The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1919-09-04
BYRNES TAKES UP
NEGRO QUESTION
SENSATION CAUSED By SPEECH
IN HOUSE.
Calls For Action
South Carolina Representative De-
clares Race Antagonism is Fos-
tered Through Magazines.

Washington, Aug. 25.-Declaring
that he had become convinced that
the race antagonism now manifesting
itself throughout this country is be-
ing circulated through negro news
papers and magazines and that he
had called for action by the depart
ment of justice, Congressman Byrnes,
South Carolina, today addressed the
house on this subject. The following
is part of his speech, until stopped
by Republican members who would
not let him discuss the matter fur
ther.
''The recent race riots in Washing
ton and Chicago and many other
similar disturbances throughout the
country have caused the press to
speculate as to the underlying causes
of the conflict between the races. It
is manifest that, when sanguinary
conflicts take place in cities so wide
ly separated and within so short a
time, the cause is general and not
local. The white man who reads the
newspapers of the country knows that
nothing has been done to change the
attitude of the white man towards the
negro race. On the contrary, the very
generous support of the war by the
negro caused the white people of the
nation to entertain for him only the
best Of good feeling. For this sud-
den change in our relations then we
must look to negro leadership to as
certain whether or not efforts have
been made to disturb the harmonious
relations heretofore existing in this
country. recently noticed in the
press statement quoting professor
at Howard University (negro) as say
ing that after a trip through the
South he was convi- ced that there
was imminent danger Ut the South
becoming little Russia Coming
from South Cardinal think I know
something of the negro and T was
convinced that there was absolutely
no foundation for the opinion of the
professor of this negro university.
In the South today the negro is pros
pering as never before in the history
of his race. He is accumulating
money; he is purchasing land and
through the assistance of the white
man is daily bettering his condition.
Left to ourselves there is no posi-
-bility of conditions arising in the
South which would justify the de-
scription of little Russia
'sBut the statement above quoted,
together with the general speculation
of the cause of the riots in Washing
ton and Chicago, has caused me to
inquire into the attitude of the negro
press, and I have become convinced
itselfhroughout the country today is
due to the incendiary utterances of
the would-be leaders of the race now
being circulated through negro news
papers and magazines. It is evident
that the leadership of Morton and
others, who, following in the steps of
Booker Washington, preached con-
servation to the race, is now being
challenged by crowd of radicals who
are appealing to the passions Of the
negroes and melting them to deeds of
violence. These radical leaders Of
the negro race are urging their fol-
lowers to resort to violence in order
to secure privileges they believe
themselves entitled to, and the recent
riots indicate that they are accept
ing this advice. 1t is unfortunate
that some negro leaders have chang
ed their attitude. inspired doubtless
by the desire to promote the success
of the radical leaders. A fair illus
tration of this type of negro leader
is w. E. B. Dubois, editor of the The
Crisis, a magazine. Dubois has here
tofore rendered great service to his
people by intelligent leadership. He
,acquired influence over many
thoughtful negroes and, therefore,
his capacity for evil is enlarged. The
recent ISSUES of his magazine are fill
ed with appeals to the prejudice and
the passions of the negro which can
have no other result than to incite
him to deeds of violence. A fair eX-
ample is an editorial in the May is
sue of The Crisis, page 13, where
under the headline, Returning Sol
diers,' he declares: we sing this
country of ours despite all it's better
souls have done and dreamed, is yet
a shameful land
s.Tt lynches-it disfranchises its