Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1913-09-12
AfRO-AMER|CAN. CU[L|NCS

books OF travel he then wrote arc
priced by historians as on the whole
the best material we have concerning
the economic condition of the south
while slavery endured. i
A dozen years ago another traveller,
with Olrasteds 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
He came back rather discouraged
about tho 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-
mating. Apparently, the south wanted
all the white men it 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
races known to be readily assimilable
by the southern native stocks--which
are mainly English, Scotch and Scotch
Tr{e a c~o n
French and German. But the south
does not seem 50 keen as 1t 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 IL that
the south. although it has received
few immigrants, has been prospecting
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
little to make southerners more con-
tent with things as they are-although
probably that is not the view OF most
southern white people.
The Negroes themselves seem to be
agreeing more and more with Booker
Washington that the south offers them
their best industrial opportunity. In
that opinion Principal Washington
finds himself strengthened by a close
study of the poorest classes In Eu.
rope, whose condition he 10 constant
ly comparing with that Of the Ne
groes in the south. He declares, for
example, that the condition Of the
colored farmer, even In tho most
backward parts Of the southern states
in America, is incomparably better
than the condition and opportunities
Of the agricultural population in Sici'
~" He has reached. the same con-
clusion about other parts OF Europe.
For that and for other reasons he
would not welcome great miscella-
neous immigration into the south. No
doubt in that he truly represents the
mass Of his people.
No such unanimity on the subject
can. however. be attributed to south,
ern white people. Many complain
that their labor-supply is both scant
and inefficient, and many desire more
settlers in order to hasten the devel-
opment of the country.
But 1t does seem true that concern
ing these great matters both the white
and the black south are today in
happier and more hopeful mood than
at. any other time since the war
Youths Companion.
The last battle In which Z British
sovereign personally led his troops
on the battlefield was in l742 when
George II. at the head OF his army.
defeated the French at the battle OF
Dettingen. -~: .-a.,. e.. 49,.
The first days session OF the Ma
tionai Negro Business league conven-
tion: was devoted to discussion Of
general merchandising, the develop
ment OF Insurance business among
negroes, the negro inventor, and the
forward to the country movement
among the members Of the race.
Statistics were presented to show
that the negro is crowding into the
large cities, to the detriDaent' Of his
material advancement and health.
Washington. Baltimore, Philadelphia
and New York were mentioned as
having an excess negro population
measured by the opportunities the
colored man has In those cities.
The coal production OF the Trans.
vaal for 1912 showed an increase over
the previous year the figures being
4.751;S50 tons. valued at $5.085,424,
compared With .s4s. $50 tons, o. 81
ess.45s value IN 1911.
Many worked-out' coal mines in
Pennsylvania are being filed In with
sand ard other waste material to pre-
want their surfaces caving and dam
aging valuable property, 20 - ~
Any individual rejoicing In the
name of Mr. Earwig may be- proud
in the fact that originally the name
meant the boar OF battle"
According to the Canadian Forestry
association 50, per cent OF Canada is
capable OF growing nothing but tim
Der crops. ..... ..... 49,. ~. 3.
The entire 1928 opium crop Of
European and Asiatic Turkey Is.
placed at 1000 cases Of 15O pounds
net each. ,,s ll NJ -s.8