Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1919-10-05
THE RACE SITUATION.

The South today is confronted with very much the same conditions to- day, in one respect, at least, as ob- tained during the reconstruction per iod. And this situation, now as then, is due to agitators who seek, for their own profit, to create discord be- tween the races.
 Left to themselves the southern whites and blacks have always dwelt together peaceably, and they always will. There is every reason they should. Their interests are identi- cal. The only time there has been any friction; the only time there will be any friction, is when some with sell fish interests to serve, deliberately set out to provoke i'll feeling by mis- representations and statements absurd on their face. During the re- construction period it was the scala wag" with his forty acres and a mule" who fleeced many negroes; to- day it is the agitator serving some interest, as yet unidentified, with un. founded stories of ill-treatment of negroes in southern communities, and roseate promises of advancement thru affiliation with some long named association-promises, which, on their face,are false and can never be fulfilled.
 The result of all this has been to create tension which should not exist; feeling which would not exist if the people, particularly the negroes, kept in mind the friendly relations which have existed for more than 40 years. History proves that the best friend of the negro is the southern white. This truth has been empha- sized by some recent occurrences in cities often held up as communities where the negro receives better treat ment than in the southern community. If anything were needed to convince the negro that alluring stories were lies and that the South provides him the best opportunities these occur. ences should provide that proof
 Just now, instead of agitation there should be every effort to allay what ever nervousness exists. Everyone, white and black, should be careful to stay within his rights; to refrain from giving offense; to avoid provok- ing quarrels There'll be no trouble in this section unless It is started by whites or bad negroes. These people must understand that they will be protected and if there is trouble, they will be about the first to incur the penalty their acts deserve
 To present the situation properly to the negroes; to impress upon them their duties and responsibilities at this time, thus counteracting the in- fluence of he trouble breeders and agitators working stealthily among them, sane leaders of the negro race should be sent into all communities to speak to them. Those influential negro leaders could point out the progress that has been made with the help of the southern whites, and could site facts to show that the southern white is the negro's best friend, and that anyone who at tempts to preach another doctrine lies. They could show that those who are seeking to incite the negro are the negroes worst enemy, and could urge them to disclose to the authorities of their communities the identity of the criminals who are endeavoring to stir racial clashes, and thus prevent trouble in which the inocent suffer and the cowardly in- stigator escapes.
 Pine Bluff could render Southeast Arkansas no better nor greater ser vice just at this period than by ar ranging to send these sane negro leaders to speak to members of their race in the different communities.
 Pine Bluff ought to do this, and should do it at once,