The colored American., 1900-03-24
FACTS FOR NEGROES.
A Key for the Practical Solution
of the Race Problen-A White
Citizen OF the West Talks Good
Sound Sense.

has acked many times as | have seen
the persecution OF the eolored people
In the South. And what say Is with
asineere desire TO do good. In the South
we have the race troubles, while IN the
North we have labor troubles. We are
apt to think Of theee as entirely differ
ent questions, but they are closely al
lied to each other, and the remedy for
one will prove to be the remedy for
both. Proud human nature Will never
acknowledge the servant as his equal.
It does not matter whether the one is
white while the other is colored, or
whether both are of the same color, the
wealth as a class will always look with
contempt upon those whom poverty
cOmpels to serve them. In the North
we see the wealthy treating their white
employees with about as little respect
rs the whites in the South show for the
colOred man. The remedy for these
abuses Will never be found while we
have such marked differences in the
financial condition Of the people. As
long as one man must depend upon an
other for labor 30 long VIII the serving
class be the victims of indignities and
contempt. As long as the colored pop
ulatiOn are the servants Of the whites so
leng their rights will not be respected.
The cOlored race must become indepen-
dent in industrial affairs before they can
hope for fair treatment at the hands Of
the whites. would like 10 ask then,
how are they ever to become Indepen
ldent? The whites have possession Of
the land, the mills, the factories, the
fOundries, the railroads, the telegraph.
and telephone systems, and in fact near
ly all of the resources of nature, and
the means of production and distribu-
tiOn. The rent is such that the tenent
can only make living, and the wage
worker receives only enough to support
himself and family-and not always
that much. OF fcourse there are some
who have good judgment, good health
and good opportunities, that become
gifts, and circumstances do not bless
the life of one in q dozen. The grest
mass Of the people of both races are and
must remain poor, while our competi-
tive industrial system stands. II, then
industrial independence Is necessary,
we should pursue that policy which
would bring about that condition. And
that is to be found, according to my
Judgment, in CO. operation. An sssocIs
tiou should be formed for the purpose
of establishing cooperative mills, fac
tories and stores. It should organize
local circles, or lodges in every city
town and hamlet in the country. Il
should seek by all fair means to induce
every honest psrson to work with 1t,
regardless Of sex Or color, and 1t should
develope co operative industries as rap
rapidly as possible. The advantages
or such q movement are beyond
computation. Competitor is expensive
Co-operation Is economical. According
to government reports. wagon can be
manufactured for S7.1s. The material
can be produced for about dollar and
a half. We ought to buy 1t for ten
dollars, but competition runs the price
ND to fifty five dollars. A seventeen jewel
watch movement Is manufactured at an
expense of one dollar and eighty eight
cents, The cost of material is bat little