The Colorado statesman., 1917-01-20


northern munition works during the
last two years, commanded attention
principally because of charges in some
quarters that attempts were made to
absorb these men into the electorate
before they have complied with the
terms Of the election laws, writes Will
son Jefferson in the New York Sat
urday Eve ling Post. According to
George e. Hayes, professor of social
science at Fisk university, and execu-
tive secretary of the national league
on urban conditions among Negroes,
the present movement northward Is
only an example, somewhat conspicu-
Gus because of its size, of what has
been going on for more than thirty
years. He chooses nine northern and
border cities to show this tendency,
and refers to the federal census re-
turns for his figures. The cities in
clude Boston, New York, Philadelphia,
Chicago, Cincinnati, Evansville, Indian
apolis, Pittsburgh and st. Louis. Be
tween 1880 and 1890 the Negro popu-
1ation in these nine cities increased
36.2 per cent, rate three times that
of the rate of increase in the Negro
population of the United States. Be
tween 1890 and 1900 the movement to
these cities became more pronounced,
the Negro population increasing 74.4
per cent, or more than four times the
rate of increase of the Negro popula-
ton in the United States, and between
1900 and 1910, the increase was 37.4
per cent, or more than three times that
of the Negro population in the United
States.
In fifteen representative southern
cities it was also noticed that the Ne
gro population increased more rapidly
than the normal rate of increase all
over the country, but during the same
period the increase in northern cities
was larger. In both cases it is clearly
shown that there is a steady flow of
Negroes from rural to urban districts.
The difference between the increase in
the northern cities and in the southern
is also emphasized by the observation
that in the northern cities the rate of
increase among Negro inhabitants ex-
coed that of the white inhabitants,
while in the southern cities it was al
most the same, indicating that there
was nothing unusual about the in
crease in southern cities.
Churches probably WELD more power
among the colored people than among
any other single class in the United
States. Religion is an intimate part of
life to most colored persons. The
churches are an influence for good citi-
zenship and an educational factor sec
ond only to the public schools. They
have clergymen powerful as eXhorters,
and surrounded by thousands of de-
vout followers.
canvass of all the churches made
by the Daily News shows that they
claim 42.5 per cent of the city's col
ored population as church members.
Attending church is taken up with en-
thusiasm and religious services are
made pleasure. Few other churches
in Chicago have as large congregations
as several of the leading colored
churches. From this high standard the
congregations diminish in size and in
fluence down to the private ventures
where "brother" or "Sister" with a
can of paint and brush has converted
a vacant store into a mission. Some
times mission" Is started and runs
strong-lunged exhortation, followed
by collection or rummage sale to
make 1t worth while.
The big churches are financially pros
porous. They have employment agen-
Behind this movement, says Profess
sor Haynes in letter to the New York
Times, is the reaction of the Negroes
toward certain fundamental conditions
which have always affected American
population. They come North for bet
ter wages, better educational oppor-
tunities and better living conditions.
Most important is the economic rea-
son. Wages in occupations open to
IT,. 81 N