The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-05-23


ALlanta Constitution.
Reports from northern centers to
"ilch negroes in considerable num-
"ers have ventured from the south
d ring the last few months should be
"nything but encouraging to others
contemplating such a change of habi
at Still, they go, singly and in
5roups, and there is no law to stop
lem.
1t is safe to presume, however, that
If the negroes generally could be
made to realize how we'll off they are
t. home and what awaits them in the
orth, the exodus from the south
"ould die out in short order.
DR.. Ferdinand King, M. D., Me-
} ork, years ago a Georgian, has sent
% The Constitution a page from the
\ew York health departments week.
~ bulletin, dated April 7, showing the
ppalling death rate among negroes
n that city as compared with that
alnong the white inhabitants; and he
tsts that it be published in the ma
ture of a warning to Georgia nerroo ,
- keep away-to stay where tho
IRE.
- nm in renciDt of manv commu-
TONS" says DR.. King. "from ~.
nr%roes in Atlanta, Rome, Ca houu
I'd other cities, villages and towns
Where 1 was know 80 years ago.
bngging me to find positions in this
lily for their smart, ambitious OF
spring. To these requests 7 have but
one answer: Stay where You a~c;
there's nothing here for you and yol
9re not wanted!"
10 goes on 70 say that the white
qa3 lack, or social line is clearly
1Hfined here, and although a certain
s of loafers will drink 18th ~.
n"t W arrivcd negro rs lore &c thd
H'ir" "Hn and wiN ny 60. -'a Ioole.
hc 'f'"W$ f"w in'. e.. ,.u.'ujent .'-
i"N nunu" his Watcu uHtI rabbits
t""t-if he possesses such equip
IA ent-when his coin is all spent, an
will have nothing more to do with
he Southern brother"
The health department bulletin in
Guestion. announcing proposed
hHalth educational campaign among
~ negroes Of the city says:
'In order to combat the unneces-
y'Arily high death rate among the ne
sroes of this city, the department of
health, in cooperation with the Ma
,ional League on Urban Conditions
Among Negroes, will conduct an edu-
cational campaign during the last two
weeks in April.
Figures prepared by DR.. William
4. Gulifoy, director of the bureau Of
records, show that the general death
ate among the colored population is
rlmost double that of the city at
large. Thus. in 1916, out of 77,71O
ieaths, 2,62S were among the color
ed population. Inasmuch as the COL
ored population is estimated to be
slightly over 10000, this gives a ne
gro death rate of 24.4 per thousand
negroes as compared to the general
city death rate of 1877 per thousand
during the same year. 1t is also well
established that the colored babies
born in this city have only half the
chance Of living through the first year
that white babies enjoy. Last year
out Of every thousand white babies
born 81 died in the first year; out of
every thousand negro babies born,
1874 died in the first year."
From all Of which it would seem
that. could the southern negroes be
brought to comprehensive under
standing of relative conditions here
and there the trek north would lose
it's allurements.
OF course. this is free country.
and man can go pretty much where
his fancy leads him; aud if a negro
is determined to go north, he cannot
legally be restrained from doing it.
But he should post himsef fully be-
fore making up his mind, and then
II he goes he will go with his eyes
open and will have nobody but him
self to blame If he comes to grief.
Rome, May 1S.---It is officially an