Arizona republican., 1921-10-29

ference. Therein is pretty taut drawing or sec tional line which have all hoped would cease 10 be recognized.
 The negro problem is the problem of the whole country and it is likely to be a problem for long time Its solution is being sought from many angles, by both whites and negroes. It became acute in the North esnecalI fin the northern cities in the early days of the war in the spring and summer of 1917, when vast numbers of negroes were brought to the great industrial cities of the North It LOOK on al first the phase of housing problem and that phase has never been disposed of It has been further complicated by sanitary and social phases.
 But even if all the negroes had remained In the South where the Civil left them that the prob lem might have been confined to that region certainly the whole government would have been concerned in its solution And we can think of more qualified to speak for government than the presi- dent of the United States; who could more req sonaby insist that the negro wherever he may De the United States should enjoy those rights and privileges which amended constitution gives nm.
 But just what the constitution gives him has not been quite agreed upon, and therein the problem IS embedded. The civil rights bill of 1866. one of the reconstruction measures sought to place him on an exact level with the white man. The act or 1875 more specifically sought establish and enforce his social equality It was not. however, possible to enforce this act against public opinion. and eight years the supreme court declared 1t unconsti- tutionaI. There is therefore. now no legislation guaranteeing the negro social equality and the president at Birmingham expressly disclamed asking for such a privilege for him.
 In a general way. though. he urged recogni- tion of the negros political place scheme. but here the president deprecated the use of the word equality" calculated to produce mis- understanding. The president not featuring to the South: he preaching to it; he not scoding it. He was only pleading against group ings which only produce and intensity conflicts. In government where there well-defined groups. the strongest dominate the weaker and hold them in subjection. thing contrary to the spirit of government
 There was never we believe any danger of negro dominance which the South professed to fear and which it yet offers for it's attitude to the negro Two generations have passed since the negro was guaranteed political equality. He has preponderated in numbers in the South. but he has made not the slightest progress toward dominance and he would have made none if left to himself if the South had taken of the precautions it has taken against him.
 The negro is additionally republican That is not because he regards the republican party as his emancipator but because the republican party in the reconstruction period soldfied him. gave him organization and has since appealed to him. The appeal the effective because the whites of the South persisted in rejecting him.
 Put him in his place" is the Souths prescrp- ton for handling the Negro. It is not easy thing to put whole forcibly in its place and keep it there. The Negro would have found his place if left to himself and in his place he would have looked to the friendly white population of South for guidance He would not could not have become political menace to the South within or half dozen generations. What he might have become or what he become in the distant future under any handling of the problem cannot know