The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1916-10-31
WATCH
NEGRO MIGRATION
HAS SEVERAL PHASES.
Reports of Planned Election
Frauds One of Angles to Be
Taken Into Consideration.


Washington, Oct. 27.-Both the
department Of justice and the de-
partment of labor are watching
closely the migration of Southern
negroes to Northern industrial CEN
tres. The legal officers hope to-
check possible election frauds, while
the labor authorities are interested
primarily in preventing their fed
eral employment service being used,
to further migration schemes.
Attorney Gen. Gregory. in addi-
tion to general instructions recently
given to federal district ATTORNEYS in
advance of the elections. has ordered
a special inquiry into complaints
that negroes are being sent in con-
siderab bic numbers to doubtful
States under promises of work at
high wages. District Attorney Mil
Ter at Louisville has been ordered to
report the names. towns and desti-
nations of all negroes or any other
possible voters going from Ken
tucky Alabama or any other part of
the South, passing through Louisville
in suspicious numbers. Other dis
trict attorneys in the South and in
the Middle States are understood to
be under similar instructions.
Say But Little.
Department Of justice officials de-
cline to talk on the ground that II
might interfere with the govern
ments plans and all reports and cor
respondence are being Withheld from
publication.
The attorney general conferred to-
day with his assistants on the sub
Ject of election frauds generally. He
is giving tn ematter personal attep-
tion and under his direction special
agents of the department are at the
call of every district attorney de-
sirlns assistance. So far complaints
have reached the department of all
legged frauds or contemplated frauds
affecting candidates for federal Of
fees in Indiana, Illinois. Ohio.
I 'c''i' ANNii' uNhN ItunSNlNanl9.
West Virginia. New York and Mis-
souri,.
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 as
sisting in the migration of large
numbers of negroes from the South
ern States Assistant Secretary Post
said the department had no intention
of becoming party to schemes
which might be devised for purposes.
! of lowering the wages Of labor or.
breaking strikes.
To Help Legitimate Labor.
! At the same time it was made
clear that in cases where investiga-
tion proved it to be fact that skill
ed laborers were being Kindred be-
cause of lack OF unskilled assistants.
and where there was legitimate work
for negroes, efforts would be made to
get them just as any other class of
labor would be obtained.
Much information regarding the
migration has been collected. In the
South complaint is being maze tha,
the negroes are being taken to the
North with promises of much higher
wages and that if continued Sc
rjous shortage Of labor NAV result.
The labor department was represent
ed to tady as feeling that any la
borer is justified in going to that
place where the wages are best. and
that the place he leaves can remedy
The situation by raising the scale.
The American Federation of La
Dor, according to Secretary Frank
Morrison, also is watching the
movement of negroes with the idea
that "if it is not scheme to get
votes it is for the purpose of secur-
ing cheaper labor than is available at
present"
: Representatives of the federation
nave been asked to observe and re-
port on all large movements OF ne
gro labor