The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1920-11-05
DELTA NEWSPAPER GIVES AID.
VICE TO NEGROES

The Sumner Sentinel has the fol
lowing to say relative to the disap
ipointment of the negroes Of the delta
section about the price of cotton and
the disposition of some TO move to the
North:
During the past few weeks there
has been growing an undercurrent OF
dissatisfaction among the negroes
who live on the plantations in the
whole Delta section. Rather OutSpOk-
en- statements are heard from some
that they will not mahe another cot
| ton crop. While these conditions are
matters Oh serious concern TO the
planters, and 10 every business man
il this section, they are "a less mat
torS Of serious concern 20 the very
! negroes who make such statements
and who do moi want 20 make another
cotton crop.
One OF the reasons for the discon-
tent of the negroes was tEe optimistic
prediction OF cotton growers as 70 the
price of cotton this Ii "a
frequently heard all over the Delta
that staple cotton would bring from
IS cents 10 81 a pound when pat
upon the market this season This
Z. ediction has had a sad tumble. In
stead of dollar a pound cotton, il q
hardly be sold at any price II seems
that every day brings a depress-
ed market and with little hope being
given out for at least q couple of
months.
The negroes expected, even with
the comparatively short crop grown
in the Delta this year, 10 realize
practically as much money for this
crop as they had received for The Z
preceding. With these expectations.
grounded TO a large extent by the pre-
dictions Of q dollar a pound for sta
money lavishly; they bought auto1no
Diles; they rode the trains and other
wise had pig times. They did not re-
alize that their expectations might
rot be realized.
And, when they are faced with
conditions SuCh as are facing hem
they become dissatisfied and
make up their minds. 10 grow 10
more cotton. Some of them lay the
blame for low priced cotton to the
LANDLORD, not considering tOr z no,
ment that he is in the same fix as |
they are. His share of the cotton is |
worth no more than the negro's
share. 1t was him who furnished the !
tenants on the plantations with
and rations. 1t is he who will
stand the heavy loss; for if a tenant
has drawn five hundred dollars in
and clothing and cash, and
HGiows cotton worth only four hun
dred dollars, the landlord not only
the profit on the crop which he
IS entitled to. but also loses 500 in
ash besides. while the tenant loses
'nly his profits.
No amount of argument Will pre-.
vent some of the negroes who intend
o leave from leaving. There are 9th.
rs who might listen 10 reason. and
o them this article is addressed.
Of course, the North is the mecca
If the departing negro. He has, heard
rom n source or another, vivid I
md alluring stories of the opportuni-
les offered the negro up there. And
hey are going to partake of these I
wonderful 90 opportunities. 1,
There are many things that they
hould consider before breaking their
I'D home ties, chief of which is:
What will ] do in the North to make
living?"
No Mississippi negro would think of {
pproaching a northern man with a {
ale or being hungry and cold, as he [
1ould a southern man. Even if he n
hOuld become So hungry and cold y
hat he took the chance, nine times i
ut OF ten he would be refused by the {
Iorthern man, not because the people
I the North are hard hearted, but
ecause they are not accustomed to
tales. They expect people to h
'ork for their living and those why +