Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1923-02-10
EFFORTS TO PURGE CLEVELAND
OF VICE CONDITIONS START ROW
WELFARE WORKERS AND MINISTER'S MEET STORM
OF CRITICISM AND PROTESTS,
preston News Service)

Cleveland Ohio, Feb. 9.-Fo.lowinG.
the visit OF delegation of ministers,
and welfare workers at the Office OF .
the Superintendent Of Public Schools
here on Friday afternoon two weeks
ago In an effort to have something
done to check the wave of vice condi-.
tions reaching out its fangs into the
schools and degrading the boys ana
girls here in their teens a storm of
criticism has been raging from air
qarters.
Ihe masses who have recently set
tied in this city from the southern.
states declaring that all the blame for
vice conditions in this city are blamed
on them; while those who have been
here for number of years protes.
that this movement is the first step of
movement that will result in separ
ate schools. Others claim that the dele
cation might have been prompted by
the best OF motives, but they were un
wise in their expressions. So tn.
whole situation looks as though no:
much good will be accomplished for
there is such n division Of sentiment
in the matter.
That conditions are bad in certain
sections of this city cannot be denied
"A remedy must be had, but Just how
to remedy these conditions none nj
present seems to be able to point tho
way.
| w. l.. Porter editor of The Clevelan;e
Call, takes the position that conditions,
are bad here. but that equally so WITH
both races. He deplores the idea thu.
some mistaken idea should have got.
ten out that Negro women are mora;
ly depraved either in Cleveland. the
South, North or anywhere. He declar
es that the race must put it's depen
dence In its women for he says: "OuI
race will not make much progress if
the leaders C"?') are going to heap
IRE upon the heads OF our women.
Ihey are the inspiration of our every
thought immersed in goodness an
steady advance. and inasmuch as q
chaln Is no stronger than its weakes:
INK, nor can we make much headway
When we array ourselves against then,
SHOW us the race of people rising
above It's women and we will show
you a nation lingering on the border
land of stagnation and decay"
During the past five years Cieve.
land has more than quadruppled its
Negro population by an influx of per
sons from southern states. In fairness
to all concerned it must be remembe:. :.
ed that conditions between the races
are bound to be somewhat changed by
the sudden addition of forty or tiff,
thousand persons in a short time from
a section or sections where living con
d1tions and environments are differ
ent. Persons who have lived in CIeve,
land for number OF years have ac
quired the mannerisms and become ac
customed to conditions here They un
derstood members Of the opposite race
and were fairly we'll understood by the
other race. The newcomers did not un
derstand the Negroes already here,
nor were they understood and in addi
ton these newcomers did not under.
stand existing conditions. Adjust
ments were necessary and naturally
slow. Many Of the new corners are said
to be of the worst type from other sec
tions of the country. 1t is claimed that
In time all these conditions will be
come adjusted without the serious re.
suits often imagined.