Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-03-05
EXODUS PHASES.
How the Negro Refugees are
Earring in Kansas this Winter.
Also, How the White People Feel
About this Inflow of
Pauperism.
Topeka. Kansas. Lettor.l

ANSAAA6 oeACA0 saO WI wv
pie Of Kansas, who are brought into
competition with such black refugees
as will work, is bitterly hostile. They
justly complain that they cannot COM
pete with labor that is fed, clothed
and sheltered by charity, while they
are required to feed, clothe and shelter
themselves and families with the
money they receive for work. One
working man said to me ut is all
very we'll to talk of cheap labor. See
how it has affected me. | was work
ing for a dollar a day q negro
took my place for fifty cents a day.
He worked two days. Another took
his place and worked three. Then
another took hold. They were work
ing for spending money only, as they
were fed at the barracks. | haye my
family to support. | cannot do it on
fifty cents a day." His objection was
sound. 1t is as unfair to ask white
labor to compete with black labor
that is supported by charity as it is to
ask them to compete with convict
labor. None of the white laborers
about Topeka would finch from COM
peting with the refugee negroes if the
blacks we're required to earn their
food. If the food is supplied by
northern charity they feel hat com
petition is impossible. They are right.
The tender hearted reople who are so
literally supplying the Topeka bar
racks negroes with food and clothing
are, unknowingly, inficting great
injury upon the white laborers of
Kansas.
The negroes are living in barracks
and huts in north Topeka. Two little
towns have been built, one called
Redmanville, the other Tennessee
Town. The property adjoining these
towns has greatly deprecated in value.
One gentleman told me he owned a
piece of real property that before the
negro exodus he valued at $1,000: now
he would gladly part with it tor $1,000.
He believed the evil to be a perman.
ent one. The barracks and huts, hav.
ing been built, would, he feared, be
kept full Of this worthless class Of
negroes until the buildings are burned
by some property-holder.
When | visited the barracks the air
quivered with laughter. Groups of
negroes sat summing themselves in the
hot sun. Some were dancings, others
amusing themselves bv teaching
tricks to dogs. There were
little dogs, middle sized dogs,
big dogs, yellow, white, black, spot
ted. and brindle dogs, smooth dogs.
and rough haired dogs; some with long
tails, some with stub tails, all Of one
breed-the cur. | was astouished at
the generosity Of the subscribers to
the exodus fund. To feed, clothe,
and shelter the poor outraged negroes,
who fed from the brutality OF the
southern land, is charitable. To
cheerfully feed a drove Of NANCY ami
mails, 81 as to keep the outraged ones
from brooding over the wrongs they
have endured by giving their minds
occupation in teaching tricks to ours,
is an unparalleled curiosity. A yellow
dog with a bob tail, sitting up on his
launches, balancing a bit Of hoecoke
on his nose, and at the command,
Oar now p tossing it into the air
and catching it as it fell, attracted my
attention. 1 felt that the negro was
progressing in civilization. A white
mar situated as this negro was would
have gone crazy realizing his degreda.
ton as a pensioner on public charity.
The negro sat in the sun. happy and
contented, and taught a Dob tailed cur
tricks.
In a street by the Topeka state
bank | saw two white men dressing
building stones. | counted thirty-one
negroes leaning against a railing, or
standing on the sidewalk in small
groups, all smoking, and all with
great interest watching the white men
work. An hour later | again passed.
There were but twenty-three black
men braeed against the railing by the
bank. Eight had crossed to the other
side of the street and joined a gang of
nine other refugees, and the black
forces, now numbering forty, steadily
watched the two white men dress the
building stone.
The change in political feeling
among not only the wOrkingmen, but
property owners, is great. Many men
living in the country about Topeka,
who have always voted the republican
ticket, will at the next election, vote
against the party that started this
eYoduq