The Raymer enterprise., 1921-06-09
Thirty Killed in Race War in
Tulsa, 0kla.-Whites Burn
All Black Belt.
SENATE FIRM FOR BIG NAVY
Passes Appropriation Bill Carrying
$494, 900, 900 -, President Harding's
Memorial Day utteranee-Raii.
way Wage Reduction Announced
More Fighting In silesia.
BY EDWARD W. PlckARo.

~
Another of those sudden and ter
rible race conflicts which make all de-
cent Americans blush with shame oc-
CURED last week, this time In Tulsa,
Okla. Before the state troops that
were called to assist the police had
restored order at least thirty per-
sons had been killed. hundreds had
been wounded and the negro quarter
Of the city was In ashes. More than
5,0O0 negroes were rendered home
less and the property damage was es.
timated to be In excess Of million
and half dollars.
As SO often Is the case, the riots
were due to an attack on white girl
by a negro. The offender was arrest
ed and then someone started the ru-
NOR that he was to be lynched. Sew
eral hundred armed blacks gathered
about the courthouse and Jail, and one
of them was killed by police officer.
That started the fighting, and within
a few hours the city had become an
armed camp. Both whites and blacks
looted the stores for guns and the
negroes entrenched themselves In
their quarter. An army OF whites
soon began the invasion of that region
and. driving back the blacks, set fire
to the buildings rs they advanced.
Men, women and children were shot
down mercilessly as they fled from
their burning homes. Three local
units Of the Oklahoma National Guard
were ordered out by the governor, and
they. with the help Of the police and
members Of the American Legion, at
last succeeded in controlling the sit
uation. They were able to protect
the business and railroad districts
from further destruction. but the
"black belt" was a smoking ruin.
The same old cries Of "Shame !"
will be heard. and Tulsa will be thor
oughly scolded for this shocking at.
fair; but the same causes will bring
about the same results ever and again,
almost anywhere In the United States.
and the wisest social economists do
not know where the remedy lies.
II the house can be- brought around
to the senate's way of thinking, we
will have the greatest nd In the
world. But the differenE oS view
Of the two chambers is represented
Just now by some s8s.0O0.0OO, and 1t
may be a long time before an agree
ment is reached. BY vote Of o. to
II the senate passed the naval appro-
priation bill carrying a total Of $494.-
100000. For several weeks the small
navy men had fought hard, but they
secured h reduction Of only $500
zoo from the total recommended BY
the naval committee. Their leader,
Senator Borah, voted for the bill be-
cause. as he explained, he had high
hopes Of results from his amendment
requesting the President to invite
Great Britain and Japan to join with
the United States In curtailing naval
construction. That Mr.. Harding takes
the Borah plan seriously Is indicated
by the report that our representatives
In London and Tokyo already are
"feeling out" the sentiment In the gov.
ernments to which they are &C.
credited.
The bill as passed by the senate car
ries S1O5,OO0.O00 for construction Of
ships. including an item of s1s.000,W0
for the beginning Of work on two air.
plane carriers at limit cost Of $52.-
100000; s1s,OO0OOO for aviation. and
funds for 10000 mel. Several mil
lions Of dollars are allowed for
strengthening the Pacific Coast de-
lenses, and money is provided for
further work on the Charleston nsvy