Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-09-16
THE NEGRO EXODUS.
Is Chiefly From the Towns, Not
the Farms.
There Is Scarcity of Cooks, But Plenty of
Hands to Pick All the Cotton That Will
be Raised In North Carolina.

Recently there has much been said
about the exodus of negroes from this
State. Reports have varied as 10 the
extent of the outward movement, and
as to Its regularity.
Some accounts have 1t that the MI
grafton is chiefly from the country, and
that so many of the negro farm labor
ers are leaving that there is a pros
pect that much of the cotton will re-
of laborers.
Recently an article on this question.
written by Mr.. Royal Daniel, OF the
journal stan. appeared in the Atlanta
journal. MIR. Daniel was in this State
some time as secretary to the Cotton
States Convention. In his position he
necessarily came in contact with Ia
number OF farmers from different sec
tons of the State. He also took the
trip with the Commissioners of Agri.
culture to Asheville and Biltmore. In
his article on the subject he says:
The cotton may bloom all for naught
in North Carolina this fall and the
bolls, bursting into full maturity, may
drop into decay on the ground"
This forecast. gloomy as 1t may ap-
pear. is not exaggerated. The farmers
who are watching the stalk blossom
in the field will tell you the same story.
They will go further, doubtless, and
tell you that Unless the situation ma
count next fall will be on the wrong
side of the bank and a mortgage will
be on the home.
ITO the question as to what Is re-
sponsible for the situation there is but
one reply:
There is no farm labor.
There has been n negro exodus on
in North Carolina for months The de,
partures were quietly made at first.
Few went together. The purchase of a
IN nd nct
and far between. Now the exodus Is on
in full blast. Six hundred negroes have
gone from Raleigh alone. From other
portions Of the State they have been
going, and now the farmers are stand
ing idly by waiting for change and
hoping for relief"
A News and Observer reporter called
at the Agricultural Department yester
day to investigate the matter.
The records show that only two COM
plants of scarcity of labor have been
received from correspondents in the
past three months. The correspondents
OF the department are scattered
through every county in the State, and
are to report, in addition to certain
queries in regard to the condition of
the crops, any matter which they think
may affect the farming interests In any
way. The two complaints that We're re-
ceTVed came from Sampson and Person
counties, respectively.
The complaint from Sampson was In
July. 1t said: Farm labor is very
scarce. I don't see how we are to save
our fodder
The other complaint was from num-
Der of citizens of CaSwell county, and
was in June. They simply said: Farm
labor very scarce" With the exception
of these complaints from these two
counties. with the possible exception of
Person. no complaints of the scarcity
of laborers have been received.
1t is known though that negroes are
leaving the State in large numbers.
The migration seems to be from the
cities. however, instead of the farms.
On last week one thousand negroes left
Winston for other points. But it will be
remembered that n northward migra-
ton of negroes takes place from this
town Immediately after every election.
The chief complaints that have come
In so far from the ladies whose cooks.
lured by promises by the willy railroad
agents of higher wages have gone
North. That the migration of cooks has
to certain extent embarrassed the
North Carolina housekeepers is true.
but it is not true that this exodus of
negroes has in any way embarrassed
the North Carolina cotton farmer. ex-
cept in small neighborhoods There
were numerous complaints of the scar
city of hands during the spring months
While the crop was being put in the
ground. Only n few complaints are
being made now.
MIR. Daniel argued that the amend.
ment was the cause of the exodus.
Speaking of this phase of the situation
Mr.. Daniel said:
THE negro has been DISTINGUISHED in
the State. He believes he has been
done an injustice. He takes it as a mat
ter of course that there is nothing in
the future for him in the State. He
has made up his mind TO go away.
He Is going Others have gone ana
sent back good reports. Why can't he
succeed as well?"
That some of the negroes take this
view Of the situation Is evident. In
Salisbury many of the cooks refused to
work for the wives of the men who
voted for the amendment. But only
in sporadic instc noes has the passage
of that act caused any change in the
demeanor of the negroes to the whites.
There is no doubt but that plenty or
negroes are left TO do all the work of
the grade they are capable of doing.
The exodus that has taken hordes OF
darkies, to West Virginia, Pennsyl-
vania and other States has left the
ones who held good positions. and con-
sequent!y those whom 1t is best to
keep.