Cayton's weekly. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1916-1921, 1919-04-26
NEGRO EMIGRATION

north during the war. just ISSUED by the
Department of Labor, indicate that the total
migration may have been as great as $780,
eco. extending over a period of about 10
months during 1916 and 1917. That figure
is fixed as the maximum limit, and 10000
as the minimum limit. and the estimate
of James II. Dilard who had charge of the
inquiry is 100000.
The movement had been under way for
a long time before any effort was made to
determine the number of Negroes moving
north. Moreover, many left separately
and unobserved that complete statistics
would have been impractical. The nvesti-
gator in Georgia estimates that between 3d.
coo and $4,000 Negroes left that state in
1861. and the number to leave Alabama
during the same time is estimated at $4,000
State officials, however, made higher esti-
mates placing the number to leave Georgia
at 10000, Alabama 10000, and Mississippi
100000
Lack Of labor in the north, due to the
cessation of immi grafton, was the principal
cause the investigators agree Among the
causes operative in the South to induce mi
grafton were general dissatisfaction with
conditions the ravages of the boil weevil,
floods, change of crop system, low wages,
poor housing, poor schools, unsatisfactory
crop settlements, rough treatment, cruelty
of the law officers, unfaimess in court pro-
ce(llre lynchngs, desire to travel, labor
agents, aid from Negroes in the north, and
the influence Of the Negro press.
The movement of large numbers at the
same time was due largely to labor agents,
but after these initial group movements
Negroes kept going north in small num-
bers. attracted by the letters from their
friends who had already gone. Better
wages were important EVERY Negro who
made good in the North, started a new
group on the Way,' the investigators stated.
About half the migrants, according to
one investigator, went from the towns. An
other investigator found that the counties
in the Black Belt of Alabama which had
suffered most were those in which there was
most poverty among the Negroes and that
the shortage of labor was most acute among
the landowners who made no attempt to
keep their Negro tenants by providing for
their subsistence.
One of the promising movements to i'm
prove relations between white and cOlOred
persons in the South and thus remove causes
of the migration appears to be the "Com-
munity Congress-" plan, put under way in
Bolivar County, Miss. The feature of this
plan IS a committee organization including
prominent white business men and agrcul-
lllflSlS. ana prominent cOlOfed men, IN each
county. Committees are chosen from the
main body to consider special subjects-for
example, there is a committee on labor sup
ply. This type of organization is interest
ing in emphasizing the common interest Of
the races in community development, and
in providing contact between racial leaders
IN ways desi gned to promote harmony, pros
perity and good will
Bureaus on Negro affairs as adjuncts to
Chambers of Commerce are also highly rec
commended, as means of bringing together
desirable Negro tenants and white landlords
and planters. Frequent and confidential
conferences upon community problems and
active cooperation between the local lead
ers of the races are urged as important
measures toward betterment
Better housing is recommended, both for
North and South. The necessity of higher
wages better homes and better surround
ngs in the South has come to be generally
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