The Denver star., 1916-09-09

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do they want the impression to prevail
that working on tobacco plantations is
more of pleasure jaunt than a seri-
GUS business proposition.
Picking tobacco is the chief duty of
these sons of toll, for which So a day
II paid. The foremen and drivers get
more. Another way of making a liv-
ing is by stringing tobacco, and Will,
the majority of "stringers" earn on an
average So week, being paid by
piecework, there are some, especially
nimble fingered women, who earn So a
day. But earning SO day is an ex-
ception and only made by those un-
usually adept with the needle. Female
colored help is now wanted for string
ing tobacco.
The food question at first was some
what OF a problem to solve, the stu
dents in particular not being satisfied
with the arrangement made of board
ing out and paying about 81 weekly
for meals, In most instances the young
men have hit upon the happy idea Of
clubbing in, buying their own provi-
sions and paying one Of their number
with culinary proclivites to act as
chef. The club plan is working salts
factOrily, the students finding it less
expensive, and it permits them to have
a selection of food more to their liking.
Constructive Work Of Urban League.
NJ. L. Floyd Is primarily responsible
for the presence of colored help on the
tobacco fields Of Hartford. but the Ma
v1,a
Among Negroes. 1908 Seventh avenue,
New York city, enjoys sole credit for
supplying the planters with Negro la
Dor. After Mr.. Floyd had won over
his fellow planters to his plan the
members Of the Connecticut Leaf To-
bacco association once more found
themselves In quandary.
AZ knowledge OF the activities Of the
National League on Urban Conditions
Among Negroes had extended far from
the precincts of its home town the
suggestion WAS made that the league
be asked to help them out Of their
dilemma. The situation was carefully
gone over with the heads of the league
and John T. Clark. industrial secretary.
was designated to furnish colored help.
Since last spring Mr. Clark has de-
voted much of his time supervising the
work of sending Negro labor to the to-
bacco plantations in the vicinity of
Hartford. aided by q corps Of assist
ants. one who is stationed in Norfolk.
Va. and meets all help destined for
Hartford Representatives of the Ur-
ban league have supplied all help with
transportation. for the planters furnish
free transportation from Norfolk to
Hartford and return. The Urban
league has made n most favorable i'm
preston on the Hartford planters 1t
has net asked one cent for its services.
the only expense the tobacco men have
met being that incurred by the EN-
ployment OF extra agents who are de-
voting their entire time to sending
coiore.l1 labor to Hartford.
Planters to Continue Present Policy.
With the shutting down of the mu
milton plants and the cessation Of hos
tilities in Europe. what will be the at
titude of Hartford planters toward
Negro labor" l asked the planters
present
There will be no change in our
present policy of employing Negroes.
for we would rather use native labor.
was the answer shot back by Mr.
Floyd The Negro is loyal at all
times. and you can count on him.
have had Poles working for me for
fifteen years. but l never could put
implicit confidence in them as | dc
in colored help. The Negro is trust
worthy and dependable. takes especial
interest In your business and usually
refers to 1t as my business. We intend
TO hire Negroes and do the right thin.
by them as long as they do the right
thing by us
SO Ear the experiment OF employing
colored help has been big success.
The future Of the Negro on the tobac.
co plantations of New England is IN
his own hanGs. And it cannot be said
that all the colored help has to date
been satisfactory. Some weeks ago =
dozen Negroes were sent to the Floyd
vile farm from Norfolk. They were
Of the shiftless class who had come
north for good time. They refused
to work. cvincing preference for
suoolluE craps. Soou tHes peSdue w
noxious to the community, finally dis.
appearing from Hartford This has
been the only unpleasant incident SO
far, and the sufferer, strange to relate,
was the man who urged the employ
ment of Negro labor, Mr.. Floyd.
Races From South Work Side by Side
Among some Of the strange features
OF this new industrial condition is the
spectacle OF white boys from the south
working side by side with colored boys
from the south In his search for la
Dor, ]. f. Luddy, in charge OF the
employment bureau conducted by the
tobacco growers, went to Florida. where
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