Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-07-07
Black Politics, Not Black
Man, Cause of Race Riots

rate town of Brooklyn, which is the
only exclusive negro community In
the state. Brooklyn has 5000 negro
citizens and a black mayor. city Off
Gals, and police force. Normally ne
groes vote the republican ticket. but
at the last presidential election four
fifths Of the votes in Brooklyn were
cast for Woodrow Wilson. That fact
may as well be borne in mind.
Also there have been for years large
negro settlements in East st. Louis
proper. The black valley, which was
burned to the ground on Monday night.
has long been notorious as one Of the
toughest districts in the state.
Then tho Newcomers.
But for the last year there have been
many negroes from the southern plan
tations drifting into the city. as they
have been into scores Of other northern
cities. East st. Louis is the northern
terminus Of FIVE or six railroads run
ming straight up from the south. 1t is
also on a great river, which taps al!
the southern country. SO it is not sur
prising If the city has had perhaps
more than It's share of black immi
grants.
1t is also charged that the packing
houses and other big factories have
imported negro laborers to take the
place of striking white workmen. And
not many months ago the present
Mayor hoffman made a trip down the
Mississippi and delivered speeches in
q number Of southern cities urging the
surprising advantages Of his town as
=; oI
had an indirect effect in attracting Ia
Dor
At any rate. six months ago there
were perhaps 1900 black people among
the $4,000 inhabitants Of East st. Louis.
The newcomers-at least 1000 of them
-swarmed into the already over
crowded negro quarters. They packed
| the black valley along which last win
ter it was not safe for a white man,
let alone g. white woman TO Venture.
They committed many holdupe, got
| drunk with reasonable impunity. played
craps held cock fights and found it
| was extremely easy to get away with
almost anything.
Election Bait and It's Result.
That, of course. was before the may
orally election last April. Now, what
ever its other sins may be, East st.
Louis is not one of the old fashioned
| towns which holds partisan municipal
elections. It's candidates run under va
rious nonpartisan captions, such as
Citizens tickets.
Mayor Mollman ran for reelection
on some such basis. He was elected
| by tremendous majority. Among his
supporters were the reformers and the
negroes 1t is said that during the
election the politicians spent about
$50 900 among the negro voters, in ad
dition to various promises Of rewards
and favors.
After the city election some Of the
negroes made nuiGances of themselves
They had son1eho-- get It into their
heads that they could do about as they
pleased They demanded this and that
They got to be great bothers.
| Along towards the last Of May a
meeting Of white laborers and union
men was called to meet in the city
council. Mayor Mollman spoke.
/ Planting R;ot Seed.
| Jerry Kane, president Of the liquor
dealers association, also spun1. 2ctL
Of these worthless called attention tc
the fact that the negroes were getting
too thick In the town. They both won.
dered what would be the best tiine
to do about It, An East st. Louis
lawyer also spoke and he mentioned
incidentally the great difficulty of con.
victing people who took part in mol
violence.
The meeting adjourned in some.
what excited condition, to be met b,
the news that a negro highway robbel
had Just shot q white man. Where.
j! upon East st. Louis went out and hat
its hrst race riot Of the season.