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About The monitor. (Omaha, Neb.) 1915-1928 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 14, 1916)
A National We „ isewspaper Devoted to the Interests ot the Colored Americans of Nebraska and the Northwest THE REV. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS, Editor $1.50 a Year. 5c a Copy Omaha, Nebraska, Oct. 14, 1916 Vol. II. No. 16 (Whole No. 68) Northward Migration ! Startling Southland Suggestive Press Comments Pub lished in The Literary Digest on the New Negro Northern Exodus. The war, by cutting off immigra tion from Europe, has started a north ward movement of Negro laborers, which journalistic observers find most significant. For the Negro, it is said to be the entrance upon “a new stage in his progress ‘up from slavery.’ ’’ For the North, it is the intensifica tion of its Negro-problem. The South may gain by the partial transfer of its race-problem, and its added at tractiveness to white immigrants. But the prevailing Southern comment is represented by the Montgomery Ad vertiser’s question, if the Negroes go, “where shall we get labor to take their places?” Assuming Large Dimensions This movement of Negroes is as suming large dimensions, the Spring field Republican notes, and— “I is being systematically stimu lated by Northern employers of la bor. The Pennsylvania Railroad has taken 4,000 blacks from the South, 3,000 being brought North in one train of six sections. Persons familiar with our New England tobacco farms have observed this season the appearance of Negro laborers in much increased numbers. Exaggerated estimates of the movement are in circulation. At the Negro conference in Middle At lantic States, it was asserted that {pore than 500,000 blacks from the South had come North in the past six months. But, whatever the fig ures may be, letters and telegrams were read at the conference from many manufacturers, mine-owners, and others, giving assurances that Ne groes would be encouraged to make their homes in the North and would receive a ‘square deal.’ It was rep resented that the industrial situation in Pennsylvania and New York was such that at least 2,000,000 Negro laborers could be employed in the next year.” One Southern Daily Not Alarmed. At least one important Southern daily, the Columbia State, thinks that South Carolina might be just as well off if a number of its 900,000 Ne groes should go North. This would increase the white majority and might help to attract more white immi grants. It might improve economic conditions, for the “cheap Negro la bor of the South presses down the white laborer.” But here, the New York Evening Post remarks, The State “will not find many in the South to agree with it, for most Southerners revel in their cheap Negro labor as the basis of their prosperity, dwell upon the ab sence of Negro labor-unions, and ex ult that the Negro protects the South from the hordes of foreigners.” The South, says the Washington Times, “is suffering because of its losses. It is a bad situation.” As The Times sees it: ! “The Negro is better off in the South in the long run than anywhere else. He will be apt to be the first person out of work in the North, when slack times come again; in the South he is, in certain realms, the pos sessor of a near-monopoly of the la bor franchise. It is bad for the South and will not ultimately be good for the North, which doesn’t understand managing the Colored brother so well as the South does.” Southern Views of Situation. Within the last quarter-century, says the Montgomery Journal, it has been satisfactorily demonstrated “that no other section of the country is quite so well fitted for the existence of the Colored citizen as this part of the South, and any attempt to in veigle workmen from this section will result disastrously.” The New Or leans Times-Picayune, in a section less troubled by the loss of Negro labor, warns the people of Louisiana to throw such safeguards and protection around both employer and laborer as are necessary to make sure that no harm or demoralization results from the excessive and unusually unscru pulous activity of labor agents from the North.” The situation is so grave, in the Nashville Southern Lumber man’s opinion, as to afford “ample warrant for the legislative steps be ing taken against the movement in some sections.” Southern Race Journal Speaks Plainly. Now, remarks The Southern Chris tian Advocate (New Orleans), a rep resentative of Negro Methodism in the South, “if Negro labor is as ob jectionable and worthless and as non dependable as our Southern friends would often assert, why all these dras tic measures to prevent this worth less labor from going elsewhere?” “Let us for a moment be frank with each other,” it continues, “The Negro at heart loves the South, its activities, its sunshine, its climate, but he is very much dissatis fied with the treatment that he other wise receives. His families do not re ceive proper portection at the hands of constitutional authorities as well as at the bar of public opinion. There are not proper facilities for the edu cation of his children. There is not a congenial atmosphere for the de velopment of self-respect and of ra cial contentment. We are disfran chised, we are hedged about and we are lynched without redress. Even a worm sometimes will recoil and a half dead hound will resent constant mis treatment. Is it any surprise, there fore, that in spite of all the Negro’s natural inclination to Southern cli mate that he so eagerly seizes an op portunity to go elsewhere? “If our Southern friends are anx ious to prevent this immigration to the North, they have the remedy in their own hands. It will not be by coercion, or threats, it will be because the South recognizes the Negro as a human being with all the rights and privileges of a human being. . . . If Georgia, Florida, and the other (Continued on Page 4) Pryor Complimented By Three Presidents Ellsworth W. Pryor, Steward of the Omaha Commer cial Club, a Man of Decided Originality. Pleased President Wilson. “AMERICA.. AT.. PEACE.. WITH ALL THE WORLD,” President Wil son’s favorite idea was cleverly worked out by Ellsworth W. Pryor, the modest, but famous steward of the Omaha Commercial club, at the dinner which was served His Excel lency October 5. A snow-white dove, with a small silk American blag in its beak, standing upon a yellow sphere, representing the world. The symbolism was per fect. “America at peace with all the world.” “Wonderful, wonderful!” said the president. “I never saw anything ELLSWORTH W. PRYOR President Wilson and Mrs. Wilson were surprised and delighted with ■ the historical parade but they were i equally well pleased and delighted 1 with the dinner at the Commercial club, not only with the menu and faultless service, which reflects great credit upon William H. Lewis, the capable head waiter and his efficient corps of waiters, but with the strik ing originality with which the presi dent’s favorite idea was symbolized. When the ice cream was reached in the order of courses there was great applause from the more than six hundred guests. The president, who was engaged in conversation with Governor Morehead looked around to see the cause. “Look at your plate,” someone suggested. His eye fell on the plate of ice cream before him and he began to applaud most enthusias tically. What do you think he saw? more beautiful and original. Who planned this?” “Mr. Pryor, our steward, who has had the honor of serving six presi dents,” was the reply. “Few men in the country, I take it, can say as much and especially as far west as Omaha,” replied the presi dent. “You are to be congratulated upon your steward. I never had any thing to please me more than this. It is wonderful.” This was a high compliment from the president of the United States and this is only one of many unique ideas which Mr. Pryor has worked out during his thirty years’ service in Omaha, during which time he has purveyed for many distinguished per sonages; but it is to be doubted if he will ever score a greater victory than that of October 5. (Continued on Page 13.)