Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1903-06-25
STREET CARS AND THE NEGRO

Why should the negro be wrathy
over the fact that the legislature of
few states of the union have passed
an act to give separate and equal
accommodation to the races? Is it
not the fact that what the negro de-
sires is the ability to stand alone. and
does not this legislative act put him
in a position to make one step in
that direction? We have been study
Ing the situation since the agitation
mas become acute and we can see n
few reasons why the better element
OF the negro race should desire to
live and move without being mixed
too thickly with a certain element of
It's own race, and we can see many
reasons why the race should desire
to be separated from a certain ele-
ment Of the white race. It is, of
element Of the negro race to exist
without doing business with the other
elements, and it is also Just as i'm
possible for the entire negro race to
lnhabit this continent without COM
ing in touch with the business element
Of the white race. But there is an
element that we can do intirely with
out, and as we do not go into eheir
homes and they do not come into ours.
as they do not own the banks nor
operate the railroads, nor control the
mills and manufactures, and as con-
tact with that element is not absolute
ly necessary to us for our existence,
then the legislature comes to our
rescue and releases us Of a great bur-
den and sourse Of uneasiness by saw
ing they shall be separated from us
on the electric car and in railroad
compartments. While We do not
know the spirit with which this bill
was introduced and acted upon in the
iaw-making body of this and Other
states, we discover that it is and will
prove to be a blessing to the negro.
The men who own and control the roll
Ing stock the saw mills. and all other
commercial mediums through which
the negro receives financial sustenance
and transportation accommodation
do not desire and enact these discrim-
mating laws Such laws are Just as
repugnant to them as to us. 1t places
them in an awkward and painful po-
sition in the operation of their busi-
ness interests. 1t curtails their free
dom Of action and in many places
cuts off their labor supply. which is
detrimental to their interests. but
with wisdom and sound judgment they
submit to the inevitable
Knowing these facts. why should
the negro render the situation more
painful by boycoting the cars and cut
ting off the income Of the philanthro-
pic and the benefactor" of the nation
and at the same til putting our
selves at a disadvantage by refusing
the accommodation offered, thereby
consuming time and losing money?
Would it not be better for the negro
o look at the situation from a business
standroint and leave cut all SEM
blance of prejudice? Become ac-
quainted with the condition by study
ing the cause and effect, and alter
the situation by taking advantage of
1-hatever convenience is publicly Of
fered and move onward and up
ward in the march OF CONNER
cial development. The benefit of the
cars to any person or people is not
found in with WHOM, we shall ride
or the part Of the car we shall occupy
but in the time that is saved in 60
ing from one place to another, the
saving of physical strength and the
small fee that is charged to go from