Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1920-01-18
SQUARE DEAL FOR NEGROES.

Virtually a challenge to those agi- tators of the North who seek to arouse racial antagonism by charges of unfair treatment of the negroes in the South and guarantee to the colored people of Jefferson county of determination by the leading white citizens to see that the coiored man receives Square deal" is the page advertisement of the Chamber of Commerce in this issue of The Graphic.
 The chamber has taken cognizance of the activities in other counties Of the South of cheap politicians, nev- er-works and swindlers who seek to prey upon the credulity of the nc- gro by misrepresentation and false tales. Having taken note of these attempts to provoke discord. the Chamber of Commerce has adopted the very best plan to assure con tinuance of those relations which have existed between the good white people and the good colored people of this section.
 The success of agitators with both white and colored has been due al most entirely to the fact that their statements and charges went unre- futed. Seemingly clothed with some authority, and accepted by their dupes as truthful men, they have aroused resentment by statements not founded on fact. In several cases where employers have follow ed work of these agitators by pres ent bona fide facts and figures to the employees the men have readily perceived the truth, and strikes have been avoided. The avcrag man IS fair-minded, though he may not be familiar with costs of operation and those things entering into calcula- ton of what is fair return for his service. Once convinced, he is dis posed to do right---not only for the sake of himself, but for his family and felow-workers. Because all sui, fer from strikes and disturbances.
 By appointing committee of men whose reputation for courage and square dealing is we'll known, and inviting any colored man with just cause for grievance to present his case to this committee or any indi' vidual member, the chamber, acting for the best citizens of the country furnishes convincing evidence of the desire of the people here to assure the colored man fair treatment 1T every way.
 The committee cannot be expected to listen to tales of petty quarrels- perhaps precipitated by the com plainant himself-but any coloree man who feels aggrieved may go tt the committee or a member and bt assured of receiving consideration And it will be better for him to dc this, than to listen to the tales ant advice of some itinerant whose only aim is to serve his own interests s and who will not give the coloree man the attention he will receive from the Chamber of Commerce com mittee. The colored man can go te this committee with confidence. Ht doesn't have to hire lawyer to gel justice. If his cause is just, this committee will not only decide in ht' favor but vii sec that the error ol injustice is rectificd.
 So far as known elio injustice hal been done colored people here, bu there may be some isolated cases oc E curing. And it is to reach and han dlc any such that the Chamber O Commerce has acted. It's course i' a guarantee that the best whit people of Jefferson county stan' ready to insist upon fair treatmen for the negro.
 It is the best evidence in tn world that charges of peonage, dc ceitful dealing and harsh methods insofar as they apply to Jefferson are untrue.