The toiler. [volume] (Cleveland, Ohio) 1919-1922, 1920-06-18
Race Riots North and South

Race Riots North and South
The United States has suffered deservedly in the
eyes Of intelligent people elsewhere because of the race
riots that have dsgraced New York City, Phadel-
phia, Chester, Coatesville, Washington, Norfolk,
Charleston Atlanta, Knoxville Memphis Springfield,
(ul), East st. Harbor Omaha, Longview, Houston,
Bisbee and other places At the riot in East st. Louis
over forty Negroes were slaughtered, while at Wash
ngton and Chicago it is said that six hundred ia.
taites occurred Outnumbered ten to one, the Negro
stands chance in race riot, and resistance only
increases the fury of the mob that has allowed race
prejudice to sweep it off its feet for a time.
The temper of these mobs was shown in the
ninehour battle at Omaha in which a mob of
thousands determined to lynch one negro Of
fender, stormed the county jail, located on the
fifth floor Of the Court House, scaled the walls by
rope ladders, burned the lower floors with all their
precious records damaged the building to the extent
of $1OOOO00, forced the surrender Of the prisoner
shot him to death, dragged his body by hand and
by automobile through the Streets kicked hanged
and finally burned it, And all this time American
churches send missionaries to China instead of Ne.
braska.
The mob seized $4,000 worth of arms from hard
ware establishments burned a patrol wagon took
the rope meant for the Negro and threw it over the
mayors head, dragged him block, threw the rope
over trolley pole and twice hauled him from the
ground, and would have hanged him had not police
helpless prisoners assembled on the roof of the
burning building, and subdued only by the ar.
rival of national troops.
OF different nature was the trouble near
Helena, Ark, having its origin apparently in the
dishonesty Of certain farm superinteents or operat
ors who refusedo give the Negro farmers the large
profits which .tsshg prices of cotton had enabled
them to earn xfese farmers work for share Of
the crops; they furnished all the labor the super.
intendent or operator Of the farm furnished every
thing else. This arrangement works we'll or ill.,
depending upon the honesty of the supervising white
man who has the farm in control
In some places these white men have taken
advantage of the Negroes forcing them to turn over
all their cotton in payment for supplies which, in
instances, have amounted to but mere fraction of
the value of the cotton, and refusing to give settle
ments or statements Of account For example, case
Is cited where Negro worked 81 acres for year
and produced six bales of cotton his share of which
was $753. In liev Of settlement he was charged
$5O.6O for freight charges for removing nine small
articles 100 miles and $500 for groceries which could
not have been worth more than $50; and when he
made objection ordered off the place. penniless
with nothing for his years work.
At point below Helena where the Negro pop
uation is largely predominant, number Of Negroes,
acting under white legal advice formed an association
for mutual legal protection and were preparing to
bring legal action against certain white landlords It
is admitted that these Negroes were hard working
farmers considered the best class of Negroes in the