El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-05-31
BIZ
Frederic
J. Haskin

money in bit Of land and become the
Vanderbilt or Astor of their respec-
tive communities. In the economic and
social environment of their native is
lands 500 in gold is as much wealth
as is 100000 in the United States
The West Indian laborers at first
were obtained by recruiting agents at
work in the various islands. princi-
pally Barbados and jamaica OF the
10000 negroes brought to the canal
zone by the recruiting service, 10000
came from Barbados, not quite 5000
from Jamaica and the remainder from
other Islands OF the Caribbean. Yet
the proportion Of Jamaicans at work
On the canal is much greater than is
indicated by the figures In fact the
inducement of high wages and the
low cost of Storage passage from ia
maica TO the canal zone has attracted
so many thousands OF Jamaicans that
the canal commission now is justified
in withdrawing its recruiting officers.
The excess of arrivals over departures
to the zone last year was $1,000, and
a very large percentage of them were
from Jamaica. The problem OF labor
supply has been solved in a natural
way
Little Friction.
There is little or no friction between
the Whites anu D1dCkS Oh the Cdud1
zone. This immunity from racial
clashes results from two cause.-the
incompara bic courtesy of the West In
dian negro and his full knowledge of
his rights. especially If ne be subject
of king George. These West Indian
negroes have been reared with a full
consciousness of the possession Of ev-
cry right Of a British subject, except
the purely IN2litical privileges The
trouble-making politician has thus
been eliminated from the equation in
which he is such an important factor
in the United States. But the jana
clan and the Barbadfan negroes know
their rights and insist upon them
They are British hobjects" and tfeir
appeals to his majesty's consul suffer
no prejudice because of the color of
their skins.
This fact alone. however, would not
keep down trouble if the negroes were
offensive. But as a matter Of fact
they are anything else Practically
every one Of them, man or woman. is
the very pink Of poIiteness. Ask one
a question. and the answer will be, "Oh,
yes, sir" or "Oh. no sir" or If he has
not understood. Beg pardon. sir" He
would no more omit the honorific than
would a Japanese maiden addressing
her father forget to call him honor
able"
The visitor to the canal finds the
West Indians extremely interesting.
About the railway stations. the post
offices and other public places they
may be studied at close range. and
the study is well worth while With
out exception they are adopts in car
rying things on their heads, and conse-
quently they all have an erect car
riage and noble bearing that is the
very antithesis of the slouchy and
slovenly shuttle Of the American cotton
field negro. It is said that the first
ambition of q West Indian negro child
is to learn to carry things on its head
in imitation OF its parents Frequent
~ negro viii be seen with nothing
in either hand. carrying an umbrella
balanced horizontally on his head
Once in awhile one may be seen to get
a letter from the postoffice. place IT
on top of his head. weight it down
with a stone. and march off with 4
without any apparent knowledge that
he is executing circus stunt
Enjoy Their Holidays.
The West Indians are at their best
on the first holiday after pay day.
They all turn out in their best and
brightest clothes with the sole and ex-