Evening star., 1938-10-27
PANEL DISCUSSES
NEGRO PROBLEM
Civic. Leaders Plan Focal
Agency to Investigate
Needs of People.

Looking toward . better relation
ship between races and the economic
improvement Of the Negro in Washing
ton. . group Of local civic leaders are
planning the Establishment Of some
focal agency around which can be
built an organization to work on the
problem.
As approached in . panel Discus
sion last night 1T the home Of Mr..
and Mrs. L. Corrin Strong, 27l2
Thirty-second street NV, the problem
was developed in three parts, including
research, education and cooperation.
1t was pointed out that the Negro
question here should be intensely in
vestigated, with as much cooperation
As possible offered by both races. cou-
pied with an education In the needs
Of the people.
Mrs. Roosevelt was invited but she
sent her regrets. saying she would
have been present had she been in
the city. She enclosed 4 check a.
q contribution toward starting an
organization here. Though the invi-
tation said no solicitation of funds"
is was announced that checks and
pledges amounting to several hundred
dollars had been received.
In tracing the migration Of the Ne
gro since Civil War times, DR.. ". w.
Alexander. head OF the Farm Security
Administration, likened the problem
to a peasant from Europe coming
here and working in q steel mill. He
pointed out that the migration has
been to cities and q complicated life
for which the Negro is not prepared
The greatest problem we have is to
adjust them to new form Of living"
he said. They come from rural Sec
tions with little education and are
faced with the problem of making 4
living. The best they can do, gen.
orally speaking, is to get unskilled
labor jobs and in this industrial era
they are needed less and less. he said
They are the first to become un-
employed and the last to be re-em-
ployed,' DR.. Alexander pointed out.
Problem Here Difficult.
The problem in Washington is es-
pecially difficult, 1t was pointed out,
in that nearly one-third OF the popu-
lation are colored and the city Is
mainly non-industrial. thus offering
few opportunities for Negro advance
ment. 1t was suggested that an Or
ganization similar to or a branch Of
the National Urban League be estab-
lished here to have trained personnel
in the problem constantly at work
seeking means Of economic and cul-
tural advancement.
Speaking before more than so prom
inent Washingtonians interested in the
situation, Newbold Noyes. associate edi-
tor Of The Star, said the Negro lis
to Washington what in effect the for
eign-born population Is to many other
American communities. To attend
to his problems is a matter Of hu-
manity. 1t is also q matter OF self
interest for each of U.s." He pointed
out that on a population basis that
group furnishes two-thirds Of the re-
lief cases in the city
The burden would be lighter progress
sively, he said, II opportunities were
opened for Negroes to earn their own
way and to achieve standards Of self
sufhciency, Of health and Of whole
some living" He said there Is ample
evidence that the colored people Of
Washington can become better citi-
zens, better workers and assets instead
Of liabilities (where they are liabili-
ties) on the communal ledger"
Discusses Urban League.
The work of the Urban League was
discussed by Eugene Kinckle Jones
executive secretary. who said trained
workers develop cooperation for race
betterment. The problem. as he
viewed it. was to get the two races
together for q mutual understanding
which would 60 far toward solution
Of the matter.
He expressed the hope that league
branch could be established here and
said more Negroes should be trained
for public Office. In being prepared
for civil service they would have an
opportunity not only to serve the state
but to aid their own people.
DR.. Garnett c. Wilkinson, assistant