The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1909-05-06
saving the Baltimore Negro.

OF Twelve are all interesting and In,
strnctive. but none more SO than the
pamphlet by James II. N. Warine
on Work OF the Colored Law and
Order League Of Baltimore. Md.
In it's Investigations looking to q
betterment of the soc.al and civic
conditions of the Negroes Of Balti-
more. the League found state of
affairs we'll nigh incredible.
Saloons of the very lowest type
dives, If you please-were found
fiourishing in the most densely
populated colored residence districts,
and some Of the colored schools we're
within 800 feet Of from two to eight
Of them. "It was found that within
a block of a colored school there
we're nine saloons and no less than
forty-seven houses of ill-repute. It
was learned that it was most difficult
to keep girls In this school after they
became thirteen or fourteen years Of
age. So powerful were the influences
of this neighborhood upon them that
Mt thirteen some of them passed from
the school to houses of prostitution
and to lives Of shame. In a tour of
inspection Of this neighborhood
young girls were pointed out one af-
ter another, who, the previous year,
had been pupils of the school,"
Such was the magnitude of It's I'M
dertaking that the League found it
self unable to make any Roadway
without outside aid, and proceeded to
enlist the sympathy and active COOP
Grafton of the leading whites of the
community, who, while encouraging
them and promising assistance, init
mated that Elm some cases the con-
dittons OF vice and immortality grew
out of the laziness and id1eness of the
men of the neighborhood as we'll as
out of the environments Of saloons
and dives" They had not yet
learned, as had the League that the
most powerful elements of the city
were arrayed against any reforma-
ton; that the powerful liquor inter
ests resented the activity of the
League in Its efforts to remove the
dives; that the police, subservient to
the liquor men, whose creatures they
were, were but little inclined to con-
slider complaints from Negroes.
We learn further from the pamph-
let that:
I'm the lower Druid Hill Avenue
district, the largest and most popu-
lous colored neighborhood in Balti-
more which was the largest district
studied, it was found that in a sec
ton seven blocks long and two
blocks wide there were located forty
two saloons, fifteen churches, twelve
schools, one home for old people,
one home for friendless children, the
Colored Young Mems Christian Asso-
citation and the Colored Young Wo-
mems Christian Association. This
ling dens, known not only to the
initiated, but carrying on unblushing-
ly business which was known to
the citizens if not the police. There
were numerous dance houses, clubs
and billiard halls which were in &C
tual practice only assignation places
irlp nd
which many Of them owed their
downfall"
This district was, too, the tubercu-
losis center for the city Of Baltimore
and the State Of Maryland where Ne
groes lived like sewer rats and dis
ease held high carnival. 1t was
against these elements Of disease
and crime, opposed by forces invinci-
bic, that the League opposed itself
and began its campaign for law and
order. The first round Of this un-
equal contest resulted favorably for
the League which was able to put
eleven Of the most notorious of the
dives out Of business, most remark
able showing when one considers the
Leagues up hill fight as described
In Prof. Warnings pamphlet. The
League does not intend, however
to stop the good work, but Intend:
to continue it's efforts until all color
ed children are thoroughly protected
against the. evil influences Of the sd
loon and the dive"
That the Baltimore Negroes ar
pursuing the proper course to &C
c0rnplish noble work, no one will
doubt. The only regret is that Negr