The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1902-03-06
IN A pITlABLE CONDITION..
A Tennessee Psper thus Describes the
Lot Of the Negroes.

| In letter to Mr.. w. j. Buie, editor
of the Weekly Enterprise, promi-
| nent citizen of Brownsville, Tenn,
i writes:
Friend Buies notice ia last issue
oa the Enterprise that an ex-Tennes-
seeen by name of Henson has ripped
grand old Texas, and especially Ellis
and Dallas counties, up the back,
claiming that Notwithstanding the
tine lands they (the psople) live from
sacks and butcher shops. From an
! article that here enclose you win see
that the people I'm the old Volunteer
State can't even do that wen, although
he says otherwise. The article was
clipped from the Brownsville Tribune,
, and not only reflects the condition OF
Hay xood county, but nesrly all of
West Tennessee. know nothing of
the condition of Middle and East Ten
nessee, but crops were short there al
so last year add the condition muat be
I, bgd.s
| The article referred to In the above
| is as follows:
The condition OF INDECENT negroes in
this county is positively pitiable. Few
people really know the ruefal extent
of destitution among these people,
| Two crop failures in succession, the
last the most serious drouth that has
ever visited this section, followed by
q hard winter, has entailed great
hardship and suffering upon hundreds
OF deserving negroes and not a few
white people. For the later it is i'm.
probable that their neighbors will fail
to provide, but when one considers
the dsplorable condition OF these poor
negroes, their actual hunger, want
and destitution presents most SER
ious problem. True, Numbers OF them
are improvident, lazy and of little
worth, yet many among them are
good tenants and good farm Iaborers
and worthy objects of charity. Pre-
valent conditions have reduced hun
dreds OF them to beggary. They bor-
row, beg, and we regret to say, steal In
order to provide their destitute fam
lilies with food.
| Planters and landowners have suf-
Tered such losses during the past t~o
seasons that many of them find their
credit impaired and, having little re-
sources, they find ii impossible to ad-
vance money and supplies TO their in
digent tenants. This is especially
true of the southern portion of the
county, where crops wers total fail
ure. Information of the most dis-
tressing nature reaches as from sew
eral localities In that section. Even
here fn and about Brownsville, where
more able bodied negroes are fed out
OF the kitchens than find support in
the whole state OF Massachusetts,; the
wolf ID gnawing at many negro cab
In door The authorities report nu-
msroas cases OF deserving men apply
ing 10 the city fer aid, saying that
they want work and cannot get it and
must have food. 1t Ia a grave prob
lem and worthy the grave concern of
car people Something must bs done
to relieve this suffering-and that at
once.
We believe the circumstances de-
mand instant and prompt measures
and il onr own people cannot bear
the burden We would snggsst a mass
meeting be called and a petition
drawn up for outside assistance. This
Is being done In other sections where
the want Ia no greater than mere. Let
as provide means for the relief of our
INDECENT.