Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1923-03-17
Northern Industries Make
No Preparations for Labor
preston News Scrvicc)

Pittsburgh. Pa, March 9-The un.
usual response especially from an
parts of the South in nearly 1000 let
ters caused by Preston News Service
interview with the Executive Secretary
OF the local Urban League has rather
embarrassed the secretary, and he has
issued the following statement:
THE interview referred to, empha-
sized the large increase in the demand
tl,T Oughout the Pittsburgh District for
Negro labor in the mills, mines and
boundaries. In order to intelligently
advise the thousands of Negroes who
are waiting for the proper opportun-
ity to come North Mr.. Clark commun
icated with 16 of the large corporal
ions In the District to find out if they
knew how limited were housing facil;-
ties for Colored people and If they
were planning in turn to increase the
number of houses to accommodate the
! extra number of Colored men that they
were seeking to employ. Only one con
Germ replied stating that they were
building &c houses but these houses
upon completion would be taken by
the men who are already in their en-
ploy with their families in the South
waiting to be transported.
"The Urban League feels that the
supply of Colored labor alone will
have to meet the industrial needs in
the immediate future and that indus
try will make proper provisions to &C.
commodate this labor if Negroes will
not flock north until organizations
like our own can induce the industries
to make proper preparations to accom-
modate them.
THE WORST EVIL TO THE RACE
Several concerns have already be.
gun to send their representatives
South to bring large numbers Of Ne
groes North. One concern brought L.
100 men into one small industrial com
munity in 60 days without building
single house or making any added
preparations to accommodate these
men. This congestion has caused tire
mendous amount Of sickness, disease
and immortality. Real estate men who
handle the property largely occupied
by Colored people have advised the
secretary of the Urban League that
there is not single mouse available
vacant today. Rooms. usually with
some other person, can be had from
| $3.50 to $500 per week. With wages
averaging about 81 day there is little
advantage in coming North and hav.
ing to meet such unusual expenses.
MEN SHOULD STAY SOUTH UNTIL
PROPER ACCOMMODATIONS ARE
MADE.
Especially does the Urban League
insist that men do not bring their
wives and families at this time be-
cause of the serious shortage of hous.
es; and yet on the other hand the Leag
ue's workers in various Courts have
come in contact with too many cases
where men away from their familie 4,
nave become careless irresponsible.
gamblers and drunkards. To come
North with your family is a serious
matter; but to come without your
FAMILY is more than serious matter.
For instance: last week man brought
MS wife and four children with him
from Virginia. He spent the first day
in Pittsburgh without getting accom-
modations; towards evening he went
to suburban town and could not he
accommodated there and spent the
night in the police station After max
ing many attempts to get accommoda-
tions in the city. the next day he was
finally sent by coal mining COM
pany to their mining town some miles
away where two Ioows w.re provided
for him and his family. This man
could have obtained work here in Pitts
burgh in so different places.
RELIABLE ELEMENT IN SOUTH
CAN HELP SITUATION.
THE situation can he helped IL the
more reliable. solid element in the
South can induce our people to remain
South until they are definitely connect
ed up with a job and with prospects of
getting house to transfer their fami
ly life rather than come up here alone
usually breaking up their families"
Denied Warmth of Shantv:
Man Kills Two White Men.