Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-12-21
sAlTiMoRE's "sEoaEoATIoN"
ORDINANCE.

na.t.more's race segregation or
a,,,,,,ca wont into effect Monday,
when the mayor attached his sigma
tnre. The measure provides that
heaceforth no white person shall
move into city block in which the
majority OF the residents aye negroes.
ana that no negro shall move into
bleck in which the majority OF tne
residents are white. A fine OF sioo
a. Imprisonment may be imposed Tor
x;alafIcn of the ordinance This meas
NJ. was enacted as 4 result CT con-
tFnued invasions of white residential
a<e4aons by negroes. The situation IN
hat rospect in Baltimore has been
3utSlerahle for long time. Appar-
cstly there Is no such thing as an
am{cab.e agreement between the races
there. negroes with money seeking
residensiat sites take delight In
moving into white neighborhoods ana
the white man who builds his home
In any part Of the city has no assur-
ance that ne will not wake up one
meraiag to find negro family in,
stalled next,door 10 him.
In any Southern city except Balti-
more such situation as this PROB
ably would be handled without put
s,fias laws on the STATUTE books. Either
the negroes would heed the advice
of the wisest OF their own race. who
re alixe the necessity for segregation
or they would be afraid to defy their
white neightors. But II seems that
Bsltimore Is less fortunately situated,
so the ordinance was passed and VIII
be enforced unless the threat of the
! negroes 10 take the matter TO the
federal courts is carried cut and the
!, law Is declared unconstitutional.
The Richmond virginian is satisfied
that The ordinance is unconstitutional:
I; does not need that one should
he lawyer for the basic unconsutu-
fioaality CT such an ordinance to be-
come apparent Legally the negro Is
citizen He is amply protected IN
all his rights of person and property
soaaliy with his feiloe-citszen o.
White blood. The result OF the war
made these rights the specific sub
5eet Of national guardianship. NO
state nay impair them. and no town.
TIE black mans dollar and his use
Of /; are as sacred as che white mans.
The CALLING necessity aside. Il Is me
osesicallv as much Of hardship on
~ etise 20 limit him IN the sale OF
his property 70 one class OF purchas-
crs as IT Is IN the case OF the negro
20 limit his opportunity TO purchase.
baltimore is striking wildly in the
dark. We imagine, with fun knowledge
OF tue fundamental illegality OF her
course.
While not setting itself mp as an
sufhority on constitutional law. this
paper fails to see the logic Of The
vsrsinzu's argument Undoubtedly
The negro legally is citizen and
Is amply protected In all Of his rights
Of person and of property equality
With Lis fellow citizen OF white blood.
But what has that got to DO with the
ccnssi.utsoaaiity OF .sis ordinance?
The measure imposes restriction
r5sn both vhises and blacks There
~ ne Discrimination On accoant OF
<rscc color OF previous condition Of
xcrs.tnae.- unless the Jim Crow car
~ makes sr,.n discrimination. Ind
-f6S ~1in Crow iawE seea 70 stand
pretty well
II the negroes are wise they viii
~ BsisI1cre's ordinance alone.
c-znrinE that the law may b. De
<isrst void. Il wosld be foolish 20
Insist neca patting Il 70 the test II
they are Eoeded beyond endurance
the uhise people Of Baltimore Prob
at:s <in nave segregation with Of
rrIIrrs.< Inu