The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-08-25
BY MORRIS DE HAVEN TRACY
United Press STAFF Correspondent

ATLANTA, Ga, Aug. 25.-The
Negro problem once more is dis
turbing parts Of Dixieland.
Industrial depression with conse-
quent unemployment, and agitation
of so-called white supremacy Or
CARNATIONS, are chief among imme-
date causes of present perplexity.
The underlying cause is the eco
nomic and social situation in many
parts of the south. 1t is direct
development of that day in 1919
when a Dutch trader sold twenty
slaves to the colonists of James,
town, Va, thereby implanting Ne
gro slaverS as an institution which
was to endure in the United States
for nearly $50 years.
Tensisity of the situation has had
expression in ten or more lynch
ing-quite probably a dozen or four
teen-so far this year and a num-
Der of other demonstrations against
Negroes which, through counsel OF
cooler heads or for other reasons,
did not end in actual violence.
Past Last eYar's Record
The lynchng record for the year
already has passed that of 1929,
when ten lynching were recorded.
One can fund many thoughtful indi-
viduals who fear the remaining
months may be worse, unless calm
minds can exert powerful leader
ship.
At Tuskegee institute, Tuskegee,
Ala, Monroe M. Work keeps statis-
tics on racial outbreaks, which are
considered the nearest to official rec
ordS of tra-legal punishment in
existence. His figures show that
since 1882 there have been 1852
white persons and 1890 Negroes
lynched in the United States. Only
four states, Massachusetts, Rhode
Island, New Hampshire and Vermont
have not at one time or another in
those years gone outside the law to
reap revenge.
Study of the figures show an in
teresting relationship between indus
trial conditions and mob violence. In
1892, 100 whites and 155 Negroes
were lynched and in the following
year Is white and 154 Negroes.
Those were the years which set high
records for lynching. They also
we're the years of financial and in
dustrial depression more severe than
at any time since.
Dropped With Prosperity
BY 1896. when prosperity was re-
turning, lynchings dropped to fifty
one whites and eighty Negroes and
in 1900 to eight whites and lot
Negroes. BY 1914, when the war
boom struck industry, the figures
showed only three whites and forty
nine Negroes paid the penalty in
Judge Lynch's' grim court. But
1919, when the war boom was pass
ing, saw the figures go up to eighty
four. Since then the trend, until
this year, generally has been down.
ward, reaching its low level of ten
in 1929.
To understand the present state
Of mind in parts of the southern
states, one must remember that
close to 40 per cent of the total
population south of the Mason
Dixon line is black. Two states,
Mississippi and South Carolina, are
more than so per cent black. In 200
counties out of 1854 in the south
ern states, Negroes are in the ma
jority.
Approximately 20 per cent of the
Negroes are illiterate. There is lit
tie provision to combat feeble
mindedness. perverted development
and insanity.
All Parts Not Affected
Yet the problem is not acute to
the point of violence in all parts
of the south. Virginia has not had
a lynohing or other show of vio-
lence in more than two years. In
Louisiana there has not been a
lynching in many years. In many
sections there seems to be appar-
ent content. South Carolina and
George, perhaps, are the centerS
of the greatest tension, and Atlanta,
a city with large industrial popu-
lation of both races and chosen
center for racial agitation, would
appear the point of maximum I'M
rest.