Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1930-02-15
COMMUNISM MA INVADE THE
vALLEY-GREAT lND.ssikiAL
ERA

That Communism has it's eyes OH
the Valley is indicated by letter
received by this newspaper this week
seeking certain information. While
the letter was brief, it's main object
was to seek the names of the fac.
tories, the approximate number of
people working in the factories, their
racial identity, etc. 1t will be recall
ed that the Valley is now the center
of the Rayon Industry, and it was
in this industry that the Communist
tried to organize North Carolina.
One of the chief aims of this politi-
cal party it is said, is to harmonic
the race question in industry. They
claim that white labor is exploited
with low wages, with the threat of
Negro aborers-constantly in their
face.
That Staunton, with its low wages,
is certain to undergo some adjust
ment, is further seen in the fact
that, during the week the American
Federation of Labor had an organ
izer in the city, it is stated with the
view of organizing the printing
trade. Relative to our group, especi-
ally in Stanton, organizing will not
affect us, as we have but few Ne
groes who work in the factories; it
is claimed that out of the several
factories that operate in this city,
not more than a half dozen, if that
many, Negroes are given employ
ment, or at least or at least this is
a personal service town for Negroes,
they are employed at the various
schools and colleges in the city. But
in Covington, Waynesboro, Clifton
Forge, Goshen, Fordwick and Craigs-
area, almost all the Negroes depend
on public employment. We imagine
that it will be in these towns that
the organizers will attempt to work.
In Stanton proper about per cent
of the Negroes of the city ore in
business of their own of some kind,
whether this is 10 wor high, we are
not able to say, as this could only
be ascertained by certain compari-
sons with other cities. This means
of course, that this many Negroes
are either working at trades or have
businesses of their own. One of
the outstanding features of this city
is, if you have something worthy to
sell, you have no trouble selling it
to the friendly white population. We
have in the city severai beauty cul-
tLrists who have an exclusive white
trade. Besides, there is shoemaker
whose trade is mostly white; timer
whose trade is about go per cent
white, and blacksmith whose trade
is about the same.
Besides, the numerous cleaning
and pressing places, which cater to
everybody; this condition is no doubt
rare when it is compared with other
communities.
From what can be learned the av-
erage wage for both white and black
alike is about two dollars and half
per day. This seems to be about the
scale in the factories, for the ordi-
nary laborers of course, this is not
a complete survey, nor can it be
considered authentic, as such sur
vey would have to be made by more
skilled investigators than The Crib
une" could ever hope to have. The
local white paper, in publishing the
average teachers salary in Augusta
County and Stanton, showed that
the average for colored teachers was
about fifty-three dollars (s53.00) per
month, the white average about
ninety dollars per month. Living in
Stanton is high. This statement is
taken from twenty white laborers,
and five Negro laborers, too-high
they say in comparison with the
wages received. The past week has
seen an agitation in the local white
papers relative to the gas rate for
the city, which these papers claim
is about AZ per cent higher than in
othe rcities.
The average wage for personal
service in this city, say, for a co.ored
maid or cook is about seven dollars
per week ($7.0O). The most out
standing endeavor of the race group
in this section is farming. There is
close to Stanton several ueighbor-
hoods that are fairly prosperous. We
take the liberty to name Arbor Hill
with the Hardens and Browns and
others, showing much progress. This
is equally true If the New Hope see
ton, and the Christians section.
That Stanton is locke! forward to
by the outside w:rld as center of
buying is borne out by the fact that
Montgomery Ward, J. G. Penny, and
the Pugh Co. (of Roanoke, COM
bined with local men, known as the
Pugh- Blakemore- Stricken CO.., Mer-
It Shoe Co., Reid Bros. (locaD, Tir