Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1919-08-15

The old Pekin theatre at 2,700 State
street. for years one Of the leading
negro amusement houses in the coun-
try, became one of these dance halls,
They were openly conducted for long
time without being molested, but early
in 1918 the city council passed an anti
cabaret ordinance which put a damper
for time on the night life Of the city.
Last spring, however, the mayoralty
election came around again. Mayor
Thompson was a candidate for re-elec-
ton and was reelected. The Black
Belt did its duty.
When the primary campaign opened
the lid was tossed overheard. Resorts
which had been closed re-opened. The
Black Belt became again the centre of
night activities.
With the elections over in April and
prohibition looming up in the near
future, the hearts of the city authori-
ties were softened, and the lid stayed
off. In the last few months conditions
in the Black Belt have been almost
unprecedented. Men who have travel
ed the country over say that nowhere
in the United States have they wit
messed such scenes as they saw in the
notorious "black-and-tan resorts on
the south side in Chicago.
State Attorney Maclay Hoyne Of
Chicago few days ago laid the blame
for the race riots at the door of the
politicians, who, he said, taught the
negroes disrespect for the law.
"The police department" said Mr..
Hoyne, has been demoralize6 to such
extent by the politicians, black and
white, on the south side that they are
afraid to arrest and prosecute men
with political backing or who claim to
have political influence"
Others have issued similar warnings
from time to time in the last two or
three years.
Municipal Judge Harry M. Fisher,
after sitting for a time in the morals
court, where the larger per cent. Of the
offenders were negro men and women,
said:
my opinion, based on observation in
this court, is that crime conditions
among colored people are being deli
berately fostered by the present city
administration. Disorderly cabarets.
thieves, and depraved women are al
lowed in the section of the city where
colored people live. They have an ex-
preston, the law Is around tonight
as a warning to behave. so seldom is
the law enforced
chieago's Lesson.
When Chicago began to come out Of
the nightmare of rioting last Friday, 1t
is probable that the smiles which
greeted that Uncle Toms Cabin"
parody had worn of, never to return.
The city's roster of dead was 80, of
whom II were white. The total Of in
jured was given in press dispatches as
300, with the probability that perhaps
making any report to the police and
hospital authorities. Governor LowdeI
had sent 5000 troops to guard the city
and quell the mobs, under the direc-
tion of Adjt. Gen. Dickman, and ap-
parently quiet had been restored.
For five days the district affected by
the riot!ng had been without fresh
meats or vegetables. City Controller
Harding, who owes his political pre-
ferment in large measure to his influ-
ence in the Black Belt, sent 1000 bot
ties of milk into that area and the
movement Of supplies in that direction
was initiated at the same time. Negro
undertakers began to prepare for the
burial Of the dead. During the dis
turbance there had been no funerals
in the Black Belt.
Presumably Chicago has learned a
lesson such as she Iieve,' drew from
the numerous surveys Of negro condi-
tions in that city, or from warnings.
Whether other American cities will
seen.
Chicago's negro population Is diff.
ficult 10 estimate. The estimates run
from $4,000 to 175.00O. There Is no
authentic information Of recent date
on the subject, The United States
census taken in 1910 reports a popu-
lation Of 44,103 negroes in Chicago. In
the last three years, however, the in
crease has been enormous. The COL
ored population has grown more rapid
ly in proportion to it's numbers than
any other part Of the city's population.
Junius B. Wood Of The Chicago
Daily News. who made an extensive
survey Of the negro problem in Chi
cago, estimated the colored popula-
tion in 1916 at $4,000. The steady in
flux of thousands of negroes from the
south and the continuous spread of
the colored section of the city indicates
that the population Is more than 100,-
900 at present. 1t is a difficult popu-
lation to count. Probably more than
30 per cent are dodgers.
Chlcago's Black Belt is an average
of half mile wide, although it flares
to one and two miles in width at GER
tain points. From Twenty-s second
street it runs south beyond Sixty-third
street. South State street is the back
bone. The south side elevated railroad
runs through the heart OF the district
its entire length. The South State
street surface car line Is patronized
almost exclusively by negroes. Most
Of the other surface car lines connect
ing the loop" Chicago's business dis
trict, with the south side, run through
part Of the negro district.
The eastern edge of the Black Belt
is handsome residential district on
which the negroes have encroached
steadily for years. Its western boun-
Diary is railroad and industrial dis
trict. There are other colored sections
in the city, two on the south side and
one on the west side. but they are