Cayton's weekly. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1916-1921, 1919-06-14

Conference has written to President Will
solf asking him in the name of the National
Equal Rights League, in view Of recent
lynchings in the South and for the sake Of
American Negroes who gave their lives in
the war, to send message to Congress
recommending that lynching be made crime
against the Federal Government.
Chicago has a population OF $4,000
Negroes possibly 100000
Every unit of this colored population is a
potential stick of dynamite. What hap
pened in Springfield and East st. Louis
not to 90 outside the bounds of our own
state-can and may happen in Chicago.
These colored citizens are dynamite,
potentially, because they are in Chicago but
not of Chicago. The responsibility for this
condition while divided, lies with the white
man in the proportion Of his superior num-
bers and superior opportunities.
Racial antipathy is the fuse which will
fire this dreadful charge, if it is every fired
And radical antipathy, translated into
everyday terms, means prejudice, injustice,
misunderstanding, neglect and indifference
Thousands of these colored people have
streamed into Chicago in the last two years,
attracted by wars urgent call for labor. In
finding homes, amusement and work, these
people have logged the white mans elbow
with increasing frequency and in uneX-
pected quarters. Some bad blood has been
engendered. Shootings have occurred.
Whites in panic over invaded neighbour
hoods, have sold their property at a sacri-
fee
This will inevitably continue. The Negro
presence is economically justified, and he
will stay. Besides, this is a free country,
IL. l. e.
whites. What is to be done about it,
Alexander L. jackson, a Negro and
Harvard graduate, in very temperate adj
dress to the City Club, recently stated that
the Negro does not get the right kind Of
hearing before he public. BY this he doubt
less meant that there is disposition on
the part of whites to regard the colored
man as an interloper, at least to let him
work out his destiny as best he may.
But the Negroes destiny, as citizen, is
interlocked with our own. This negative
and selfish policy will fail. The superior
race cannot lay the onus of the situation on
his brothers in black If he does, he will
pay the price
The Negro may be able to work out his
economic salvation unassisted, but he must
be swung, somehow, by intelligent and
sympathetic effort. into the current of civic
life. His leaders should receive civic recog-
milton. Points of contact between him and
the white race must be multiplied. He must
be made to feel that Chicago is his city.
Only so can he be expected to assume re-
sponsibility for it's good name and good
government
1t is no hopeless task All the Negro asks
IS a chance. He has demonstrated his
capacity. He made an ideal soldier. No
shadow of disoyaty has fallen upon his
race. He is tremendously faithful. Just
the other day colored detective Cornelius
Wilson, died in the discharge of a duty that
a coward would have evaded.
The Negro, to be sure, has his part to per-
form in this adjustment; but we have en-
phasized the white man. hole. The leader
ship falls to him. 1t is up to him to decide
whether this potential human dynamite
shall ever explode. Chicago Journal