The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1917-09-13
Cox Makes Statement.

thN WI III u66lC uAAAOA oNOSN NAAN |
by the state Of Ohio and
by the nation, and the small number
Of industrial disputes in comparison
with the tremendous activities of fac
tories, mills, mines and other busi-
nesses is relatively few-a circum-
stance which shows that with both
employer and employe the welfare OF
a common country comes first, de-
clared Gov. Cox in Labor day state
ment
He sounded a note Of warning OF
the need of careful and thoughtful
handling of the great number of
southern negroes who have come to
this state in the last few months. not
only to prevent racial differences but
to prevent these strangers to the
state from suffering this winter.
The governor pays tribute to the
part labor is playing in national ac-
tivities and the problem presented in
the handling of the negro laborer
from the south in his Labor day mes
sage. 1t follows:
There is nothing more proper in
this years observance of Labor day
than to convey the assurance of the
state that the part labor Is playing in
the present world struggle is both
understood and appreciated. There
has been nothing more gratifying
than to observe the co-Ordinated ener-
gies of factory and farm in giving to
the nation such resources as aCcords
with the strength and patriotism Of
the state.
The Representatives of labor acting
in the war cabinet have been most
useful, both in the deliberations at
the capital and in helping to allay in
dustrial strife when symptoms Of trou-
BILE appeared. The president of the
American Federation of Labor, Mr..
Gompers, in the magnificent co-opera-
tion which he has given 10 President
Wilson, has manifested the spirit
which possesses his followers and the
cause to which his talents arc de-
voted. When we measure the tremen-
dous activities of our factories, mills
and mines, the number Of industrial
disputes have been relatively few-a
circumstance which shows that with
both employer and employe the well
fare of a common country comes first.
There is one symptom, however, in
the present situation which presages
serious trouble unless society and the
state act together and avert it. At
| the suggestion of the federal govern
ment, we have made as careful an
analysis as we can of the causes and
consequences of the large influx OF
colored people from the southern
/ states. A variety of things have
brought them here. Representatives
of employment bureaus have in some
instances been somewhat enthusias-
tic, if not false, and neither the kind
of employment nor the compensation,
which were promised, have been
given. AS result the dependent class
has been tremendously increased.
With the approach of winter a very
serious condition may develop. Off
cial adviceS from Cincinnati state
! that as many as 1000 colored people
have arrived there in single day,
/ Ohio cities being their objective. The
! temptations of city life have trans
| formed some who were law-abiding in
! the south into seeming vicious types,
! and colored men and women who by
honorable citizenship through the
years established good regulations fol
! themselves, have been greatly embar'
rassed, it not endangered, by the ra'
cial feeling which has developed.
I am not prepared to say that one
of these promptings behind this whole
movement is not an insidious purpose
to break down the standards of labor
and to jeopardize the ideals Of pro
gressive state. 1t is to this phase o1
the matter particularly that the state
addresses itself, and the pledge is
given that any attempt along these
lines will receive such restraint as
can legally and properly be imposed
Those who are responsible for the
Importation of misguided colored resi-
dents of the south must be brought to
understand that they have further
responsibility in preventing those
whom they might use in time of pros
perity from becoming dependent upon
the public. Labor as class and so
ciety in general, it seems to me, are
entitled to know that time and
thought are being given to survey
of this situation.
Ohioan Sees First Wonder.
Announcement was made in Wash
ington thy the National Geographic
society that it's Mount Katmai expedi
tion to Alaska, headed by Robert F
Griggs, botanist, of the Ohio Statt
university, has been so successful tina
the valley of ten thousand smokes
soon will be recognized as the frs
wonder of the world.
Keep Children in School.
The state war board says:
Keep the children in school and ir
college.
Efficiency and the trained mind viii
win this super-war.
Temptations to parents to keel
children out of school and college thi'
year and while the war continues will
be many" says P. P. Clayton, UniteC
States commissioner of education.
But there must be no lowering o
the standars of efficiency or of at
tendance in the schools.
Let America profit by others mis-
takes.
Leave for Camp Sherman.
Scores of Ohio's young men VIII
have been drafted for military service
laid down the pursuits of peace ant