The Tulsa star. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1913-1921, 1913-09-12
AFRO-AMER|CAN CU[L|NCS

Some 60 years ago, Frederick Law /
Olmsted who later became our great |
est landscape architect. made several |
memorable visits to the south. The |
books of travel he then wrote are
priced by historians as on the whole
the best material we have concerning
the economic condition OF the south
while slavery endured.
A dozen years ago another traveller,
with Olmsted's books in his bag,
toured the entire south with much the
same general inquiry in his mind. He
wanted to learn how much the labor
system of the south had improved.
lie came back rather discouraged
about the Negroes, but rather enthu-
siastic about the growing disposition
OF the South to use more and more
white labor, both native and foreign
Perhaps his judgment was somewhat
influenced by the feeling OF the south
erners round him, and particularly by
their eagerness to attract immigration.
At that time this eagerness was not
only very great, but rather undiscrimi-
AA'NN'hbs NBHdI Nh' HbhAA NohA''
all the white men 1t could get. from
whatever quarter. Today there are
signs that the attitude OF the south
on this important matter has some
what changed The desire for immi-
grants from the north is, indeed. still
undiminished There is also a hearty
welcome for European immigrants OF
I I. "a.
| by the southern native stocks-which
are mainly English, Scotch and Scotch
! Irish, with a smaller admiXture OF
/ French and German. But the south
does not seem so keen as It was for
/ all sorts OF immigrants. So much
may perhaps be inferred from the re
cent course of southerners In con-
gress, particularly Representative
Burnett OF Alabama.
Perhaps the best explanation is that
the south, although it has received
few immigrants. has been prospering
nightly during the last decade. I'm
doubtedly. too, the troubles of the
north with foreign labor have made
an Impression on thoughtful southern
ers. Perhaps we can hope, also, that
the Negroes themselves have helped
a little to make southerners more con
tent with things as they are-althougf
probably that is not the view OF mos
southern white people.
The Negroes themselves seem to b'
agreeing more and more with Booker
Washington that the south offers then
their best industrial opportunity II
that opinion Principal Washington
1nds himself strengthened by clos'
study Of the poorest classes in Eu
rope, whose condition he is constant
ly comparing with that of the Ne
groes in the south. He declares, 10
example, that the condition OF tn
colored farmer, even in the mos
backward parts of the southern state
In America, is incomparably bette
than the condition and opportunite
1f the agricultural population In Sic
ly." lie has reached the same cor
,lusion about other parts OF Europe
For that and for other reasons h
would not welcome a great miscelli
neous immigration into the south.
doubt in that he truly represents tn
mass OF his people.
No such unanimity on the subje'
can. however. be attributed to soutl
ern white people. Many complai
that their labor-supply is both scar
and inefficient. and many desire MOI
settlers in order to hasten the deve
opment OF the country.
But it does seem true that concert
ing these great matters both the whit
and the black south are today In
happier and more hopeful mood tina
at any other time since the war
, Youths Companion.