The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1917-08-16
A CONFERENCE AND A REASON
FOP IT.


n c.. last week to study the question
OF the exodus Of negroes to other sec
lions and, incidentally, the treatment
accorded them in their new homes.
The conference also discussed at
length plans for preventing the exc
due of the negroes, principally the
avoidance OF those things which have
had most TO do with implanting in
the negro a desire TO leave the south
for other climes
The secretary of this conference
was kind enough to send The News
copy of the proceedings which have
proven very interesting and which
contain much food for sober reflec-
ton
Those of us who have been inclined
to minimize the Importance OF this
negro exodus and the loss it has caus-
ed to the south will be surprised to
read what was said at this conference
by Or r. c. BrdnsOn. who has given
the subject much study DR.. Branson
said that the wholesale departure Of
the negroes had cost The south a quar-
ter of a billion dollars in crop values
alone. He added that this loss aver
ages about SIS per inhabitant. "The
migrating negroes just about equal
the total force Of farm workers in
South Carolina" Another speaker es
timated the migration at about Soc
00O in the past two years The con
sensus OF the conference was that the
greatest migration had been from
those particular sections which has
experienced the most mob violence
and iynghing.
Among the findings and recommen-
dations made by The conference were
the following;
Speedy justice by due process
Dof law in the case If any and all
crimes.
Public commentator OF all OF
fccrs VINO resist any attempt at
public disorder on the part of
moi.
Making it impossible for any
officer to refain public Office who
does not do the utmost in his
ability to enforce the law
Home ownership for the nego
as the basis Of security, stability
of citizenship, law and order and
civic progress.
Law and Order Leaguers ev,
erywhere to improve surround
ings that lead to ins3nitati0n.
poverty, disorder and crime and
to anticipate and prevent mob
violence
Regular and fearless charges
tie grand jurios by trial judges on
the evil of mob violence.
Physical and mental eXamina-
lions by recognized experts of all
persons on trial in criminal
courts
Abundant literature OF race
problems in all libraries.
TeXabooks OF elemental moral
ity, on the lives and works Of
noted negroes, and Oh the prob
lens and progress OF the Negro
race, in the regular course Of
study Of all negro schools.
Discountenancing in every way
the exploitation of the negro by
the white man. imposition upon
him for trifling onenses by po-
licemen and other officers of the
law, unusually and uniustly Sc
we're fines and sentences placed
upon him by police Judges and
criminal court judges, and insist
ing that he be given a square
deal in the courts, i'll business
and in his relations as q laborer
with white employers.
The News is especially struck with
the recommendation about irposi-
tons upon the negro by officers OF
the law The injustice shown the
negro, simply because he is a negro,
by policemen, constables and other
petty officials and the usual tendency
OF the police courts and criminal
courts to carry OUT that imposition
by agreeing with the arresting Off
Ger, whether corrOborated or not,
merely because one party is white
and the other black, has been prob
ably the greatest compelling cause
for the departure of the negro from
| the south-although, of course, it
must be recognized that the most
powerful cause was the prospect Of
earning much better wages and for
| less work in the big industrial cen
| ters OF the north and east
But, with all the inducements Of
more pay the negro would not have
| been so ready and eager TO leave il
he were not dissatisfied at home
and the unjust treatment so often
given him by those dressed in a little
brief authority aggravated that dis
satisfaction.