The northwestern bulletin., 1923-05-19
MIGRATION STILL
CONTINUES FROM
SOUTHERN AREA
DIR. Haynes Says 'Negro Is on
His Way North to Secure Bet
ter Economic Welfare"
SOUTH FEELS KEENLY
LOSS OF LABORERS
Whether or Not Labor Can Make
Good in New Position Is
Now Debated.
(By the Associated Negro Press)

Chicago, ILL.,, May 19.-That mi
grafton is bringing Northern cities
race problem of serious proportions
which can only be solved satisfactory
ly by the united effort of the best
thinking people of both groups was
the sentiment of the Conference on
Race Relations held here May 9Th
and 7th under the auspices of the
Chicago Church Federation, at which
DIR. w. w. Alexander of Atlanta, DR..
George E. Haynes of New York and
Miss Mary Mcdowell, Commissioner
of Public Welfare Of the city of Chi
cago. were the principal speakers.
The several meetings held during the
two days session studied the problem
from various angles, one of the most
interesting being the report upon the
Negro in Industry.
The Migrants Are Coming.
Negroes are on their way North.
Make up your mind on that fact"
said DR.. Haynes" and they will con-
tinue to come as long as the chance
for well-paid employment and greater
opportunity for development holds
out. The present expansion of busi-
ness and consequent demand for la
Dor suggests that the coming summer
and fall will witness a real flood of
colored people to Industrial centers
such as has never been seen before
and it is well for communities to pre-
pare themselves so that the newcom-
ers may be assimilated easily and re
duce possible friction.
Between 1910 and 1920 there
were, estimating roughly, about 340,-
900 colored people in the North.
Eighty per cent of the men in earlier
days and 90% of women workers
were restricted to domestic employ
mcnt. During the past ten years,
however, the race has gained and
held places in FIVE or six of the basic
industries of the North: such as meat
packing, iron and steel plants. cloth
ing trades and the building trades,
while a growing number are fitting
into mechanical lines"
Can Negro Labor Make Good.
"The continuation of the migration
depends solely upon whether the
Northern Industrial employer finds
Negro labor profitable. Our investi-
cations covering a number Of cities
and plants show that in some 1t has
been success and in some 1t has not
done so WELL" DR.. Haynes pointed
out number Of reasons for this; un-
sympathetic foremen. lack of the hab-
1t of making time, other than c.p.t.,
a tendency to lay Off after pay day,
poor housing and home surroundings
and misdirected leisure time, all
which he said could be corrected IL
the proper interest Is taken by coll
|ored and white citizens, welfare
workers and churches. It is their re-
sponsibility. he said. Making these
newcomers potential good citizens
and preventing trouble is much
cheaper than correcting II after It
happens.
Opinions of Employers on Negro
Eflciency.
When asked. "Do the Negro work
men show ambition for advance
ment." thirteen gave an emphatic
EYES," one OF them adding. "to q
marked degree" four said ''yes," but
qualified Il with such expressions as
"a few" mot as much as might be
wished for" two said ''same as
whites" four replied with an unquali-
ned mo-" twelve gave spch answers
as mot as q rule" Gin some cases"
and mot generally" and for three
there was no reply. The question Of
ambition In the sense asked here is.
Of course. bound up with the question
|of the hope for Advancement offered
|bv the employer. This may be In
Continued on Pags ~