The Omaha guide., 1934-12-15

Miller believes Nest Serious Effect is Upset.
ing of Equilibrium in Social Order
Crom The Texas Weekly
ii GRIM SPECTER Of unemployment in
Southern cotton fields, whose forthcoming
shadow caused economists to sound q warning
when the cotton control program and subse-
quent Bankhead act were first suggested. is
no longer a mildly annoying theory to regi-
mentation enthusiasts Blu an actual condition
reflected in heavily burdened relief rolls
throughout the South. But while this cOndi-
ton discloses an immediate crisis with respect
10 the subsistence of this displaced farm pop-
ulation, its most injurious effects, which now
can only be guessed by the stories of suffer
ng which seep like unreal legends from the
submerged masses of the Southern people.
can be expected to become increasingly mani
fest in a further disloca.ion Of social strata in
the South. Particularly is this true Of til.
plight in which thousands of Negroes have
found themselves.
An interesting and authentic insight into
this Negro problem is afforded by an appeal
ing letter which has come to light. but which
probably was not intended to be made public
from Q. w. Rice, president of the Texas Ne
gro Business and Laboring Mems Association
OF Houston, to A. w. Mitchell, the new Ne
gro Democratic Congressman elect of Chicago.
The letter follows:
ACCEPT OUR congratulations mon
your newly elected office as United States
Congressman. We feel that you as a Demo
crat, can help us in many of the problems
that affect the Southern Negro.
LAS executive head of the Texas Negro
Busines and Laboring Mems Association.
am calling your attention to the cotton bust
ess winch furnishes employmet to hundreds Of
thousands of Negroes in the South.
Because of present day obtacles in the
channels OF trade, the most important business
III the South, cotton, is rapidly drying up. Be
tween August LIST and November 9th this wear
exports of cotton from the United States drop-
ped l,334,OO0 bales under the same period in
1888. F6reign farmers arp rapidly taking
the markets Of world away from the Cotton
South.
"As these markets are lost, Negro ten
ant farmers, Negro farm labor, Negro work
ers in the gins, congresses, and, warehouses
on the railroads, In the cottonseed oil mills, on
the wharves, etc., will more and more lose
their jobs.
According to figures released recently
by the Federal Relief Administration, Wash
ington, d. c., relief cases among Negroes at
Houston had increased 63 percent between
October, 1888, and May, 1894, and at Atlanta,
Georgia, 1913 percent. From all indications
be demand for relief will be greater as winter
comes on.
"The white employees in the South are
organizing and appealing to their Senators
and Cong4dssmen for relief and protection,
but Negroes In the South have practically no
vote in electing these officials; therefore, we
appeal to President Roosevelt, who represents
ALL the people, and to you, the only repres-
tentative of our race In Congress.
"Won't you please look into this most
important matter and do what you can to help
save our occupations and jobs by removing
the obstacles now In the channels Of the cot
ton trade3
@fThe very food and shelter required by
our wives and children are at stake
"a companion letter went to the Presi-
dent, in which the Texas Negro recited cases
of distress among his people and further an
pealed for aid: when We ask what the
trouble is, the white leaders tell us that the
South is losing its export market for cotton,
and without an export market a great many
people will lose their jobs.
"What can our people do for a living
If the South loses its cotton business? What
can we do to help you save the cotton business
for the South?
- Vo aCE -1onr hoI,, M u~,Jo- II
need it and need it very much now"
THERE IS an unacceptable pathos in
this picture Of a humble people, struggling in