The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-06-10

ana for the past two months have gwen a great deal of time to the prob lem of negro uplift On theThrst of this month l gave up very valuable business which was paying me approx imately 5000 a year in order that l might devote by whole time to this work As the result of my inyestiga- tons thus far among the negro lead- CTS l find that the unrest and dis quietude resulting in what is known $ the negro exodus is a condition and not a theory. Chief among the causes or this unrest among the negroes is the injustice practiced upon the race by petty officers of the law and oth- CTS in sympathy herewith, having the negroes brought into court for trivial offenses and having fines imposed out of all proportion to the offense al- legged Furthermore. there are mary cases; especially in the country, of ac- tual peonage. There is also much dis satisfaction on the account of railroad accommodations The negroes claim that they are discriminated against in the manner of service given them; that is to say, they claim that while they do not desire to ride in the coaches with the whites, they have to pay first-class fare and should, therefore have accommodations accordingly.
 Again. there is considerable com plaint especially in our city, of the treatment accorded them by our city railway corporation; that it frequently happens that only few seats are re- served for them and that these have to be given up on account of the de- mands of the whites And furthermore if any protest is made conductors do not hesitate to insult them and it Is regarded as dangerous for them to take the conductors number or the car on which they are riding, especially If the complainant is a colored man. Again there is considerable dissatis- faction about housing conditions and sanitary regulations Same applies also to school facilities and perhaps other grievances that I might mention. I am a southern man, born and reared in the south. And am unalterably opposed to the treatment accorded to these un- fortunate people, who are among US not of their own volition but by the coercion of the white race. They were in a condition of slavery for two and half centuries and felled our for ests. built our railroads, labored on our plantations, fed the southern armies in the civil war and during these periods, while our men were at the front fighting for their continued enSlavement. these faithful servants remained loyal to their masters and such a thing as an outrage upon white woman was unknown. Further more. when the federal armies invaded the south the valuable possessions of the whites in numberless cases were entrusted to these faithful slaves. And in no instance was this trust abused or betrayed. In view of the foregoing statements and facts, it occurs to me that the time is now opportune to discharge an indefeasible debt that Is long overdue, and in the doing of this the white race will not only be rem dering service to humanity but the reflex action will rebound to our own enrichment, as the following passage of scripture will show: q have showed you all things. how that so laborins ye ought to support the weak and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus How he said it is more blessed to give than to receive" Acts, 20S5. Respect fully submitted.
 J. B. SHROPSHIRE
 P. S.-A few days ago there was held a meeting of representative cit izens and this matter was discussed. A motion was prevailed that commit tee of 10 be appointed from every or= ganizat ation in the city to meet subject to the call of the chairman, which place the writer of these lines was appoint ed to fill To discuss this matter and endeavor to find a solution of the problems these several committees will include white and black, Jew and gentle, church members and nom church members, Protestants ana Catholics. In fact, the same will be representative citizenship of all our people. I have decided to call this meeting Thursday evening, June IA, at 8 D. m sharp and earnestly solicit the hearty cooperation of every organi-