Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-04-28

man at Jacksonville said a negro was
not allowed to take a plumbing con
tract, but white man could take one
and employ negroes; and so it would
often happen that the negro doing
the work would know more about II
than the boss--"had more expeeri-
mins'-as he put 1t. Booker Wash
lngton's teaching of the religion of
work would seem to be vain il the
negro is not TO be allowed to work
after he has learned how. At all
the places | visited, there was, | UNI
derstand. more or less strict conflne-
ment of the negroes to certain
quarter Of the city. That--so far as
1t relates to residence--has some de-
gree Of justification. as any place in
the white quarter would become I'M
salabe II a negro should become the
owner and occupant of adjoining land
except to negro Still such usage
must be liable to great abuse and, in-
deed, It has been extended at some
places to cover the arrest and pun
shment of negroes found in the white
sections after nightfall without a
good reason for being there. All this
may be necessary--never having liv-
ed in at the south ! cannot assume
to know, but if it is necessary then
he negro question is far from set
tled
hey West Il Blne.
From Miami | went to Key West
which at this time is deep in the
Slough OF Despond' over business
conditions az Miami is high above IT,
Their fish business has been to a
great extent lost, and the sponge in
dustry they have been claiming was
ruined by Greek sponge fishermen,
while the European war and the COM
petition of Tampa have reduced their
cigar manufacturing business to mar
row limits And Key West seems not
to be so attractive for alternating
purposes, as various other places in
Florida. When ! was there, how
ever, some Greeks from the north
had convinced some of the leading
business men that there were sponges
to the value of millions of dollars all
about Key West below the level
about thirty-two feet--at which their
sponge fishermen had been taking
them With hooks in way now gener-
ally obsolete. Ii was expected that
a corporation would be formed to
prosecute that industry. They claimed,
too, that in the season now closing, at
its height. they had more visitors than
they could provide with accommoda-
lions. But | was chiefly interested in
the history and some novel features
of the city II is on an island about
seven miles long but Is separated by
narrow and shallow channels from
others Of the group of Florida Keys.
Until comparatively a few years ago
Il could be reached from the outside
world only by boat. Owing probably
to its condition of isolation from the
mainJ land. 1t did not. like most of
the naval stations at the south, fall
into the hands of the confederacy at
any time during the civil war, but the
union flag flew there during the whole
struggle. and. indeed. its sympathies
were on the whole, with the north
which by water communication 1t had
been in closer touch with than with
the south.
How Cigars Are Made.
At the time of the war the United
States erected on the island works %
some strength at the time, but now
In ruins and interesting only as Curl
osities. ] visited a cigar factory and
found there in full vigor and in what
might be called state of active erup-
ton. an institution peculiar to that
industry. it is said. In room where
were seated at desks, something like
school desks, about 200 Cubans en-
gagged in rolling cigars, there was at
the center a small platform or stand
about two feet high and on 1t stood
a Cuban reading in loud voice in
Spanish to the workmen. from news
papers at the time, but a part of each
DAY | was told from Some author OF
repute like Cervantes or the works of
some author which have been trans
lated into Spanish as the men by
vote determine from time to time. The
reader is paid by the men through
small weekly assessments. They sal
silent and attentive as his
voice rang through the
room reminding me Of the work OF
the Interpreters at the legislative SEES
sions at Santa Fee or in delivering the
to juries in the New Mex
lean courts.
This is custom for which the
Cubans themselves must have full
credit as ii was unknown in our coun-
try, according TO my informants, be-
fore the coming of the Cuban cigar
ana Is now III Befetdl II nv
universal use in the cigar factories
here. The women, also Cubans. who
work In separate rooms, do not have
or care for readers. docs this phe-
nomenon bear on the suffrage ques-
ton either way?)
In most industries the clatter of
tools or machinery would of course
put readers out of the question. The
e., Of of a
for the custom as it secures quiet in
the rooms where otherwise the excit-
able Cubans not only create a Babel