quantity of food for the growing plant. A stiff
and unbroken soil prevents the feed roots from traveling
very far from the plant, therefore it can get but a little food
to make the yield what it should be.
If the seed-bed is well pulverized before planting it makes
it easier to cultivate during the growing period.
1. If the seed-bed is well pulverized before planting the
plant grows off better.
2. It is easier to cultivate.
3. It is easier on the stock and driver.
4. The crop grows faster.
5. It matures earlier.
If a farmer starts right he will end with success.
HOW THE CROP SHOULD BE
CULTIVATED
The growth and development of crops depends largely
upon how they are cultivated. The culture of crops should
start as soon as it gets out of the ground with such imple¬
ments as will destroy the weeds and grass and not injure
the crops. No farmer should wait until the weeds and
grass can be seen in his crop at a distance before using a
small harrow or plow to destroy them. The least growth
that weeds and grass make in the crop hinders in the same
proportion the growth of the crop. No soil should be al¬
lowed to cake or harden on the land of growing crops.
After each rain during the growing season the crust of
the land should be broken, the breaking of the crust forms
a mulch that holds the moisture to the top of the soil for
the use of the rootlets of the growing plant. While the
crop is young it may be cultivated very deep, but the larger
it gets the more shallow it should be cultivated. The larger
the crop the more rootlets it has and if plowed deep it will
cut off the feed roots. But if plowed deep when the crop is
young the feed roots will feed deeper in the soil. No crop
should be plowed after a heavy rain, especially when water
can be seen on top of the soil.
1st. Never allow a crust to gather around your crop.
2d. Make a soil mulch and the roots will always be moist.
THE MAKING OF PASTURES
A pasture is one of the convenient assets of the farmer.
All farmers that raise cattle of any number should have a
pasture for grazing and exercise for his horses and cattle.
And it should be cut up into at least two or three sections.
While grazing in one section, in the other section the grass
will be growing.
In this way you can have a fresh, green pasture almost
the year round. Bermuda grass is the best to be used for
such purposes. When young pigs or calves are put in a
COWS IN THE PASTURE
pasture they will grow and develop much faster than they
would in a small enclosure or hitched to a post or tree.
Horses are very apt to have the scratches if they stand
too long in their stall or stable, where the least dampness is
found. If the horse gets proper exercise and something
green to eat when not in service it will be healthier and live
longer. Pastures are beneficial, first for exercise; second,
for rapid growth, and third, for healthier stock.
SEED SELECTION
This Address was delivered at Lugoff, S. C., Sept. 1, 1911.
The progressive farmer is always planning and trying
each year to increase his yield per acre. There are many
ways by which the yield may be increased. First, by highly
manuring the crop with humus, stable and barn-yard ma¬
nures and with commercial fertilizers, this impregnates the
soil with a deal of plant food for growth. Second, a plant
can grow in a deeply cultivated soil much better than in
shallow cultivated soil.
There are other ways to develop growth and increase the
yield of the crop, but one of the best ways known to agri¬
cultural science is the selection of seed from the field be¬
fore the general crop is gathered. Seeds that are selected
from the plant in the fall will produce another plant just
like it. I consider it almost a crime to agriculture to see a
well-developed cotton bush, stalk of corn or a well-developed
bush or stalk of anything that the farmer grows, growing
in his field and allow these fine specimens of well-developed
plants to be gathered with the general crop, and when the
season comes for planting you may never select or find the
ear of corn or the cotton seed that you saw growing in the
field just before the harvest.
If the farmer wishes to increase his yield per acre in cot¬
ton he should have an intelligent person to go over the field
and pick the cotton from bushes that have plenty of well-
developed fruit and this should be ginned separate and kept
in a dry place until the planting season.
And in the selection of corn they should go through the
corn field and select from the stalks which have two or more
well-developed ears, and this should be kept from the de¬
struction of rats and mice and other destroyers until the
planting season.
All other plants should be treated the same way, and the
seeds that are planted will produce other seeds just like
them. There should be a special patch planted and culti¬
vated for planting seeds, and this special field of the farm
will certainly increase crops from ten to thirty per cent.
If a farmer plants a grain of corn or cotton seed which
RANSOM W. WESTBERRY
91
have been deteriorated and have been deteriorating for
years, it will take perhaps a number of years to get it back
to the same high yield that it once had. But if he plants a
grain of corn or cotton seed that already has a high yield it
may increase to a higher yield, this will, of course, greatly
depend upon the soil, amount of fertilizers used and culti¬
vation.
In selecting seed observe the following rules: (1) Go into
the field before the crops are gathered and pick from well-
developed cotton bushes with many bolls and much fruit.
(2) Go into the corn field before harvesting the general
crop and break from stalks that have two or more well-
developed ears. (3) Plant a small patch of corn and a small
patch of cotton for planting seed. Manure this more highly
and cultivate it more carefully than the general crop. (4).
And re-select your seed for planting the following season.
HOW TO SELECT SEED CORN
Delivered at Mayesville Agricultural and Industrial
Institute, July, 1916.
The question of selecting seed corn for large yield is one
one of great interest to the farmers of South Carolina.
The old way of selecting seed corn is all right until a bet¬
ter way is known. In order to get the largest yield, the
selection must be made in the field before gathering the
general crop. Select from the healthiest stalks that have
two or more well-developed ears. After making your selec¬
tion from the field, there must be a re-selection, as to size,
shape and soundness. Care should be taken in selecting
ears; the rows of the kernels should run parallel to the full
length of the cobb. The grains should be fully developed.
The ears should be cylindrical in shape that is with both
ends nearly equal in size. Ears of corn cylindrically shaped
make the largest yield of shelled corn. The more the grain
covers the tips and "butts of the cobbs the larger the per¬
centage of yield. The cobbs should be of a medium size.
The rows of the kernels should be very close to each other
with medium wedge shape and a plump tip. If the grain is
sound and well-developed it will sprout and grow with much
rapidity. The same yield the mother stalk produced, each
grain will reproduce, under the same circumstances. It
will yield more, if more favored, and less is less favored.
WHAT FARMING IMPLEMENTS TO BUY
Delivered at Kershaw County Farmers Union, February
12, 1911, Camden, S. C.
No farmer should be satisfied until he has acquired every
modern farming implement that it is possible to use on his
farm, for without the latest and most improved implements
he cannot do his best.
There should be an implement to suit every condition of
the soil and crop, and to suit the size and growth of the
HOME, REV. AND MRS. GUSTAVUS MAYRANT
A splendid home with modern farm implements.
crop; an implement that is used when the crop is very small
may be detrimental to well-grown crops, and an implement
that is used in certain kinds of soft soil many times cannot
be used in hard soil.
Therefore it is plainly seen that in order to give the crop
justice in different kinds of soil and at all stages of growth,
it is highly necessary to have such implements as are fitted
for the purpose.
94
LIFE AND SPEECHES OF
No man would haul stock logs with a run-about buggy,
neither should he side two-leaf corn with two-horse plow.
The implement used should be in accordance with the size
of the crop and the character of the soil. Every farmer
should have the following implements and rolling stock:
One or more single plow stocks, with eagle plow hoes from
eight to thirty-two inches wide, shovel plow hoes from two
to ten inches wide, turn plows from four to eight inches
wide. A two-horse plow of some standard make, a one-
horse harrow, a two-horse disc harrow, corn and cotton
planters, mower, one-horse rake, one-horse wagon with false
body, a two-horse wagon, hoes, rakes, shovels, and any
other implements that may be found convenient for the
planting, cutting and gathering of the crops. First, get
everything you need before buying anything you can do
without. Second, buy and not borrow for it pays to have
your own. Third, a stitch in time saves nine and if you
haven't got the implement to stitch with you may loose
nine.
THE PROPER CARE OF FARM IMPLE¬
MENTS
Delivered at Elloree, S. C., July 4, 1913
One of the most serious charges against the farmer is
the careless way in which they take care of their farming
implements and machinery. An agent of farming imple¬
ments said to me one day that the reaper and binder mach¬
inery is sold for a higher price in South Carolina than in
North Carolina. The reasons were that the farmers in
North Carolina would buy enough thick canvass to cover
their machinery when not in use, while South Carolina
farmers would leave them exposed to all kinds of weather
and this would put them out of commission many times be¬
fore they are paid for. For that reason high prices are
placed upon them.
A farmer should keep a large, thick dust canvass to cover
all machinery too large to be placed under a shed. All tools
and implements should be well greased, oiled and painted
when not in use. The oil and grease prevents the rust from
eating into the steel, and the paint prevents the shrinking,
bulging and decay of the wooden parts of the implements.
The tool-house or shed should be built to keep these imple¬
ments from exposure to the sun and rain and also to keep
them in place. The farmer loses too much time looking up
his tools when he has already bought them at a great cost,
all because he does not take the time to put them where
they can be found when needed.
(1) All implements should be placed under shelter.
(2) They should be oiled, greased and painted.
(3) They should be kept where they can be found. A
well-kept implement many times is better than one newly
bought.
THE HOUSING OF ANIMALS AND
CATTLE
Delivered at Statesburg A. M. E. Church, March, 1914.
At the approach of winter all nature prepares to meet the
cold and wintry blast. The trees shed their leaves and the
sap disappears from the surface and they apparently sleep
until winter is over, then the sap rises to the surface of the
body and dresses the tree in green foilage and flowers to
greet the new spring and summer.
The insects and parasites at the close of summer find
their hiding places in the bark of trees, hollow trees, rotten
logs, grass weeds and any convenient place to hide them¬
selves from the cold winds of winter, to preserve their lives
and then to destroy the crops of spring and summer.
If our horses, mules, and cattle were given free range and
were allowed to find shelter for themselves they would
wander in the deep dry forest, as winter approaches and
find ample protection for the preservation of their lives.
Now if these same animals are made to serve the farmers
and to furnish food for their families they should at least
be given a home of comfort while they live. If a horse or
mule is given a warm, dry stable to rest and sleep he is
better prepared to give service when needed. A wet, cold
stall or stable creates disease and takes away from the ani¬
mal strength and energy, making him unable to render the
service required. A poorly kept stable means a poorly kept
animal; and the farmer will be the loser.
Inferior animals are not always caused by food alone,
but many times it comes from poor care. A small amount
of food with proper shelter will go a long ways loward
keeping an animal fat and in good condition, always ready
to work.
Many farmers in the rural districts do not think it neces¬
sary to keep their cows in warm and dry stalls, this is a
very grave mistake, and they should change their method
of caring for the cow at once.
Physicians have often reported tubercular germs found
in fresh cow's milk. The cows take consumption from ex¬
posure and the germs get into the milk. Many cases of
RANSOM W. WESTBERRY
97
consumption have been caused by drinking impure milk.
There are other diseases which cows contract from expos¬
ure. Therefore it is highly necessary to have dry, clean,
warm stalls for the cows. The care of the cow has a great
deal to do with the quality of the milk; if the cow is well-
treated and fed she will give more and better milk. If the
growing calf is treated in like manner it will grow faster
and will be more valuable for marketing.
Very little care in the way of housing is given to hogs and
pigs. The greatest care given to the pigs is to make a
fence strong and high enough to keep them in, but usually
nothing is placed in the pasture or pen for their comfort,
such as sleeping and resting.
It must be remembered that they are flesh and blood and
subject to many diseases. They should have a dry and
fairly warm house to sleep in during the night and to pro¬
tect them from the heat of the sun, the cold and wintry
rains and winds. If this is done the meat will be purer,
sweeter and free from diseases. Pigs grow faster when
the mother is well cared for.
All other animals should be equally cared for by the farm¬
ers. The farmer should keep this in mind:
First: If his horses and mules are kept in a dry, warm
stable they will give more and better service.
Second: If the cows are sheltered, warm and dry, the
milk cows will give more and healthier milk, and the calves
will grow faster.
Third: If the hogs are given a nice dry place to sleep
and rest in they will grow faster and fatten quicker.
Fourth: All animals put on more flesh when well cared
for.
"He prayeth best who loveth best, all things both great and
small,
For the dear Lord who loveth us, He made and loveth all."
THE VALUE OF FENCING THE FARM
No farm is properly protected unless it is surrounded with
a substantial fence. A fence is one of the economical assets
to the farm. Every acre of land on the farm should be pro¬
tected by a fence. When this is done the hogs and cattle
on the farm cannot stray off the place. Hence they can be
easily found when wanted, and no strange cattle or animals
of any kind can come in and destroy the crops if they hap¬
pen to escape from their neighbors. Many times the young
HOGS IN LOT
animals can be let in the field and will eat grass and weeds
without destroying the crops. And if they do escape from
the lot or other inclosures and destroy some of the crops
they can be easily captured and placed back in their enclos¬
ure without having a chance to damage your neighbor's
crops and what he destroys of your crop will be gotten back
either by service or food. Many times there is great waste
in gathering the crops, and there is a great deal left in the
RANSOM W. WESTBERRY
99
field after harvest. All of this can be picked up by your
own cattle and you get it all back indirectly. If you have
no enclosure then your neighbors' hogs and cattle would
enjoy the same feast that your own have and you get no
returns. Time is valuable to an industrious farmer and the
time that a farmer would take hunting up his stray horses,
mules and cattle from his far-off neighbor's home and chas¬
ing neighbors' cattle away from his home would consume
about four weeks during the year. This amount of energy
and time would go a long ways in helping the farmer to
gather and save his produce for the happiness and susten¬
ance of his family. The specific value of fencing the home
farm: (1) The farmer can act with more freedom in let-
ing his cattle out any time he desires. (2) When he turns
his cattle out he has no fear of them intruding upon his
neighbors' farm. (3) The cattle cannot stray away from
home. (4) They will grow faster when allowed to run out
early and often.
HOW TO MIX COMMERCIAL
FERTILIZERS
This was written by special request from the farmers,
June, 1910. This chapter is designed to save the farmers
much money. In writing this chapter no attempt will be
made to cover the whole field of the various kinds of form¬
ulas suited to all lands and plants, but simply to give the
basic principles. To do anything well, we must first know
how.
Much has been said among the farmers about the use of
fertilizer, and what kind is best to use. Some of them
change their fertilizer every year, with the hope of getting
better results; there is no need of changing, whenever the
right formula is reached. The way to get the right formula
is not by guess or by chance; but with careful study and a
knowledge of how to mix fertilizers, the farmer will event¬
ually get the right formula suited to his land and crop. In
order to know how to mix your fertilizer intelligently, the
farmer should have a knowledge of what plant food to buy.
The plant food elements are called carbon, oxygen, nitrogen,
hydrogen, potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron, phosphorus
and sulphur. If by any chance any of them could not be
obtained the plant could not make normal growth, and in
this sense no one of them is of more importance than an¬
other. Besides these, however, the chemical elements, sili¬
con, chlorine, sodium, manganese and sometimes others do
exist in the plant. Thus we find that plants need fourteen
chemical elements for its food and growth. Only three of
these need to be bought by the farmer and sometimes the
fourth, namely, acid, potash and ammonia and sometimes
lime for sour lands. The earth is abundantly supplied with
the other plant elements. The plants draw heavily upon
acid, potash and ammonia. When the products are taken
off the land these elements are carried with it, and to keep
the farmer's land replenished it is necessary to apply these
required elements every year. Now, since the farmer has
to buy three plant food elements and some plants draw more
largely upon one than the other, the farmer should know
how to mix the three, to bring about an equal balance of
RANSOM W. WESTBERRY
101
growth and fruit. No one formula will suit all lands and all
plants. In mixing fertilizer only the plant food in each
sack of fertilizer is to be considered, for instance: in a sack
of ten per cent acid that means ten pounds of acid or plant
food to the hundred, or twenty pounds to the sack. Thir¬
teen per cent acid means thirteen pounds of acid to the hun¬
dred or twenty-six pounds to the sack of 200 pounds. Six¬
teen per cent acid means sixteen pounds of acid to the hun¬
dred or thirty-two pounds to the sack of 200 pounds. All
the other weight is simply filling and has no value as a plant
food. The ammonia and the potash are to be considered in
the same way. To make an 8-3-3 formula, mix
950 lbs. of 16 per cent. acid.
625 lbs. of 7 per cent cotton seed meal.
425 lbs. of kainit, 121/2 per cent potash.
2000 lbs. total.
and 100 lbs. nitrate of soda as top dressing.
950 lbs. of acid has 152 lbs. of plant food; 625 lbs. of C. S.
meal about 44 lbs. ammonia, 10 lbs. acid and 7 lbs. potash;
425 lbs. kainit has 53 lbs. of potash.
To make an 8-21/2-2 formula, mix
1200 lbs. of 13 per cent acid,
500 lbs. of 7 per cent ammonia, C. S. meal,
300 lbs. of kainit, 121/2 per cent potash,
2000 lbs. total.
and 100 pounds of nitrate of soda for top dressing.
To make an 8-1-1 formula, mix
1600 lbs. of 10 per cent acid,
200 lbs. of 7 percent ammonia, C. S. meal,
200 lbs. of kainit, 121/2 per cent potash,
2000 lbs. total.
and 50 lbs. nitrate of soda for top dressing.
To make an 8-4-4 formula mix
950 lbs. of 16 per cent acid,
900 lbs. of 7 per cent ammonia, C. S. meal,
150 lbs. of 50 per cent muriate of potash,
102
LIFE AND SPEECHES OF
2000 lbs. total.
To make an 8-5-4 formula add 100 lbs. of nitrate of soda
to the 8-4-4 formula.
To make an 8-5-5 formula add 100 lbs. of nitrate of soda
and 40 lbs. of muriate of potash to the 8-4-4 formula.
Nitrate of soda has 18 per cent of nitrate or plant food.
Many farmers re-mix the following complete fertilizers:
8-2-1, 8-3-3, 8-4-4, 8-5-4 and 8-5-5. To mix any other fer¬
tilizer with a complete fertilizer will only increase one of the
plant foods, but will make no other material change; for
instance, if a farmer mixes kainit and acid with 8-3-3 fer¬
tilizer, to every 125 lbs. of acid, the eight per cent, in the
8-3-3 is increased to nine per cent, and instead of having
8-3-3 there will be a 9-3-3. The more acid you put the more
it increases the acid in the 8-3-3. Kainit increases the pot¬
ash in the same way, and cotton seed meal increases the
ammonia as the acid increases the acid. A good many farm¬
ers do not know what plant food there is in a complete fer¬
tilizer. In all complete fertilizers there are acid, ammonia
and potash, for instance, in 8-3-3, the 8 means 8 per cent,
of acid and the 3 means 3 per cent, of ammonia and last 3
means 3 per cent, of potash. When the farmer buys a com¬
plete fertilizer he pays for the mixing, therefore I recom¬
mend to the farmers who have more time than money to
buy acid, ammonia and potash and do their own mixing, and
it will save for them about $5 on the ton. The name of a
fertilizer does not give its value. Acid is acid whether it is
found in the phosphate beds of South Carolina, Florida or
Tennessee mines, or in dissolved boneblack; it is acid just
the same. Ammonia is ammonia whether it is found in
nitrate of soda, cotton seed meal, castor-pomace, dried fish
scrap, tankage> concentrated tankage, dried blood or sul¬
phate of ammonia; either fills the ammoniated places in the
plant.
Potash is potash whether it is found in muriate of pot¬
ash, sulphate of potash, kainit, cotton seed hull ashes, wood
ashes or tobacco stems. Potash from either of these sources
will fill its station in the plant.
R. W. WESTBERRY, ; ;
Local Agent for U. S. Government.
A PROGRAM FOR THE FARMERS
This Program was delivered to many farmers in the rural
districts.
I have often wondered why the farmers as a whole do
not prosper as well as other business men. There might be
several reasons, but the reason that I shall give is the
most important as it furnishes an objective. He has some¬
thing to work to. They never make a working program to
operate their business successfully. In all organizations, in
church and societies at their monthly and annual gather¬
ing, they are usually entertained by the members or in¬
vited guests; such entertainment is carried out by a pre¬
pared program. Everybody is well entertained and the
program is carried out in a reasonable time and the meeting
is a success.
If every member was called upon to entertain the gath¬
ering it would take a much longer time with much less sat¬
isfaction. I have seen the master of ceremonies call on
others to talk after the regular program is ended. A wise
master of ceremonies never puts any one ahead of his pro¬
gram. A farmer should make a yearly program as to what
he should purchase or keep in reserve and should not pur¬
chase anything else until his program is carried out.
If this is done you will meet with great success. The fol¬
lowing may be regarded as the fundamentals for the South¬
ern farmers: Buy two or more good mules; three or more
plow stocks; two or more wagons (a one-horse and a two-
horse wagon) ; two or more harrows (a disc and a tooth) ;
a mower and a rake; one or more thoroughbred cows; five
or more thoroughbred hogs; twenty or more thoroughbred
chickens; buy one or more farms, be sure to buy a home;
build shelters for all your wagons, machinery and tools;
build a large gate and a small footman gate to your lot;
buy a buggy when you are able to pay cash for it, build a
buggy house first.
HOW TO SELECT EGGS FOR SETTING
HENS AND INCUBATORS
Pre-requisite to the raising of chickens is the careful
selection of fertile eggs by a well-developed cock, from one
to two years old. After gathering the eggs that are layed
they must be tested for setting purposes. If the eggs are
not thoroughly developed the eggs may not hatch, the
chickens will not live long. When selecting eggs for setting
don't select the narrow or sharp pointed eggs, or one that
is unusually small. A large, oval-shaped egg is the best
selection, as it furnishes much room for the development
of the little chick.
If the eggs are of sufficient size and shape for the little
chick to get a good growth and development before burst¬
ing the shell, it can better resist diseases and other hard¬
ships that they may come in contact with. Food can be
better digested and growth and strength develop faster.
In raising chickens, whether it is for commercial or private
use, you ought to start right. If you start right, nine cases
out of ten you will end right.
There must be energy and strength enough gotten from
the eggs to connect with the strength and energy to be
gotten from the outside food. No eggs can hatch unless
there is a rooster or cock among the hens that lay the eggs.
If soiled, the eggs should be cleaned thoroughly. They
should not be handled with greasy hands. In spring and
fall is the best time for setting.
IDLENESS ON THE FARM
Delivered in the Sumter County Court House,
February, 1913.
Idleness is a disease that destroys every movement in
man that makes for progress. The time that you lose can¬
not be gained tomorrow. A man ought to do his best every
day. When the crops are all gathered many farmers think
they ought to go fishing and hunting until time to plant.
This is a great mistake. There is much to be done from
the time of gathering to the planting season. Very few
farmers can get thoroughly prepared in planting season,
and many plant without being prepared. Some people are
afraid of working themselves to death, but idleness will de¬
stroy them quicker than work. If the energy is lost by
indulging in idleness the farm will be poorly conducted.
Many of us who are worth hundreds of dollars should be
worth thousands, and those who are worth thousands should
be worth ten thousands of dollars. Until we learn to devote
our time to work, and not to spend it in idleness our gen¬
eral prosperity will be impossible. What shall be the rem¬
edy for so much time and energy lost ? The farmers should
employ his laborers the year round. Our system of farm¬
ing should be like the system of the merchant. If the
merchant should employ his clerks only seven months in
the year his business would soon go to pieces. Nearly all
the clerks are employed the year round, and nearly all farm
hands are given only seven months' work during the year.
The plow hands are kept poor and live from hand to mouth,
by such a system and the farmers depend largely upon the
merchants for support. The clerks dress better, eat better,
live in better homes and get better wages. All because of
a well-arranged system of business. No man can succeed
in business with a poor system. Water cannot rise above
its source, neither can business rise above its system. The
farmers have the best business in the country, and the
poorest system. No business that I know of could succeed
as long and as well as the farmer with the same system.
This is an evidence of the fact that it is an enriching busi¬
ness, but many planters are unwise enough to carry it on
106
LIFE AND SPEECHES OF
with a poor ox and an ancient plow. The farmers not only
need a new method of farming, but a new system. Shall
we remain poor, by remaining in the same rut, or shall we
use the language of a wise man ? "When I thought upon my
ways I turned my feet around." The merchants give their
clerks one to two months' vacation. The farmers remain
poor with their system, the merchants get rich with theirs.
I do not know how long the farmers have kept their system,
but I am sure the trial has been long enough and the jury
will decide against us if we continue the practice. The rea¬
son stated by the farmer for the non-employment of hands
at certain times of the year is: there is nothing to do to
keep them employed. Do not turn them off until every
drained ditch has been cleaned out and new ditches have
been dug where they are needed, and root ditches beside
the woods are cut deep enough to prevent the trees from
drawing plant food from the land, every weed from the
hedge rows and every bush from the ditch bank and all the
muck from the ditch bank is hauled out to the poorest place
in the field, new pastures are built or old ones repaired and
other houses around the home, the garden and yard fences
repaired, wood cut and sawed the right length for the home,
a tool house is built and every tool put in its place. Clean
out your barn for the next crop, make new hay stack poles,
make all preparation for harvesting and after harvesting
make all preparation for planting before you let them go.
Do not put off today for tomorrow. All should be done
while all the hands are employed. One day's work in a
man's business is as much important as another. One pre¬
pares for the food and the other gets the food. Without
preparation we cannot get the food, and the better we are
prepared the more food we get.
(1) The farmer should always keep in mind that time is
valuable. (2) No day should pass unless something is done.
(3) When the doings of the year are added up the results
will be more than you expect. (4) "Never weary in well
doing for we shall reap if we faint not."
WHEN TO PLANT THE GARDEN
The most important occupation of man is to provide for
himself independent food; for food nourishes and supplies
all of his physical make-up. The quality of his physical
make-up depends largely upon the food he eats. Food is at
its highest value when fresh from the soil.
A truck garden for home consumption and home market¬
ing is by far the better way to keep food for the family sup-
HOME AND GARDEN OF REV. GUSTAVUS MAYRANT
plies. The ordinary garden today does not meet the re¬
quirements of food supply.
. The burden is upon us to help feed our armies and allies
in suffering Europe. In order to have our gardens what
they should be we must make them bigger and increase our
vegetable varieties. As every month brings different vege¬
tables they should be selected to suit the changes. The fol¬
lowing is our bulletin:
In January prepare hot beds for cabbages, radishes, beets,
lettuce, cauliflower and onions.
108
LIFE AND SPEECHES OF
February, prepare hot beds for tomatoes, egg plant, pep¬
per and rape. The last of the month sow early peas, beets,
spinach, carrots, celery, radish, and parsley.
March, all kinds of hardy seeds can be planted; garden
peas, cauliflower, lettuce, beets, early cabbage, onions, toma¬
toes, pepper, Irish potatoes, sweet corn, beans, rhubarb,
onions, and English peas.
April, plant early potatoes, cabbage, lettuce, tomatoes,
beets, celery, spring kale, onions, artichokes, asparagus,
sweet potatoes, sweet corn, garden peas, snap beans, squash,
cantaloupes, and watermelons.
May, asparagus seed, carrots, beets, pole and snap beans,
sugar corn, tomatoes of all kinds, black-eye peas, squash,
cucumbers, watermelons, okra, beans, lima beans, canta¬
loupes, pumpkins, late cabbage seed, set out plants for toma¬
toes, pepper and.strawberries.
June, set out cabbages, tomatoes, winter greens and sweet
potato plants. Sow tomatoes for late crop, late cabbages,
cauliflower for winter use. Plant okra, watermelons, canta¬
loupes, cucumbers, squash and pumpkins for late use, snap
beans, pole beans, sweet corn and potatoes.
July, plant for succession, sugar corn, set out winter
greens, set out last cabbage plants for winter use, celery
plants. This is the best month to sow rutabaga turnips,
cucumbers, late Irish potatoes for winter use.
August, continue planting snap beans for the table and
pickles, cabbage, celery, trim the tops of your celery before
planting it if the plants are large, sow cabbage and lettuce
seed for full heading, peas, asparagus, kale, turnips, rhu¬
barb seed.
September, sow lettuce, cauliflower, early cabbage and
onions for transplanting in November, sow cabbage late in
the month, otherwise they may go to seed, put out onion
sets, sow winter radish, spring turnips, mustard, corn and
kale, set out strawberry plants.
October, put out onion sets, sow early cabbage seed, tur¬
nips for salad, kale, mustard, strawberry plants set out
this month will yield a fair picking for fruit the next spring.
November, sow lettuce, early varieties of cabbage in a
cold frame or hot bed, set out cabbage, lettuce and straw-
RANSOM W. WESTBERRY
109
berry plants. Plant asparagus roots, set out fruit trees.
December, cabbage and lettuce can be sown the end of
the month in hot beds or cold frames, beets, radish and let¬
tuce can be sown for winter use.
R. W. WESTBERRY, Chairman,
Colored Committee.
RELIGION ON THE FARM
This word originally meant to signify an oath or vow to
the gods or the obligation of such an oath or vow, which,
was held very sacred by the Romans. Religion in its com¬
prehensive sense, includes a belief in the being and perfec¬
tion of God, in the revelation of His will to man, in man's
obligation to obey His commands, in a state of reward and
punishment and in man's accountableness to God; and also
true godliness or piety of life, with the practice of all
HOME OF REV. THEODORE DIGGS AND WIFE
moral duties.
It, therefore, comprehends theology as a system of doc¬
trines or principles as well as practical piety; for the prac¬
tice of moral duties without a belief in the divine lawgiver,
and without reference to His will or commands, is not
religion.
Religion as distinct from theology, is godliness or real
piety in practice, consisting in the performance of all known
duties to God and our fellow men, in obedience to Divine
RANSOM W. WESTBERRY
111
command or from love to God and His law.
The occupation of the farmer is a business that deals
with nature and the first inquiry that is made by the child
is: who made the plants ? The answer to the child is: God;
and then the child may ask again: who is God ? The
answer comes: He is all-wise, all powerful, just and good.
He has made the plants to grow; from the tiniest blade of
grass to the largest oak in the forest; the smallest insect
that creeps or flies to the largest elephant that roams in
the forest at will. He made man in His own image and
likeness and all things that were made.
The child believes everything his mother tells him or her.
The growing grass in the fields and meadows; the mut¬
tering thunders and a striking lightning and the floods of
rain prove to the child that there is a God. He walks upon
nature and reads it's book daily and he finds no author
whose inscription is man's. So he concludes that God is the
author and maker and that mother is right.
He watches the sun early in the morning as she pushes
her head up from the eastern horizon and climbing up, up
and up, until she reaches the summit of her height and then
dropping slowly, slowly, until it reaches the horizon and
falls asleep behind the western hills until the next morning.
Day by day he studies the movement of the sun and he sees
no human hands to propel it's ascension or decline and he
reaches another conclusion that it must be the hand of God.
Before going to bed he sees the moon; the glory of the
night and the stars fixed in their silvery sockets; millions
they are in number and yet they are so well regulated one
never interferes with the other movement; and now he
reaches another conclusion. God must have fixed them
for man cannot reach so far. He has read the book of
nature and it is fixed in his soul that God rules the universe.
He seeks further information to acquaint himself with
the being that set the world in motion. And he is told to
find Him, he must seek him in a sacred place; and this
place is commonly found in the wilderness. When he finds
Him, he tells it to those who knew it before; joins their
ranks and starts out to educate others along the same line.
Prayer meeting houses and the country churches are their
112
LIFE AND SPEECHES OF
institution for the education of the heathens. No man is
normal that does not know God. To develop the mind and
the physical man without acquainting the Spirit with the
the God that gave it is a step backward.
No man reared upon a farm can be an infidel. The first
impression of the child governs the whole life of the man.
Nature tells him through the growing grass, the fruit upon
the corn stalk, the cotton stalk, the headed wheat, oats,
barley, rye, the fruited apple trees, peach trees, the forest
thick with shrubberies and massive trees, tells him that a
superior being made these things and commanded them to
grow and multiply. He sees no man's hands nailing on the
head of a wheat or sticking an ear of corn upon a stalk;
therefore, he concludes that they are made by beings
greater than man and it is God.
The child that is born in the heart of a large city, sees
very little of nature's work. The most he sees are the great
stone, cement, brick and iron structures and he walks upon
paved walks and streets. He doesn't see them grow only
by man's construction.
The subways, street cars, elevated and suburban trains
and the whole of the busy world (so far as he knows) is
made up of man's construction; hence, his conclusions is
that man is the greatest being in all creation and there is
none to honor but man. His conclusion is the results of his
first impression which has governed his whole life. The
child from the country builds the stronger foundation for
his character, than the child from the large city, because
nature taught the country boy his first lesson and the
mechanical genius of man made the first impression upon
the city boy.
If a max, knows about his Creator, he can better under¬
stand how to serve his fellow man and make a living for
himself. Religion is practiced in all the dealings of the
farmers. They lend and borrow from each other from
time to time with a willing mind. It is quite common for
one farmer to borrow from another; a rake, a hoe, a spade,
a shovel, a wagon, a pitch fork, a buggy, a horse or mule,
meal, meat, flour, sugar, coffee and anything that the
applicant might need at the time he applies. This is
RANSOM W. WESTBERRY
113
religion. When a person does good in the name of his
Creator it is pure religion.
In the farmer's great religious belief he raises his grain
to feed his cattle, his family, the merchant, the lawyer, the
doctor, the school teacher and men in all walks and profes¬
sions of life.
No one is ever known to starve in the country; they
are always ready to divide with the unfortunate pilgrim
and help him on his journey. The country has very little
trouble feeding the unfortunate in the country; while the
city is continually at much expense.
Religion in the country puts the Government to the least
expense, as it governs the individual and the individuals
make the masses. They believe whatsoever a man sows the
same he shall reap again.
The farmers are called upon to feed the warring nations
in Europe; and they are feeding the conquering and the
conquered; the prisoners and those that are at war; the
sick, the wounded and those in attendance.
The angels of the Lord visited Sampson's mother and
father while they were working in the field; three angels
visited Abraham while living in a tent with his wife Sarah;
Elijah visited Elisha while he plowed in the field; Christ
plucked corn on the Sabbath while passing through a corn
field.
The religion of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is among
the farmers. They use it as a guide and a director for their
temporal life.
I was born and reared upon a farm and I often heard my
mother and grandmother upon their knees early in the
morning, asking God to guide them during the day and at
night before retiring would ask that the Lord would watch
over them during their night's sleep.
GO TO SUNDAY SCHOOL
Sunday-school is looked upon by many persons as a trivial
thing and they go simply to be going. The building of
character is a serious matter, and should be regarded as
such. The teaching that a child gets at Sunday-school
makes the best foundation for the building of character.
No construction of life can stand longer than the strength
of the foundation allows it.
A man's general character is no stronger than his weak-
RAFTON CREEK BAPTIST CHURCH
Rev. Theodore Diggs has been pastor of this church for more than
forty-five years. Third house he has built on same spot.
est point. The first impression of the child is generally the
controlling power of the character. The greatest men we
have ever had were first impressed with the lecturing they
received in the Sunday-school.
To help the young child keep him in good environment,
and whatever impression he gets there remains during his
whole life. After going to Sunday-school a certain length
RANSOM W. WESTBERRY
115
of time a habit is formed, and you will have no trouble in
getting the child to go to Sunday-school.
A good habit once formed should be encouraged, but bad
habits are injurious to the soul and should be fought until
they are destroyed.
The Sunday-school gives the child a better idea of life.
He reasons better, he starts off reasoning toward God and
not from God. In order to live well in this life, and to con¬
nect our lives with the original life, we must start in the
direction of that life.
There is no better starting point than the Christian Sun¬
day-school.
I LIKE TO HEAR THE GOSPEL
PREACHED
I enjoy being in the company of the wise and prudent
and listen to their words of wisdom and conciliation. I
often go to large gatherings to listen to orations and
extemporaneous addresses, coming from experienced minds.
And often they are sweet to the soul and a consolation to
the mind. But no oratory sounds so sweet to me as that
of the New Testament preacher, most especially when he
REV. THEODORE DIGGS AND WIFE
Married more than sixty years ago. He has been pastor Rafton
Creek Baptist Church more than forty-five years in suc¬
cession. He is still in active ministry.
is without a manuscript, and his soul has been inspired by
the subject he has chosen.
Under inspired conditions, his words are always first
handed; they seem to come directly from the fountain head,
delivering a message to anxious souls. All other orations
may be mixed with theories and smooth words that have
no meanings, but without power to lift the soul to any
RANSOM W. WESTBERRY
117
degree of culture and comfort, it will fall short of the
purpose for which it is delivered.
The gospel of Jesus Christ never gets old or wears out.
And a new preacher makes a new text, although the words
are the same. The book of the gospel is the only perfect
document written for the guidance, comfort and hope of
men. It is the only book that cannot be improved upon.
I hope the people of the world will understand it well
enough to highly appreciate those who try to preach it into
the souls of men.
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
When one is born into the world he is entirely controlled
by the desire to eat, and this, of course, is necessary for
physical growth and development. The intellectual growth
depends entirely upon the social contact, and after reaching
a certain stage of development, he would naturally inquire
as to who made him and for what purpose. There may be
several answers given, but none is found to be better than
what is found in the 20th chapter of Exodus, which is the
ten commandments that God gave to Moses on Mount Sinai.
I. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
II. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or
likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in
MOSES DELIVERING TEN COMMANDMENTS
the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.
III. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve
them; for I, the Lord thy God, am a jealous God, visiting
the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third
and fourth generation of them that hate men; and shewing
mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my
commandments.
IV. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God
RANSOM W. WESTBERRY
119
in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh
his name in vain.
Remember the sabbath day to keep it holy. Six days
shalt thou labor and do all thy work; but the seventh day
is the sabbath of the Lord thy God; in it thou shalt not do
any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man¬
servant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy
stranger that is within thy gates; for in six days the Lord
made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is,
and rested the seventh day; wherefore the Lord blessed the
sabbath day, and hallowed it.
V. Honour thy father and thy mother; that thy days
may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth
thee.
VI. Thou shalt not kill.
VII. Thou shalt not commit adultery.
VIII. Thou shalt not steal.
IX. Thou shalt not bear false witness against they
neighbour.
X. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou shalt
not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his manservant, nor his
maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is
thy neighbour's.
THE LORD'S PRAYER
The power of speech is a wonderful asset to man. It is
the medium through which he petitions man or God for
what he needs. We might be ever so well informed, but
there are times when we cannot find words to express our
soul's desire. Under such circumstances, we must rely
TEACHING HER CHILDREN TO PRAY
upon the deed of others or pray to God for help.
The disciples of Jesus Christ were better informed in the
new Christian religion than any other men of their day.
Yet we find in the 11th chapter of St. Luke, in the first
verse, where His disciples asked Him to teach them how to
RANSOM W. WESTBERRY
121
pray. It seems as if they wanted an example or pattern;
and Jesus said unto them, when ye pray, say:
Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name.
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in
heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil;
for Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
forever. Amen.
A FEW OF HIS STORIES
A few of his stories, which he told to audiences to make
them cheerful, and to drive home certain points. Many
times he finds in delivering addresses, it is necessary to
tell some stories, to arouse audiences, and to make plain
some truth which he wishes them to know.
A young man got a job that paid him five hundred
dollars ($500.00) per month. A few months after he took
charge of this new job, he married a wife. And one day
when things were going well he said that he would give her
for pin money one dollar ($1.00) for every time he kissed
her.
This went on for many years, but at last he lost his job,
and he thought he was broke. Becoming despondent, he
decided to kill himself, but his wife insisted that he go out
riding in her buggy. The first thing she called his atten¬
tion to was a nice row of beautifully painted houses, that
she had purchased with the money she had earned by let¬
ting him kiss her. The next was a very large dwelling
house, painted white and trimmed in green. She said, I
bought this, too. Then next she drove through the business
section of the town and there were three beautiful brick
stores she had purchased, and she was receiving a hand¬
some rent.
After the couple had returned home her husband began
to weep bitterly. She inquired what he was weeping about.
He said he was weeping because he did not give her all the
kisses.
An Irishman, after driving two oxen all night with a
loaded wagon, the next morning decided to stop and rest
on his journey. While resting he fell asleep and when he
awoke he found only one ox hitched to the wagon, the other
having broken loose while feeding near the road and had
made his escape, so just as he awoke and found half of his
team gone he said: "I wonder if this is me; if it is me I
have lost a mighty good ox, and if it ain't me I have found
a good ox and wagon."
RANSOM W. WESTBERRY
123
Some years ago in the State of Virginia the Government
sent out detectives to ascertain if any one was killing deer
out of season. The first man the detective approached was
a colored man, and he said: "Look here, John, do you know
where I can find some deer?" The colored man said: "No,
I don't know, and furthermore it is against the law to kill
deer at this season of the year." The detective said: "What
do I care about the law ? I am a white man." "All right,
then, boss, I didn't think of that," said the colored man.
"I know where you can kill plenty of deer. I killed a big
stag yesterday." The detective pulled his coat back and
showed the colored man his badge and said: "Do you know
who I am? I am a government detective, and I come to
arrest everybody killing deer out of season."
The colored man looked at the detective and said: "Do
you know who I is?" He said: "No, I don't know who you
are." "I am the biggest liar in Virginia. I haven't killed
any deer."
Some years ago the only son of a colored man left home
and after being away for some time took sick and before
his father could get to him he died and was buried. But
being so much grieved, he went to the fresh grave of his
son and prayed to God to let him see his son once more
Some time during his prayer, the spirit of the son appeared
and came walking toward him. He had only gone a few
steps when the father said: "That's enough, you can go
back," but he kept coming. He repeated, "That's enough,
stop!" but the spirit of the boy kept coming.
, Finally he said: "That is just why you are dead now, your
head is so hard," and he left the grave.
A little boy asked his mother one day who made him, and
she told him the Lord. And he further inquired as to who
made his father. She told him the Lord made man out of
clay. So, soon after the boy got his information he left and
went out to the seashore where there was clay. The tide
was low and he made himself a clay man, all except one eye,
one arm. and one leg which was not quite finished. His
mother became uneasy about him at this point and per-
124
LIFE AND SPEECHES OF
suaded him to come away as it was near night.
The next morning the boy went back to finish his man,
but the high tide had washed him away, and there was no
trace of him left. He thought the man had walked away.
Some months afterwards his mother took him to a big
Methodist conference and after the conference adjourned
she noticed her boy not being very anxious to leave, but
didn't know why. After nearly everybody had gotten out
the boy said to his mother, yonder is my man now, and
rushed over and asked him why he left before he finished
him.
An old maid got a chance to get married and when every¬
thing was in readiness the pianist was ready to play, the
flower girls ready to march, the minister was waiting for
the couple to appear; but nothing could be done until the
pianist was told what to play. The pianist sent word to
the bride-to-be to ask her what to play. She sent word
back: "Play whatever you like." But the pianist insisted
that the old maid tell her what to play and the old maid kept
saying, play anything.
At last the pianist said: "If you don't tell me what to
play there will be no wedding tonight." "Oh, well," she
said, "play 'This is the way I long have sought and mourned
because I found it not.' "
A little girl was at the breakfast table eating one Sunday
morning. She noticed in her father's and mother's plates
that there were two big pieces of fish and in her own plate
a very small piece, so she inquired of her mother, "What
kind of fish has papa got, mamma?" The mother said:
"Cat fish." "What kind of fish have you got?" The mother
said: "Cat fish."
Then she said, "Mamma, I must have the kitten."
A young colored man was courting two girls and when
he decided to marry one of them he sent to town by the
white man on whose place he lived for the license. The
white man knew he was going with both of the ladies and
brought back the wrong license.
RANSOM W. WESTBERRY
125
So when he read the license to the groom-to-be he said:
"Boss, you got the wrong name on the license, I intended
to marry the other gal." "Well," the white man said, "I
can change it but it will cost you fifty cents to make the
change." And the young man said: "Never mind, boss,
it ain't fifty cents difference between them gals."
HIS PROVERBIAL SAYINGS
No man can fully develop without religion, education and
money.
No man can develop any higher than his conception of
God.
Labor without judgment is not much value to the laborer.
The world admires a man that succeeds.
No man has ever been able to hide his faults very long.
Everybody knows the disposition of his neighbor.
The man who tries to fool his neighbor is very likely to
get fooled.
Whenever you can, it is better to buy than to borrow.
It is better to live like Christ than to talk about your
neighbor.
Success is but success, therefore, succeed with your own
talent and don't be jealous of your neighbor's success.
A lazy person is always making excuses for not having
anything.
The man that goes to church has made at least one effort
to do better.
It is better to hear a yard ax preacher preach than to
stay at home and listen to foolish gossip.
Education is good but understanding is better.
It is better to have a friend than a dollar. When a dollar
is spent it goes from you like a flying bird; but you can
use a friend and he will stick by you.
Heaven is the same distance from you that you are from
heaven; if your heart was right, you could make the
connection.
A man who is of age ought to do manly things and stop
acting like a child.
Every man has a steady job of making his own life. If
any other person attempts to do it, they would put up a
poor job.
Don't blame other folks for your own misfortune.
Heaven is a good place to go after death, but it is better
to have a good home on earth while you are here.
Money is a good thing to spend but it is better to save
some for the days of trouble, old age and sickness.
RANSOM W. WESTBERRY 127
Many people think they control their habits, when their
habits are controlling them.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG MEN
Delivered at Cades Industrial School, Cades, S. C.,
April 16, 1919.
The subject upon which I have chosen to speak to you
today is one of vital importance.
You have a broad field, and it is full of opportunities for
the young- man of this century which are open to all classes,
but only afford the greatest advantage to those who are
best prepared for them and will to take a step forward in
the finding of them.
To the young man full of energy and pluck, with a strong
controlling will power, with a full experience of the veri¬
ties of life, and aspiring to some noble aim, numerous op¬
portunities are just ahead of him to be developed in noble
deeds. Opportunities in the social world awaits the young
man with a strong moral character. It is there he can use
his power in stemming the dark under-current, battling the
evil doings of young men, helping to make our civilization as
pure as it ever was.
In the political world there is scarcely a limit for the
young man beginning in early life to grasp and develop the
opportunities it offers. What is more noble than for a man
to sincerely, loyally, patriotically serve his country ? To be
a true and successful politician does not necessarily mean to
merely dabble in politics, and draw a handsome salary, it
means for a man to put his brain to work in devising the
very best methods of legislation for his country; it means
for him to formulate and enforce such laws as will tend to
and serve to perfect and protect all his fellow citizens, re¬
gardless of race, color, creed or any previous condition of
servitude. The opportunity awaits the energetic young man
to begin at the bottom of the political ladder and soar to
the remote heights.
Let us look for a moment at the numberless opportuni¬
ties for research work looking to marvelous and beneficial
discoveries, and for the service in which improving civiliza¬
tion affords the ever-broadening world. Just take a view
for a moment of the record-breaking strides made in the
development of that wonderful power called electricity, and
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FARMS &
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SEE
R.W. WEST BERRY
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SUMTE
RANSOM W. WESTBERRY
Dealer in All Kinds Real Estate, Farm Lands, and City Property.
He believes an investment in real estate is the safest
road to success.
iCTZH -fX iy* .It- j
130
LIFE AND SPEECHES OF
any young man with an eye toward science will gain im¬
petus and inspiration in his particular line. Then again
the very greatest opportunities for lasting service, lor con¬
tinual advancement of moral development, and for the
greatest good to be done and the greatest reward to be
gotten, lie in the religious world. It is in that somewhat
troublesome, yet happy field, that the most good can be
done. It is there that the tender chords of any individual's
heart, and even the chords of a nation's heart may be
reached and made more perfect.
When you strike the religious belief of a person, you have
struck that which has caused more unpleasantness and more
bloodshed than any other direct cause you may mention.
The opportunities are open for the young man to enter into
the activities of the busy life to extend his power for good.
Now, let the young man of this most wonderful century
assume the proper attitude for grasping some of the great¬
est opportunities now before him. He must readily adjust
himself to the existing situation, and keep a watchful eye
toward the future, and on the move, profiting by the at¬
tainments of great men that have gone on before, as they
did in the generation before them.
Let us think for a moment of the progress made by civ¬
ilization and study how it advanced through its various
stages of development into the marvelous beauty it has at¬
tained. Let him take a retrospective glance at the use
made of the opportunities undeveloped and advantages un¬
seen by the barbarous man which have been taken up by
the semi-civilized man and improved.
Then how the civilized man took them from that stage
of the semi-civilized man, and brought them through the
darkest ages of history, ever improving and developing
them, opening new avenues for future generations, because
they have only recently began to realize the unlimited ex¬
tent of their possibilities and utter nonsense of the supposi¬
tion that the limits of development have been reached.
Therefore, man before us, as it were, has recently opened
the vein and exposed the gold in order for us to enter the
mines and dig the valuable ore for ourselves and our des¬
cendants. So be careful young man, be observant ever
looking for the opportunities to improve.
INDEX
A FEW OF HIS STORIES . ... 122
ADVICE TO NEGRO FARMERS 76
AGRICULTURE, MOST IMPORTANT SUBJECT OF TODAY.... 68
ALEXANDER, LIEUT. J. H., LIFE AND DEATH 48
EMANCIPATION ADDRESS 30
FARMERS' OPPORTUNITY 73
GO TO SUNDAY SCHOOL 114
HIS PROVERBIAL SAYINGS 126
HOUSING OF ANIMALS AND CATTLE 96
HOW TO OBTAIN ONE'S DESIRE 56
HOW TO PREPARE FOR WAR AGAINST THE ENEMY 23
HOW TO REDUCE THE COST OF LIVING 42
HOW TO SELECT SEED CORN 92
HOW THE CROP SHOULD BE CULTIVATED 88
HOW TO SELECT EGGS FOR SETTING 104
HOW TO MIX COMMERCIAL FERTILIZERS 100
IDLENESS ON THE FARM 105
I LIKE TO HEAR THE GOSPEL PREACHED 116
IMPORTANCE OF MAKING AND SAVING FOOD 84
LORD'S PRAYER 120
MAKING OF PASTURES 89
NEGRO FARMERS MAKE PROGRESS 65
OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG MEN 128
PREPARATION OF SOIL FOR PLANTING 87
PRESENTATION, AUDITORIUM MORRIS COLLEGE 50
PROGRAM FOR THE FARMERS 103
PROPER CARE OF FARM IMPLEMENTS v 95
RELIGION ON THE FARM 110
REPLY TO THE MAYOR OF UNION, S. C 46
SCIENTIFIC FARMING BY NEGROES 60
SECOND, THIRD AND FOURTH EMANCIPATION 52
SEED SELECTION 90
TEN COMMANDMENTS 118
THE FIRST MAN TO SEE 81
VALUE OF FENCING THE FARM 98
WESTBERRY, RANSOM W., BIOGRAPHY OF 11
WHAT CROPS AND HOW MUCH SHOULD FARMER PLANT 63
WHAT FARMING IMPLEMENTS TO BUY 93
WHEN TO PLANT THE GARDEN 107