The Dallas express. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1893-1970, 1919-02-15
AFTER THE WAR
PROBLEMS IN
THE SOUTH
AN INTERVIEW WITH MONROE N.
WORK, OF TUSKEGEE INSTITUTE
EDITOR OF NEGRO YEAR BOOK"
By VIM. Anthony Aery.


been well named the builder of
civilization started the Tuskegee
Negro Conference twenty-eight years
ago. His successor, DR.. Robert r.
Motion, and other loyal associates
have continued and developed the
Conference.
Today some of the strongest lead
ers of the South, both white and
colored attend the Conference and
gladly deliver from Tuskegee Insti-
tute their important messages for
better education, better health, bet
ter farms, and better homes'-to
quote the well known slogan of the
Negro Organization Society of Vir-
ginia which was founded by Dr. Mo-
ton while he was commandant at
Hampton Institute. H
Problems of Adjustment.
On the eve of the recent Conference
l asked Monroe N. Work, editor of
the Negro Book" and well known
statistician, some searching questions
dealing with the attitude of the South
today toward the Negro. especially
the returning Negro soldier.
That the most thoughtful Southern
white leaders, no less than the most
thoughtful colored leaders through
out the Nation, are thinking most
seriously on the re absorption of
nearly 100000 colored troops into
our civilian population, the readjust-
ments which the vast army Of white
soldiers will impose, the changed
ideas of all men and women on ac-
count of service in war activities
or of changes wrought indirectly
by the Great War, is almost axiom.
attic after the war problems in the
South.
Do White Men Understand!
! Do the most intelligent and fear
lless white peoplEA 1rtbf Or SoAth
really and fully Srh9derstand what
thoughts are surging through the
minds Of the progressive, conserva-
tive colored leaders?
Many white men and women, who
know from first hand experience a
great deal about the so-called plan
tation type of Negro, or the timer.
ant farm laborer, or the underpaid
poorly trained Negro cook or laun-
present day Negro understand fully
even those Negroes who have haC
some special training or, on account
of special gifts and aptitudes, have
become teachers, doctors, lawyers
or business men. Here opinions
when set against facts, prove un.
satisfactory and unconvincing.
Even white men who have studied
the so-called race problem with wei
trained minds and open hearts Otter
find themselves in mystic mazes anC
must search for colored men of in
telligence and honesty of speech t
lead them back to the open road.
4 which lead toward light and truth
Trend Toward "Safe Farming"
Prof. Work, who has so effectively
yet quietly and fearlessly, presented
to the Nation the facts concerning
our horrible lynchings, for example
knows well the workings of men
minds on the vital question of tn,
readjustments that are demanded du
ring these coming days. Recent!
he said:
"The South, as well as all othel
parts of this country, is seriousl.
attempting to get back on a peace
basis. For the past three years tht
South has been farming on wa
basis. Indeed, anything that any far
mer, white or colored, had to sell
he could readily sell for cash. None.
crops were numerous. This was il
sharp contrast to the old system,
under which cotton was usually tn
hole money crop.
With the coming of peace, thi
} unusual condition must change an,
the important question arises" Wha
under peace conditions, will be tn
money crops?
} Bradford Knapp, Chief of tn
Office of Extension Work in tn
South, who is regarded by Southern
ers in particular as the leading ag
, ricultural leader of the South, give
the clue to the solution of the prob
lem in his gospel of 'safe-farmiug'-
, the cultivation of home gardens
the increased supply of food an,
} feed; the better management of farm
} labor; the building up of soil fer
tility; the diversification OF crops
and then the production OF cotton
, tobacco, and other commonly recog
nized cash crops"
Negro Returning Soldiers.
Professor Work understands clear
ly the attitude of large groups O
people toward the returning Negr
soldier. He said:
. "The South is asking itself serious
. ly these big question: What will
happen when the 100000 Negro sol
J diers, who have left us, return agar
. after having had guns in their hands
after having heard about Democracy
: and after having fought and Bile
for their country? What will b
their attitude when they come home
. VIII they take their same old pc
; sitions in their communities? vii
they continue to submit patiently t
the treatment they received befor
/ the World War? What will thes
, Negro soldiers really do?
, 'The Negro soldiers from the Sout
have gone into the Army from tn