The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1874-05-28
The War of the Races.

The Atlanta (Ga.) Herald, in much dis
tress OF mind, thus presents the situation
forced upon an important class OF that
community:
The manager of the Herald Office, who,
from behind his tranquil counter, studies
the moods of the HeraLd's customers, has
been alarmed for some days past at unmis-
taxable signs of disapprOval of either his
course or the course of the great paper
whose finances he manages.
These shrewd, hOt-headed young Arabs
have transacted their business of late in a
scornful and forbidding way that to his
calm eye, foreboded storm.
They used to come bursting into the
Office in jolly, harum-scarum way, their
faces bright with the fresh air of dawn,
and their eyes kindled in the mornings
first flush, and fling down their shinplas-
tiers with some such cheerful remark:
Skin me out twenty o. yer best, old
mani"
Or some such affectionate inquiry as:
How does the old thing wiggl to-day,
boss?"
Or tender piece of advice, like:
Colonel, it 'ud be good for yer TO make
them locals slap in little more O. the red
hot.''
For the past week though it's all
changed. In a stately and sullen way they
march up to the counter. With the air OF
ragged princes they slap the money down,
and with condescersion beeming from
every feature
"Gimme tent
On Sunday the storm burst.
In the calm and hush of the Sabbath
morning two intrepid little rascals-a COM
mittee from back alley walked
up to the counter:
Mr.. Smith, you've got to quit selling
papers to niggers!"
The declaration of war was made-an
ultimatum plumply spit out.
Quit selling papers to negroes! Why?"
''Well, we've all settled that we won't
run with niggers. The Constitution don't
sell to niggers and their boys laugh at us
when we have to holler the Herald long
side o. black fellers. Them niggers don't
know nothin' bout the business. Men kin
cheat 'em and scare 'em out. and git their
papers for nothin' a most. You never see
a niger boy hardly ever that kin tell
whether he's made anything or not when
he's sold out. A heap o. men won't buy
from us; they waits for niger boys cause
they know they kin cheat them out and git
the news for nOthin'. We won't run with
'em. You must quit sellin' to 'em."
But will it be right to refuse the little
darkies chance TO make their living" said
the mellow-hearted manager.
''Oh yes, sir! You see they run the
street carts. They have this job, and they
won't let white boy in. You never see
a white fellow pushing street cart, cause
the niggers won't let 'em. One or two
white ones has tried it, and they drive 'em
ont. They break his cart, and catch him
off, and whip him, and rock him. and tell
lies on him, till he has to quit. Now, our
boys 'es had talk about it, and is deter
mined, as the niggers keep us out of the
street cart business, that we will keep them
from the paper business. 1t amt no use
to whip 'em. They don't mind it, less
you nearly kill 'em; and then the police
will catch you. So we fixed up to come
and tell you, you mustn't let 'em have any
papers when they call for 'em and you
We wont run with them at all"
The manager promised to take the mat
ter under the serious consideration it
and the advocates of the Arabs
retired. AS they passed out of the door,
one of them threw in a parting shot, to-
wit:
/" [ say, some o. these nigger fellers is
the boot-black business, too.
There amt a white boy in it. R'member
that"