The Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1931-1952, 1948-09-29

ucnt VI the AIFOAty ANutAonuA <Aonor
citation for the Advancement oil
Colored People.
The so-called cleanup cam
paign" was instituted by Mayor
Walter A. Nelson In July. 1913.
assertedly. to compel adherence
to the provision of city ordinance
No. 4Ss. governing trailer and cab
In camps.
The drive was backed up by
Nelson's special police and the
Pasco police who issued Wholesale
eviction notices to camp and trail
er occupants In the Jimcrow east
side area. Scott told The New
World.
SCOTS account of the situation
follows:
During the early stages Of the
influx Of Negro workInsmen to the
Trl-city area, an undeveloped area
across the tracts on Paseo east
side was made purchasable to Ne
oroes, whIIe-eIsewhere In the city
they were discouraged from buy
Ing.
CRATES FOR HOMES
"pire need Of housing and linn
tied finances caused any available
shelter from shipping crates and
traIlers to cabins and automobiles
to be used as homes.
"Most Of the east side has no
water or sewage, and water lines
are only extended when property
owners pay for materials and In
staiIatIon. Sanitary conditions are
hazardous.
"Rents are far out Of reason,
ranging from 81 for a nights Iodr-
Ing In an automobile to $50 o
week for a trailer. with oommu-
nifty facilities.
"city Ordinance No. 4ss, gov
erning trailer and cabin camps,
and fixing penalties for It's viola
ton. has been on Pasco's books
since February, 1912, but In July
1913, Mayor Walter A. Nelson's
Cleanup Campaign was Instituted
backed by his special police and
the Pasco police who issued whole
sale eviction notices to camp anc
trailer occupants and otherwise
pressured camp operators.
pEADLlNE TOO NEAR
"The deadline for completion Of
the modernlxation was widely pub
iicized as of August 10th, a date
too near for property owners te
comply with the terms Of the
fourteen legal size pages OF the
ordinance and amendments.
scamp operators and property
owners were nervous, for the pen
aItles were drastic.
"They appealed to the Trlcit,
Branch of N.A.A.c.P. A series Of
special meetings were held, one Of
which was with Mayor Nelson, his
cleanup committee and nearly &c
camp operators and property own
1--WE explained that we wers
anxious to cooperate with ths
drive, but that we needed an ex
tension Of time. We also statee
that no finance company woule
loan a Negro a dime, nor woule
the local bank. Not even on con
crete bIock-construeted houses, oil
water and sewer lines. We asked
why?
"The Mayor was reluctant Il
explain, choosing to delegate that
task to the planning commissioner
who did so with difficulty.
"Lenlency was promised"
Confronting the Negro all over
Pasco are We reserve the right
to refuse service signs, Scott
stated. There is no place that
he Is served food drink or recrea'
ton, except the two eating and
drinking places operated by whites
for him." he said.
Negroes have no rooming house
or hotel in town. mot even one
transient ROOM" Scott stated.
"Four billiard tables are his only
recreation except the city swim
ming pool. Two Of the largest
camp operators are either losing
their property or are forced to sci
for what they can get, both te
white people," he added. "Mean
while most property on the east
side, though vacant and over
grown with weeds, Is not for sale
to Negroes.
even the bus depot lunch room
refuses to serve Negroes. Civil
rights and Americanism are at .
new low In Paseo."