Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-08-26
White People Aroused 9sR |avas'
Ion Of Ths'' Is|gbt'A'od By
Black Families
M9|eAA1|oN coAFtsENeE HELLO
Situation Discussed at )Petzold's Hall
Last Night, and Call us Issued For
Mass Meeting at SAND Place Thurs
day Night, When PLANS Far Action
Will be Decided Upon}

Within the past thr4e weeks fivt
negro families have eros scd the "dead-
line" at Marshall avenue to occupy
houses on Twenty-third street between
Marshall and Wickham Avenues, in the
midst OF white residential section.
In this immediate neighHOrhOod some
of the best known peopls in the city
live and own their homes. The first
negroes to move in to thc neighbo7-
hood installed themselves, about three
weeks ago. the fifth family moved in
yesterday. us,
Indignant and determined to pre-
vent the neighborhood III which their
homes are located from becoming In
tested with negroes. the people OF this
section are preparing to take some
kind Of concerted actfoni All of East
End is aroused and the people living
in the immediate vicinity OF the
"dead-line" will not be alone in their
fight. The residents Of the extreme
East End also haye ground for COM
plant, because Of the encroachment
of negroes On Twenty-teventh street
near Oak avenue.
An indignation cdnfererce.
Last night an Indignation conference
was held at Petzold's hhli, about fifty
men gathS<ing to discuss the situation.
No definite plan of action was agreed
upon. but it was decided to call a mass
meeting of East End icitizens to be
held at Petzold's hall Thursday night
night. The attitude Of the men in
the conference indicated p.- aly that
they do not propose ito allow the
negroes to live in their nejghrorhood.
There were no open threats OF viol,
ence. in fact all who NJ anything to
say urged cOnservatisniaRd an appeal
to the law. but there WaS an air of de-
termination about the group of men
that BODIED no good for the negro who
persists in living in white territory,
or for the real estate dealer who per
sists in bringing blacki fam across
the "dead-line"
Councilman kellum Named.
Some Of the men present openly ac-
cused Councilman &c rge T. KelIum.
Of the Second ward. }of first renting
to negroes a house on I'wenty-third
street east of Marshall avenue II
Us stated that most of the real es-
tate dealers of the city had declined
10 aJCW negroes tOl occupy property
in this neIghborhood. represented by
them. but that after II. ~el,um had
iufugurated the policy. ctner houses
were rented TO NEGROES by a negro
agent.
The "deadline" referred to was es-
tablished years ago and Until recently
i was net crossed. All deeds for
property east of MARSHALL avenue sold
by tho Old Dominion Land Company
and other owners have contained a
clause imposing. as : part Of the con-
sidcrat'on. 4 condition that the proper
ty shall not hc sold, rented or Ieascc
TO any person regarded by the laws Of
Virginia as colCred. II is believed
that these provisioSs in the deeds viii
make it possil Or the citizens to
xns.l the preseht owners Of the prop
erty III Question to Turn out their negro
tenants and permit no more 10 conc
in.
Every phase Of the situation will be
discussed at the meeting tomorrow
night. and il 10 expected tha: pract;-
cally tho entire male population ~
Fast End viii be On hanc {. -"rtici
pate in the prooccdjags.