The Dallas express. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1893-1970, 1920-10-16

dlmun1t1On OF the sporting element
which hitherto has been the bane Of
the race in the Far West attribute
this very largely to prohibition and
to the. incoming of more sober and
steady yoemen from the South /,
quest of pastures new in Oakland,
California, / was reliably informed
that the Negro population of less
than five thousand had acquired more
than five hundred homes during the
past three years. There is also a
noticeable disposition to launch into
individual and associated business
enterprise. The surplus earnings
which formerly went to swell the
fortunes of the saloonkeeper and the
gaming-house proprietor are now de-
voted to the acquisition of property.
A goodly number are acquiring ranch
es, and are sharing the golden har-
vest under the system OF irrigation,
which, as If by magic. makes the
wilderness to bloom and blossom as
the rose. Colonies are being formed
to take up irrigated lands which are
meeting with high dgree of success.
Among these may be mentioned Deer
field, Colorado, Fowler, and Aliens
Woth,r California.
The cotton industry is being in
troduced in California, Arizona and
New Mexico. Mexican labor is at
present being utilized in this field.
But the Negro ultimately will follow
in the wake of this new industry,
because of his superior experience
and efficiency in cotton culture. In
the Imperial valley of California.
Negroes are already acquiring fab
ulous fortunes from the cultivation
OF the silver fleece.
I have traversed the Pacific coast
from the northern to the southern ex-
tremity, a distance of some fifteen
hundred miles. On the eastern side
of the Cascades there is a newness
of life and vegetation which must
be seen in order to be appreciated.
The limcate is mild with vernal
balmness throughout the year. Dur
ing, my sojourn on the Pacific coast
a congressional committee was in
vestigating the Japanese question.
The Negro escapes notice at present
because of more urgent attention
now being given to the oriental
alien. There exists in this frugal
and region no Negro race problem in
its FRACTIONAL aspect. Two hundred
thousand Industrious Negroes could
easily be distributed along the Pa
cif1c Slope without raising in any
complicated form the troublesome
race issue, everyone of whom could
find renumerative employment, con-
genial climate, civic protection and
large opportunities to reap the fruit
Of industry, thrift and frugality.
In all of the communities visited
with a relatively small number of
Negroes l was painfully impressed
with the prevailing social loneliness
and isolation. There is a noticeable
tendency to move from the smaller
to the larger centers in quest of
social satisfaction. The great need
OF the race throughout all of this
region is an increased number of
right-minded Negroes so as to fur
nish sufficient and satisfying social
life. In the great states of Utah,
Idaho and Montana, / did not meet
with single Negro of professional
status except the minister. The num-
bers were too small to form a sus-
tanning basis. The minister of the
gospel has wonderful opportunity for
leadership and direction because he
stands alone in the high place of
intellectual, moral and spiritual au-
thority.
Seattle, Washington. Portland, Or
egon, and Oakland, and Los Angeles,
California are rapidly developing in
self-suff1cing racial line on the basis
of competent numbers.
The Negroes are rushing into Los
Angeles with something of the rapid
ity of the eastern metropolitan CEN
ters. The estimated population rang
es from twenty-five to forty thousand.
The population is self-sustaining.
! The number of physicians, lawyers,
ministers, newspapers and school
teachers correspond to like Negro
population in the great eastern cities.
A Negro representative has served
one term in the legislature of CAL
ifornia and is candidate for re-elect-
ion Los Angeles with its environ
ment of orchards, groves and gard
ems of perpetual verdure. and never
whitening flower suggests the beau
tification of the Garden of Eden.
find that the aspiration of the
people were true to the best racial
aims and ideals however widely they
may be served and scattered abroad
The Negro Is undoubtedly destined
to become one of the American peo-
Pile, but before that time he will be-
come one with himself. i.
AS an exahplar and exponent OF
the value and power of the higher
education, as an agency in racial
life and uplift, I was delighted 20 en-
courage the yearnings OF ambitious
youth for Howard University as q
national mecca for liberal knowledge
without the seasoning salt of cul-
ture, material prosperity will hav,
no flavor.
While on this itinerary 1 consulted
many opinions and made various
national mecca for liberal knowledge
Without the seasoning salt of cul.
ture, material prosperity will hav,
no flavor.
| While on this itinerary consulted
many opinions and made variou.
observations upon the political sit
uaticn. But, as Rudyard Kiplinf
would say, this is the subject O
another story
PAYS TRIBUTE TO NEGRO FOLE
SONGS.
(By A. N, Pr