Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-07-21
HOW EAST SAINT LOUIS
WAS TURNED INTO
A SHAMELESS
(Ncw York Sun-July 10.)


thirty black people by riCitous whites
in East st. Louis, Ill, on Monday,
July 2. 1t was the most wanton
crime OF which community was
ever guilty, and it cannot be denied
that it was the crime of the COM
munity, since had right action been
taken, prompted by consideration for
the responsibilities Of citizenship, the
community could have prevented the
vicious outbreak, having had ample
warning.
Commcnly spoken OF as mob work,
it was not like any mob violence
with which in thirty years Of news
paper work / have ever come in con-
tact. The killers Of the blacks were
not moved by any spirit CT frenzy.
There was vengeance in it, but not
the vengeance excited by an imme-
diate precipitating cause. Lynchiugs
arc as a rule passionate expressions
OF viciousncss. Mobs that execute the
law Of Judge Lynch are usually
formed suddenly and act with haste.
Always there must be q leader, and
always passion must be inllamed. In
Last ST. Louis the rioting was not
suddenly started. The action was not
that of maddened men and women.
There does not seem to have been
any one particular leader. Every
man and woman-yes, there were
women in the very midst of the
bloody carnival-was his own cap
tain, and there was but single
idea: Cop Il coon.' l use the en-
preston that was heard thousands
OF times while the slaughter was in
progress.
Never have l witnessed anything
just like the, tragedy that converted
practically the entire city OF East
st. Louis, H., Il city with a popula-
tion OF al proXimately $4,000, one OF
the largest industrial centres of the
Mississippi Valley, into a SHAMELESS.
The destruction of property was
not SO great rs 1t would have been
ma not there DGeli d9iDefation in
the work % tho burners, prompting
them to con1ne the fires to tho spo-
cially selected centres OF Negro pop.
ulation. Probably 1926 houses, small
and large, were burned Far the
larger number OF these were Shacks
and shantics Of two or three rooms.
The rost, with tho exception OF the
Broadway Theatre, afairly protein
llous structure, were old two story
frames, formerly .ic dwelling places
OF white people. but long ago aban-
doned to the l'""''s and the horde
OF undesirable female harpics that
have from time immemorial infested
East st. Louis. The actual property
lass will approximate 100000, in
Guiding number of freight cars
loaded with merchandise.
East ST. Louis, or perhaps it is
fdircr to say certain part OF the
population OF East st. Louis, several
months ago determined to get rid OF
the Negroes. First it was thought to
discourage the incoming blacks, but
efforts were useless il this direction.
Labor was needed and the black la
Dor OF the South was especially
wanted because Of the decreasing
danger of labor troubles due to tho
we'll known indisposition Of the blacks
70 "unionlze."
Labor agents honcycombed the
South and shipped in the Negroes.
This is denied by some OF the re-
sponsible heads CT the industries in
East st. Louis, but it is truo. RICH;
here is where one Of the yilest and
most iniquitous features Of the at
hair comes in. | have it from sew
cral persons who are we'll posted
that one OF the arguments put forth
by men hiring black labor for East
st. Louis was that in coming to the
State of Abe Lincoln the Negro was
sure vastly to benefit himself. That
state OF Lincoln" phrase was played
for all that could be got out of it.
Something near 10000 blacks have
been brought from different sections
OF the South TO East ST. Louis. Some
employers put the number at $500.
Labor leaders say that many stuck in
East st. Louis, but many others re-
turned South or went elsewhere, nol
taking kindly to the heavy labor in
the steel mills, foundrics and other
iron manufacturing concerns. Twenty
seven hundred are said to have
found employment. For each OF
these four dependents, women and
children, are reckoned. There We're
many among them who were far
from desirable as residents, regard
less OF employment considerations
Organized labor repudiatcs all re-
Sponsibility fer anything connected
with the butchery, yet it is a fact
that several labor leaders have come
out with long and strong eXplana-
lions OF how the Negroes we're
brought in as strike breakers and
took the places Of white men in the
great industries.
When the Negroes came in despite
the efforts to discourage them from
invading the East ST. Louis territory
attempts were made to drive them
out by intimidation of one kind and
another. 1t cannot be denied that
there was a marked increase Of
crimes Of vicious character as the
influx of Negroes grew. The streets
and low resorts were filled with idle
and more or less vicious blacks :;
holdups and robberies were frequent,
and tharn MORO MANY hrothol onI