The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-04-26
MEET T0NIGHI TO STOP
lAB0R'S FLOW TO NORTH
Aldermen Will Consider Special Reso'
luton Placing Tax Of $1,000 on
Labor Agents Taking Men
Out of state.
LABOR UNIONS OPPOSED
Building Trades Council. and Others.
win Appear in Opposition to Meas
urc--Hundrcds Of Negroes Leaving
for North Each Day.

for North Each Day.
Immediate steps to stop the alarm
ing migration of laborers from this
city to Northern centers of industry
will be taken by the Board of Alder
men in called meeting at 1880
o'clock tonight. The board viii hear
resolution, to be offered by the
president, william Fl. Adams. placing
license tax OF $1,000 year on all
employment agencies which operate
in securing labor for employment out
side of this state.
This tax is recognized as naturally
, prohibitive, and IL 1t passes is looked
upon as an effective means of stem
ming the tide of the negro exodus
which is rapidly becoming a menace
10 the farming and Industrial pursuits
# Richmond, Virginia and the South
at large. If the resolution passes the
board of aldermen it Is thought that
special means will be taken to rush
1T through to completion with as lit
tie delay as possible. As soon as IT
is made a law, secret service men will
be placed on duty to enforce the
measure against all would-be viola
tors.
Negroes Deserving South.
The necessity for action OF this kind
IA ready seen in the facts concerning
The unwarranted departure of the
Southern negro for the North IT is
stated on good authority that never
in the history of the South has n la =
cor condition of such seriousness ex-
listed, and that each day the question
IS fast approaching the critical point.
W. p. Duke, one OF the prominent
officials of the Richmond, Fredericks-
burg and Potomac railway, who is in
daily touch with conditions and de-
tails OF transportation on his road,
fas stated that within the last few
months 80 less than 10000 negroes
nave left Richmond and the districts
Immediately adjacent TO this city, 10
embark on this alarming negro jill
grimage to the North.
As a consequence Of this. IL is
stated that numerous Industries in
his vicinity are in danger OF beCom-
ing seriously crippled for lack OF Ia
,or. and increased wages with s,.er,-
ar hours. and other means that are
being employed to hold the men have
proven futile in Keeping them on the
lob. Farmers not only in this imme-
iiate section but all over the state
are sending out the cry that their
crops are TO he greatly shortened un-
less the supply of farm labor is in
creased During the last week four
dairymen within a radius OF fifty
miles of Richmond have sold their
herds because they cannot secure
labor. and others are said to he on
the point II disposinE Of their cows
Hundreds Leaving Daily.
u Is daily occurrence ii has been
round. IN see trainioads Of negroes
oay~inE through this city en- route ~
he North. The through trains from
he South within the last six or eight
fonths rave carried aimoS. halt
million laborers away from then
ZONES To follow the call Of the North.
arn markets and industries. it is de.
Jared
Labor agents from the North are all
ins the South with their appeals "a
the negroes as we'll as to other Ia
horcrs- Great Inducements are being
offered. Three and four dollars a day
are the wages promised the black m an
il he VIII desert the factories and fields
Of the South and go North to the land
Of his "emancipators" when he geta
there. they tell him, and has STAYED
short time. money will be advance i
him TO pay for the transportation D.
$ Mis- family there. And. greatest of ali
=. ne Is promised social equality IN his
few home.
The ignorant laborer. blinded BY
these ailuring prospects. which more
item than otherwise prove TO be mere
telusious. seizes the first opportuuity
leave his home No argument here
win convince him that H. is not STEP
ling into rose~strewr path. He be-
ieves all that the glib-tongued la Dor
solicitor tells him. and. too late. he
snds the mistake he has made He
inds the wages he was promised but
~. ,lso hnds that his money there goes
10 farther than 1t does here He finds
social equality, but finds that social
equality is not what he wanted after
- all. He wants TO come back bu:
- usually has no money TO paw his fare
MANY of them do come back, and event
4 ualiy many more will. come; but. If they
wait too long. perhaIt it viii be too
late Our crops have to be put in Tho
ground now or they need not he pm,
IN at all
women Servants Also Moving.
Not only to lahorers OF this kind is
the appeal being made, but dom c
servants have heard the call and are
making their way to the North. All
over the city housekeepers are clamor-
ing for cooks and maids. and In some
j cases the most unusual concessions
and privileges must be granted in or
y der to keep women servants on the
place. Cooks who formerly received
from Sie to SIS month are now leaN-
ing for positions they claim will pay
s25 and 500
Whether the Adams resolution is In
tended TO apply TO skilled labor and
members Of the trades and labor
unions Is not known, but If it IL. there
IL 20 be much opposition from the la
Dor councils of the city. Members OF
the various trades councils. II is under
stood, will appear In opposition to the
resolution tonight. and the Building
Trades council last night passed reso-
iutions against the proposed legisla,
ton, stating that representatives would
appear before the board of alderme,
TO combat the measure. The resolu-
ton passed by the Building Trades
council last night iS as follows:
Bsilding Council Reaoiution.
whereas il has been brought to the
attention Of the Building Trades coun-
Gil. which represents the various build
ing trades In Richmond and vicinity,
that there will be introduced at spe
cial meeting OF the board OF aldermen
on Thursday night bill to place a
license tax of $1,000 on agencies which
provide labor for any concern not do
Ing business In the state of Virginia