The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1908-01-24

from series of articles by Ray Stan.
nard Baker in the American Magazine
touching the race question as pro-
voked by the Race Riot that oc-
cured in Atlanta in Sept. 06. Our
object in producing them is to help
you analyze the liquor question.
Those who have followed the sit
uation claim the recent local option
wave that has swept over the south
was put in motion before the public
at this time, or In other words, that
the riot mentioned provoked the
local movement Should this be
ue, it took just two years for suf-
ient force to gather, to cause the
ave to sweep the state. There were
uses other other than whisky for
is riot, our object is to show you
only the one part drink and its eff
fects played in the disgraceful whole.
Mr.. Baker does not claim intern
perance caused other than it's due
portion of the trouble.
ION the twenty-second day of Sep
TENDER, 1906. Atlanta had become
veritable social tinder-box. For
months the relation of the races had
been growing more strained. The
entire South mad been sharply an
noyed by shortage OF labor accom-
panied by high wages and, para
doxically, by an increasing number
of idle negroes. In Atlanta the low
err class-the worthless negro
had been increasing in numbers: it
showed itself too evidently among
the swarnaing saloons, dives and
clubs" which complaisant city ad-
ministration allowed to exist in the
very heart of the city. Crime had
increased to an alarming extent: an
insufficient and ineffective police
with a population of 1000 Allan
ia had over 1900 arrests in 1905;
in 1906 the number increased to 81 :
COZ. Atlanta had many more arrests
than New Orleans with nearly three
times the population and twice as
many negroes; and almost four times
as many as Milwaukee, Wisconsin,
city nearly three times as large.
Race feeling had been sharpened
through a long and bitter political
campaign, negro disfranchisement
being one of the chief issues under
discussion. An indamatory play call
ed THE Clansman." though forbid
den by public sentiment in many
Southern cities. had been given in
Atlanta and other places with the eff
fe3t of increasing the prejudice of
both races. Certain newspapers in
Atlanta, taking advantage of popu-
feeling, kept the race issue con-
antly agitated, emphasizing negro
ines with startling headlines. One
wsHaper even recommended the
nation of organizations of citizens
imitation Of the Ku KluX move
ent Of reconstruction days. In the
C!amor of this growing agitation the
voice of the right-mlndei white peo-
PIE and Industrious, salf-respecting
negroes was Warning-to 10 effect;
and within the week before the diot
the citizens, the city administration
and TIE courts all walked up together.
There were calls for ass-meetings,
the police began to investigate the
conditions OF the low saloons and
Gives, the county constabulary was
Increased in numbers, the grand jury
was called to meet in special session
on Monday the 24th.
But the awakening of moral senti-
meht In the city, unfortunately, came
too late. Crime, made more lurid
by agitation, had so kipdled the fires
of hatred thai they could not be eX-
tinguished by ordinary methods. The
best people of Atlanta were like The
citizens Of prosperous Northern cities
too busy with money-making to pay
after ion to public affairs For At
larta is growing rapidly. Its bank
cleariUgs jumped from ninety Ihii-
lions in 1900 to two hundred and
twenty-five millions in 1906, its
streets are well paved and we'll light
ed, lis street-.ar service Is good, its
sky-scrapers are comparable with the
best in the North. In other words,
it was progressiye-few cities | know
of more so-but 1t had forgotten its
public duties.
"The police station stands in De-
catur street, In the midst of the very
worst section Of the city, surrounded
low saloons, dives and pawn
hops. The court occupies a great
1om upssairs, and 1t was crowded
at morning to its capacity. Be-
,ides the police, lawyers, court Of
fieers and white witnesses, at least