The semi-weekly messenger., 1906-10-12
Atlanta's Example"

"The Atlanta Journal is glad to
note that propositions for cleaning
up negro dives and saloons have been
made by the newspapers in Norfolk,
Wilmington, Charleston, Savannah.
Macon, Augusta, Jacksonville, Biz
mingham, Montgomery, Chattanooga,
Knoxville and Louisville. All these
cities says the Journal, have taken
the Atlanta experience as a lesson in
stea dof waiting for one of their own.
If these sister cities of the south will
follow the example which Atlanta is
setting at last, it will result IN a large
decrease in crime of every sort in re-
moving an element of danger to both
races and in preserving good order anc
peace '''-Charleston Is. CDPost.
We do not blame our Charleston
contemporary for resenting the effort
to place Atlanta in the position Of
teacher Of other southern cities in
this matter Atlanta deserves cen
sure for having waited unit! disgraced
by bloody butchery of innocent NO.
groes. Her own papers, before that
outbreak, laid stress on the peril IF
the dives and vainly urged the au-
NuOTlLlcS tO lake dCLlUu.
Cities like Savannah and Charles
ton, where there is much larger pro-
portionate colored population than in
Atlanta, have not beeI disgraced by
bloody race rioting lea by the disor-
derly element; and the newspapers cf
such cities are almost unanimous IN
the opinion that the Atlanta horror
would never had occurred without the
prolonged sensational exploitation Of
certain things by Atlanta papers. An
Atlanta mass-meeting OF the best cit
iZens, as we'll as an Atlanta grand
jury, has expressed similar opinion.
Wilmington managed a worse situ-
alton than Atlanta's in a manner re-
flecting credit upon the fair name of
the city. Her best people took con-
practically martial law, prevented
wanton sacrifice of life, protected the
guiltlesss, and sternly expelled lDe
negro agitators and desparadoes. This
was because the real public of VIII
mington took the matter in hand. con-
trolling the hoodlums who are eager
to seize all opportunities for reckless
violence and bIood-letting.
AS to the dives in which the youth
Of the colored race is being corrupted,
nearly all of the cities OF the south
have much cleaning of Augean stables
to accomplish before they can look the
world in the face with the satisfac-
tion OF duty well performed but IT
may be said of Norfolk ari Richmond,
| as we have no doubt it may be said CT
many other southern cities. that the
| local authorities had begun aud were
vigorously conducting for long time
before Atlanta began to teach" a
campaign against the sale of cocaine
and other depraving drugs as stimu.
lants. Repeated examples have beer
made here and in Richmond Of white
! men who have sold these drugs to ne
, groes. There is vastly more to be don,
Of course. There should be stricte1
supervision OF the places In which il
quor Is sold and more vigorous effor t.
to prevent the sale OF liquor adulter
ated with frenzy-produclng drug:
which are cheaper than real whiske,
and far more harmful. But the CHI.
example which Atlanta has set is on
to be avoided with horror and 1t j
in very bad taste for her to boast O
her services as teacher just now
Norfolk Landmark