New-York tribune., 1918-01-06
Exodus Causes Labor Shortage in
South and Forces Employer to Bid
Against North-Winter and
Higher Rents Driving Negro Back

TIME negro exodus from the South
has caused a problem entirely
different from the North's, but
rot less serious. For months Southern
industries of all kinds were seriously
crippled. but in the last few weeks.
return tide has set in, which has re-
lieved the trouble and produced spirit
Of optimism. Apparently the South has
found means o1 meeting its problems
which promise good for both races
there and indicate. that unless the
North is prepared to give the negro
greater safety and greater comfort
than at present i. cannot hold him.
One Of the chief reasons for the
negro exodus was the treatment he had
been receiving below Mason and Dixon's
Line, and when the TABOR shortage there
became acute there was a great search
ing OF heart as to the attitude Of white
employers and officials. The result, it
is agreed by both black and white. has
been that the condition Of the negro
of the South to-day is far better than
it has ever been before. The South, in
short, is bidding against the North and
the negro is reaping the benefit.
The rigors Of the Northern winter
has been one Of the chief causes in
driving the negroes back. The fact that
high prices here have to large extent
Offset the higher wages, the fact that
they are not known and can get no
credit, the fact that they have "a
"white folks" on whom they can call
FOR help in time Of trouble, and OF
course the reactions from the East St
Louis and Chester, Penn, massacres
have all had an influence. But the
chief has been tho higher wages ane
better treatment that the South offers
Negroes Reasons For
Leaving South
To understand the negro hegira one
must go rather deeply into their rea
SONS. for leaving the South. Two view:
are offered-that OF the negro himsel.
and OF their leaders in the North, ans
that Of the Southern white man.
"Why did you come North?" one o,
the negro immigrants was asked here
in New York.
Better wages" was the innocent re
ply.
Isn't living higher, too" was sug
gested.
II can ride in streetcar, can edu
cate my children, I can vote and II
not get lynched. Yes, sir. III not ge
lynched."
DIX. W. E. B. Dubois, leading ne
gro spokesman, says that thousand
came North year ago to vote agains
President Wilson, because as a South
erner he encouraged segregation of tn
races in Washington" His refusal t.
denounce the East st. Louis and Ches
ter massacres, DR.. Dubois eaid, and T.
receive the committee from the Ney
York silent parade has aligned the ne
gro rather more bitterly against tn
President than before
"The South is incapable Of doing U
Justice continued DR.. Dubois: "tha
is the chief reason for the exodus. TIL
desire to get away from the hate
, South has always been present"
II. N. Stanley, Commissioner Of Com
merce and Labor Of Georgia, gives tn
white mans view of the reason for tn
exodus. lie says:
"The exodus Of the negro from tn
South was caused by several reasons
The movement began in the boil weevi
section, where negro farmers becam
very much discouraged over cotton con
ditions. Needing many common labor
ers in the North, labor agents wen
into the boil weevil sections and foun
negroes in a very receptive mood. TIL
negroes were told of much better liv
ing conditions and more freedom OF &C
ton. Those who went away first be
longed to the shiftless class, who onl
dog in order to be ready to go.
to a new section, where there was plen
ty of Booze WAS sufficient induce
ment for many"
There is proof that the alleged in
justice Of the South's treatment of tn
negro was certainly not the only caus
OF the exodus. In the great infu
were blacks from the West Indies.
The proportion Of West Indian ne
groes in Harlem used to be onc-thir
teenth; now it is One-fourth," Joh
T. Clarke, field secretary Of the Ma
tional League on Urban Condition
Among Negroes, declares.
/ Coming now to the reasons for tn
backward tide, the most apparent is tn
change In the attitude Of the Souti
The first reaction there resulted IN tn
attempt to stop the exodus by lega
! or legal force. The employers O
the South were so enraged that the
made it a penal offence for Norther
employer to contract Tor negro labo
Employment agents were driven out j
many Southern districts, and railroa
agents in the South refused to Sc
tickets to negroes bound for Norther
cities.
These measures we're ineffective. Th