Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-03-26


poultry. and 1t could probably produce
\ profitable crop of some fiber plant.
provided the people arc put upon tho
and American Consul Payne, who
mas been I'm St Thomas twelve year,
md Is II careful observer says tbo,
II given q chance to own land. the peo
pie would be very glad to cultivate /,
Macmillan Trepuk. Il very Intelligent
Hebrew merchant and other prominent
business men. agree that the pcoplc
would make good cultivators. and tina,
10 put them back on the soil woulL
! make St. Thomas self-supportinp Ri,
business. and make the island a mu,.h
more pleasant and inexpensive plucn
to live for the Americans who arc -,
bo sent here.
Inc only way TO accomplish this or
course. would be 10 buy the land fro,n
.n' present owners and sell II back to
'he people IN small tracts, az the INV.
erhncnt does land on It's Western IT,,
Ha'ioh projects. Engineers say thai !,
storage irrigation system could be es-
tablished on ST. Thomas which wouId
greatly Increase it's productivity.
Could BE Reclaimed.
IL the lands Of ST. Thomas w.r.
bought by the United States Kovern-
ment and handed over to the ablc nd
ministration OF the Interior Depart
incnt az a reclamation project. there
scems 10 he little doubt but tbat Tho
island could he brought back under
cultivation and the people raised from
their condition Of helpless poverty
some observers believe that tltlo 20
Tn" land should remain In the govern
mcnt. winch would lea,. Il; in order
TO prevent Il from getting into n fcu.
hands agar.
of course the Dracticability OF Civ
ing the Thomians what they want In
the way OF self-governmcnt and an
tn
thcsc people. a commission Is to bo
sent by the State Department 10 In
Vestigate the islands. and it's real
problem Will be to determine how in
ielliSent and responsible the peonI.
are.
The island negroes are poor and for.
tha' reason they go barefooted and Of
u.ess IN rags Furthermore. II is
rn" that the West Indian la not :,
systematic worker. He demands lois
ure for tho enjoyment OF life. lie ma
not have a pair OF shoes. but he i've,
like an English lord. nevertheless.
seorning TO worry about material
things. cultivat!ng the art OF life
The average American Is not ab,.
70 appreciate Il way OF life different
rom his own. which IT, founded unon
inorality and thrift. The West Indian
~ neither moral nor thrifty. But he
~ Intelligent and capable OF delicate
G. toiler than the American, bu,
more OF artist Although hs
drinks. he Is sober and although not
moral he Is happy. His way OF life {.
n't ours. but perhaps there are some
Tips We could protitably take from
him.
II must also be said in favor Of the
-. .h"mas negro that as "A rule he +,
clean! and takes good care Of his
property.
All DO Hsrbor work.
The negroes OF the town live almost
entirely by harbor work. They used
TO get cent q basket for coalinr
vessels. Being unable 10 live upon
that amount. they struck and now get
: cents - basket. Al this rate {, ~
possible for strong man TO MAKE
s. "A day. but there are SO rew vessels
mat he seldom gets the chance. Won.
Ell also work at the coaling docks
Other dock hands get 81 or So "A week.
typical country negro rents few
acres Of land upon which he pasture.
hNe COWS. He sells six bottles Of milk
day FOR cents bottle. He work.
Tor wrecker AZ 80 cents a day. and
IN odd moments burns a little charcoal
HIS total income IL about $3.50 A week
He has wife and six children. This
man was "a hard worker and Was con
sidered exceptionally prosperous
Such negroes az this make up ,ha
huIh OF the lSihHu population. They
are Industrious in their own way de-
spite All testimony to the contrary:
and, they are happy children are
happy, always laughing. fond Of music.
But they are not content. II is not
true. as some OF the whites will tell
you. that they have no conception OF
amy other condition, and are satisfied
with their lot. They were long slaves
and won the ownership OF their bodies
by revolt. Their story has been that
of long and patient waiting for IL
fuller freedom. Some OF them are true
cynics. and believe that whatever
changes come over the island. there IS
no hope for the black man. But most
Of them have great faith in the com
ing OF that liberty and equality Of
right which they have been told ara
The guiding principles of the great
American nation.
that ut shows so uNdeniably so CLAIR