Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-11-24
NEGROES ARE ASSURED OF
WORK IN SOUTH GEORGIA
Organized Effort Is Begun at
Albany to Stem Tide Of
Emigration
Especial Dispatch to The Journal,

Especial Dispatch to The Journal.)
ALBANY, Ga, Nov. 22.-An organized
effort to stem the tide of emigration
that has set in among the negroes of this
section has been inaugurated among the
leading white and negro citizens of this
section. A preliminary meeting to
talk things over has been held, as
result Of which it has been determined
to take action to assure the negro la
bOrers Of southwest Georgia that they
are wanted here, that they will be given
protection from mistreatment. real or
imagined, and that the best class Of
white citizens will continue, as in the
past, to be their friends.
Some Illuminating features developed
at this meeting, which was attended by
several prominent representatives Of
both races. Some leaders of the negro
race, who are doing their best to induce
their people to remain where they are,
were present at the meeting, and when
asked by their white friends to talk
freely and frankly of the problem, did
So with the result that a clearer in
sight was had by al present into GER
tain features of the widespread emil
grafton NOV ement among the negroes
of this section.
According to these leaders of the
negro race, who know and understand
their own people perhaps better than
any others, there are several considera-
tions that influence the negroes who
are leaving Georgia.
EFFECT OF BOIL WEEVIL.
In the first place. the coming of
the boil weevil has caused many of
them to become apprehensive of their
ability to make a living here any
longer. Some of the large white plant
ers, it is stated, have told their negroes
that because of boil weevil conditions
they can no longer make arrangements
to supply their needs as they have
done in the past. This has removed the
main prop of the existence of many
negroes, and when the opportunity has
come to go north they have seized upon
it as a welcome means of salvation from
conditions with which they feel unable
to cope. Many large land owners, how
ever, who had told their negroes that
they could no longer supply their needs,
have changed their minds, and have in
formed the negroes that they will con-
tinue to look out for them in the future
as in the past, realizing that as much
money can be made from cotton, pea
nuts and other crops, under boil weevil
conditions, as was made before the pest
came. In many instances, where this
has been done, the negroes are content
to remain.
Another factor. and a much stronger
one, that is causing many negro fami-
lies to leave, especially from certain sec
tons, is the impression that has gone
abroad among them that the better class
of white citizens have changed their atti-
tude toward the good negroes, and will
Hny- -
have assiduously fostered this impress
sion, and hundreds of negroes are said
to firmly believe that the white folks
are going to run the negro out of Geo.
gia."
The big, outstanding feature Of the
meeting was the assertion that the plain
truth of the exodus of negroes from
southwest Georgia is that they are afraid
to remain here. Tales were told of tho
sleepless nights spent by negro families
in sections where lynchngs have been
prepetrated; how every sound outside the
humble cabin caused terror; how the
women and children lived in constant
dread until finally they could stand it no
longer and departed for other states
where this dread could be shaken off.
One negro speaker at this meeting toll
of a trip he made from Albany to Allan
Ia in a carload of negroes going north.
He said he made this trip for the eX-
press purpose of learning the attitude
of the negroes that were leaving. He
told several pathetic tales that showed
the feeling of fear that impelled these
people to fee from their homes. One
negro farmer who had a farm and home
worth four thousand dollars sold it for
fourteen hundred dollars. He declared
that his wife and little girl compelled
him to do it because of the constant fear