Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1919-03-14
UNREST OF THE NEGROES.
investigation of Recent Widespread
immigration Movement.


Investigations of negro migration to
the north during the war, according to
a report just issued by the United
States department of labor, indicate
that the total migration may have been
as great as $4,000, extending over a
period of about Is months during 1916
and 1917. That figure was fixed as
the maximum limit, and 100000 as
the minimum limit, and the estimate
of James D. Dillard, 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, so
many left separately and unobserved
that complete statistics would have
been impracticable. The investigator
in Georgia estimates that between 35,-
900 and 45,OLJ negroes left that state in
1867, and the number to leave Ala
bama during the same time is esti-
mated at $4,000. State officials. how
ever, made higher estimates, placing
the number to leave Georgia at $4,000,
Alabama 10000 and Mississippi 1O0,-
900.
Lack of Labor is a Cause.
Lack of labor in the north due to
the cessation of immigration, was the
principal cause, the investigators
agree. Among the causes operative in
the south to induce migration were
general dissatisfaction with conditions,
change of crop system, low wages,
poor housing, poor schools, unsatis-
factory crop settlements, rough treat
ment, cruelty Of the law officers, un-
fairness in court procedure, lynchings,
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
negroes kept going north
in small numbers, attracted by the let
ters from their friends who had al
ready gone. Better wages were i'm
portant. Every negro who made
:ood in the north, started a new group
on the way" one Of the investigators
reported.
Community Congress Plan.
About half the migrants, according
to one investigator, went from the
towns. Another investigator found
that the countries 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
improve relations between white peo-
pie and negroes in the south and thus
remove causes Of the migration ap-
pears to be the community congress
Ian. put under way in Bolivar county,
Mississippi. The feature OF this plan
is a committee organization including
prominent white business men and
ogr.iculturists, and prominent negroes
in each county. Committees are chosen
from the main body to consider spe-
,ial subjects-for example, there is a
committee on labor supply. This type
of organization is interesting in en-
ohasizing the common interest of the
races in community development, and
N providing contact between racial
'eaders in ways designed to promote
"armony, prosperity, and good will.
Bureaux on Negro Affairs.
Bureaux on negro affairs as adjuncts
20 chambers Of commerce are also
highly recommended, as means OF
bringing together desirable negro ten
ants and white landlords and planters
Frequent and confidential conferences
upon community problems. and active
cooperation between the local leaders
of the races are urged as important
measures toward betterment.
Better housing is recommended, both
for north and south. The necessit!
of higher wages, better homes ant
better surroundings in the south has
come to be generally recognized
Fair treatment, opportunity to labor
and enjoy the legitimate fruits of Ia
bor. assurance of even-handed justice
in the courts, good educational fac
ilities, tolerance and sympathy" are
urged by the southern university com
mission on race relations as means
of keeping negro labor in the south.