The Johnson City comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1916-1917, 1916-09-28
SHIFTING OF THE NEGRO RACE
(KnoxfiIle sentineD

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Montgomery, New Orleans and 9TH
er southern communities and states
appear to be worried over the report
ed migration in unusually large num-
bers of negro laborers to northern
localities. 1t is said that there has
been a systematic negro exodus from
the south during the last four months.
The Springfield (Mass.) Republican
tells us that 1.-The Pennsylvania rail-
road has taken 1000 blacks from the
south, 5000 being brought north IN
one train of six sections. Persons
familiar with our New England tobac-
co farms have observed this season
the appearance of negro laborers in
much il creased numbers. Exaggera,
ed estimates of the movement are IN
circulation. At the negro conference
in Washington last week, represent
ing the New England and Middle At
lantic states, it was asserted that
more than 100000 blacks from the
south lad come north in the last six
months. But, whatever the figures
may be letters and kilograms were
read at the conference from many
manufacturers, mine owners and oth-
ers, giving assurances that negroes
would be encouraged to make their
homee sin teh north and would receive
square deal 1t was represented
that the industrial situation in Penn
sylvania and New York was such that
at least 1000 negro laborers could
be employed in the next year."
1t is a somewhat curious common
tary ulOn the change of view that
communities as well as individuals
sometimes undergo, that in some of
the southern localities where the eX-
portation and colonization of the co..
ored people in Liberia and elsewht't
was advocated some decades ago, laws
are now being passed to prevent labor
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leave these localities.
The present phenomena tends TO
show how inequalities inevitably ind
3 ways in which to adjust themselves.
Commenting on the reported migra-
ton, the Baltimore Sun says:
although the decline in foreign
immigration due to tn ewar may be
partly accountable for this movement.
it has been largely produced by labor
disturbances and the fear of them in
industrial northern centers. Strikes
and lOckOuts in the six months ended
July / numbered 1865, as compared
with SAB in the corresponding months
of last year. Most of these affected
skilled artisans. whose places could
not be filled by unskilled negro labor.
But in case of a nationwide railroad
has been apprehended in New York.
the southern farmland could be usrj
to advantage in many directions.
That the strong current of colored
laborers from the south has been the
result of a systematic campaign on
the part of business interests in the
north is hardly to be doubted. and
that it has assumed proportions
which cause alarm in Alabama, at
least, is shown by the action taken
by the Montgomery commission. That
action of this kind would prove in
effectual if there should be a genuine
and permanent demand in merit fern
states for colored labor is obvious.
II the negro laborer can make more
money in the north than IN the south,
no ely or state laws vii! prevent him
emigrati g. Possibly it might be a
g, vi III g both 70" tn" north and the
south in every way if the colored
population could be more evenly dis
tributed. If 100000 white peol lie
from the north could be settled in
the south in exchange for 2,OO0.UrG
blacks, it might be to the advantage
of both sections"