The Johnson City comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1916-1917, 1916-11-02

ENDURING INTO BIG SHIPMENT
AND REMOVAL NORTH OF
MANY NEGROES
DOUBTFUL STATES GETTING
MOST OF THE BLACK LABORERS,
PAYING HIGHER WAGES, IT
II REPORTED


IL REPORTED
Washington. Oct 31.--Both the de
partment of justice and the depart
ment of labor are watching closely
the migration of southern negroes t.
the industrial centers. The legal Of
ficers hope to check possible election
frauds, while the labor authorities
are interested primarily in preventing
their federal employment service
from being used to further migration
schemes.
Atorney-General Gregory, in add.
ton to general information recently
given to federal district attorneys in
advance of teh elections, has ordereG
a special inquiry into complaints thai
negroes are being sent in considera-
bic numbers to doubtful states undel
promises of work at higher wages
District Attorney Miller, at Louisville
has been ordered to report the names
towns and destinations Of all negroes
or any other possible voters goin&
from kentucky, Alabama, or any 9th
er part of the south, passing through
Louisville in suspicious numbers. 9th
er district attorneys in tn esouth anu
in middle states are understood to be
under similar Instructions.
Department of justice officials de-
cline to talk, on the ground that it
might interfere with the governments
plans, while all reports and CORE
spondence are being withhelu from
publication.
The attorneys general conferred
with his assistants on the subject of
election frauds generally. He is Civ
ing the matter personal attention,
and under his direction, special
agents of the department are at the
call of every district attorney desil-
ing assistance. So far complaints
have reached the department Cf al
legged frauds or contemplated frauds
affecting candidates for federal office
in Indiana, illinois, Ohio, Michigan,
Kentucky, Pennsylvania, West Vh-
ginia, New York and Missouri.
The department of labor let it be
come known that it had issued orders
designed to prevent the use of the
federal employment service in assis,
ing in the migration of large numbers
of negroes from the southern states
Assistant Secretary Post said the de
partment had no intention of becOm
ing a party to schemes which might
be devised for purposes of lowering
the wages of labor or breaking up
strikes.
At the same time it was made cleal
that in cases where investigation
proved fact that skilled laborers
we're being hindered because of lack
of unskilled assistants, and where
there was legitimate work for negroes
eforts would be made to secure them
just as any other class of labor woulo
be secured.
Much information regarding the
migration has been collected In tho
south complaint is being made that
the negroes are being taken to the
north with promises of much higher
wages, and if continued a serious
shortage of labor may result. The la
bor department was reported as feel
ing that any laborer is justified il
going to that place where the wages
are best. and that the place he leave;
can remedy the situation by raising
the scale
The Aemiracn Federation Of Labor
according to Secretary Frank Morris
on, also is watching the movement o
negroes wit hthe idea that at is no.
scheme to get votes it is for In
purpose of securing cheaper labo
than is available at present" Repre-
sentatives fthe federation have beer
asked oobserve and report on al
large movements of negro labor.