Phoenix tribune., 1921-07-23
NORTHWESTERN FEDERATION OF
COLORED WOMENS CLUBS HOLDS
SUCCESSFUL MEETING IN PHOENIX

by and before the law, for which that
battle was waged
"At the time that the government
felt that it was for the best interests
of the country, to allow the blacks to
go to the front to preserve this de
mocracy, they were holding lucrative
jobs and positions. On their return
to private life, large numbers were
unable to return to their old positions
or secure other work which would
enable them to give to their families
the same degree of comfort which had
been theirs before the war. While
this has been a fact, we would call
especial attention to the government
of this United States that blacks are
the only race which earns and spends
its earnings unreservedly in this
country. For this reason then, we
believe we should appeal to the
authorities of every state to see
TO it that the first TO be provided with
the means of sustenance in this coun-
try should be Americans who have
made it possible for production to
continue, and to the manufacturers of
the country that this state of affairs
exists
1917 statistics revealed the fact
that immigration was virtually STOP
ped; that the startling fact remained
that 5000 more blacks came into the
United States than left during the
same period. The wonder was how
they got here during the period of the
war and what they were doing and
where they were living, The fact of
the matter was, that the large num-
Der of aliens who had never cared to
become naturalized, who had sent
their monies back to ther fatherland,
had heard the call of the blood and
had gone to safeguard their money
and their lands, while the blacks see
ing their opportunity opening up had
answered this call and travelled to-
ward the setting sun.
"The unfortunate part of it all has
been that they, with the large num-
bers migrating from the south during
the period of scarcity of laborers,
have settled in the large cities, have
become victims of the unemployment
situation and driven to depair. because
of the fact that they could see no re-
lief in returning to the southland or
across the sea
"The real solution would be a stay
OF immigration for a period Of five
years and the chance given to Ameri-
can citizens to have a wider chance
to develop the virgin soil of the coun-
try.
"The Mexican government is max
ing an offer to Americans that seems
very attractive on first glance. II
am informed that they propose to give
Americans opportunity to select their
own terricf ry for colonization, free
from taxation for a period of five
years; provide tools and teams and |
seed for cultivation and allow a per-
iod sufficiently long to enable them
to dispose of several crops, after
which they will be allowed to purchase
this land at the figure at which il
would be obtainable before cultivation.
am not in favor of this proposition
coming from the Mexican govern
men, but l do insist, that our govern
men is equally able to make the same
attractive proposition to these same
American citizens and insist that on
ly stable, respectable, outstanding cit
izens be given the privilege. ven-
ture to say that it would not be long
before many, many of the best of our
American citizenry would be settled
and secure in the thousands of acres
OF fertile government land now lying
idle and uncultivated. This would in
deed be the solution for the conditions
which are now narrowing the life out
of the responsible people Of the over
Continued on page four