The "Riot" Scare Put An End To It, p. 1
Dublin Core
Title
The "Riot" Scare Put An End To It, p. 1
Description
“There comes a time for plain speaking. Citizens of Los Angeles are being alarmed by rumors of race troubles, demonstrations are planned for July Fourth when attacks are to made upon the race by whites. Whispered warnings have been given that Caucasians intend a repetition of Tulsa. It is whispered that the Brown case and the death of a man attacked on Twelfth Street have caused a “riot” plan to “get even.” The West Jefferson section is said to be marked for destruction by fire. These and others are the wild reports that have been whispered about until women and children have been made nervous and many reputable citizens have become concerned over the possible results of creating such tension. The time has come for sober minded citizens to consider the following situation.
What is the origin of these reports? Where have they come from and who is spreading them?
Citizens have tried to learn the source of these reports and officers of the law have spent the time to run down one after another of them, and the following is typical of the results:
Officers McDuff, Kimbrough, Stevens, and Glenn were detailed to investigate these rumors. They began.
First, certain “colored politicians” had heard it from a portion. He had heard it from a car cleaner, he had heard it from a car cleaner who heard it from a carpenter who heard it from a woman where he worked. She heard it at a wake from another woman who got the report from a worker in a brickyard who had been told by an unknown white boy who had gone to work for a truck company, the address and name of which he did not know. Remember, as you read this, that these officers visited and talked with every one of these persons, tracing every clew given them. The chief of police gave these officers of the race this detail, and together with the mayor, pledged every precaution nip in the bud any hint of trouble.
The conclusion reached by our own thinking citizens, by the authorities and by other citizens who have the city’s welfare at heart is that there is no real cause for the wild statements that have been made.
The New Age advises respect for law, but would never ask the citizens to do less than to protect themselves from attacks that authorities were either unwilling or unable to protect them against. But it is plainly the part of good citizenship and common sense to discourage all hysteria, and that agitation which encourages a search for trouble.
There is no excuse for race trouble in this city; there is none of that bitterness between the races that would bring on a clash unless the ill-advised action of some simpleton or trouble seeker of either race should be so magnified as to encourage attacks. The sentiment of this whole community is against any such trouble and citizens of all groups ought to repudiate anything of the kind regardless of who might be the instigator.
People who have property and business, those of families and decent interests as citizens are earnestly against racial troubles, and this is true of Caucasians as well as race people. And these classes in Los Angeles are going to be mighty outspoken in this respect. This is their attitude in the present case. They will never cause trouble.
Who then might want to bring about the trouble? Only those who have nothing, who might want to overthrow government, or do a certain kind of “politics.” During the war German propagandists were accused of trying to stir up the race to trouble; then it was claimed the bolsheviki and radicals were at the same scheme. A revolution of all classes with a grievance was predicted. It might be possible that agents of such notions would go about whispering of “riots” and “attacks” and “race trouble.” Thinking citizens are not going to permit their families to be terrorized by anything of this kind. The race does not propose to be used as catspaw for anyone’s trouble making.
Let us have a reign of common sense for the next two weeks. Discourage this riot talk, do not permit it to be discussed before children. Level-headed citizens must put their hands upon the helm of sentiment and steer the ship of their own interests away from the rocks which any designing might hope would cause a wreck.”
What is the origin of these reports? Where have they come from and who is spreading them?
Citizens have tried to learn the source of these reports and officers of the law have spent the time to run down one after another of them, and the following is typical of the results:
Officers McDuff, Kimbrough, Stevens, and Glenn were detailed to investigate these rumors. They began.
First, certain “colored politicians” had heard it from a portion. He had heard it from a car cleaner, he had heard it from a car cleaner who heard it from a carpenter who heard it from a woman where he worked. She heard it at a wake from another woman who got the report from a worker in a brickyard who had been told by an unknown white boy who had gone to work for a truck company, the address and name of which he did not know. Remember, as you read this, that these officers visited and talked with every one of these persons, tracing every clew given them. The chief of police gave these officers of the race this detail, and together with the mayor, pledged every precaution nip in the bud any hint of trouble.
The conclusion reached by our own thinking citizens, by the authorities and by other citizens who have the city’s welfare at heart is that there is no real cause for the wild statements that have been made.
The New Age advises respect for law, but would never ask the citizens to do less than to protect themselves from attacks that authorities were either unwilling or unable to protect them against. But it is plainly the part of good citizenship and common sense to discourage all hysteria, and that agitation which encourages a search for trouble.
There is no excuse for race trouble in this city; there is none of that bitterness between the races that would bring on a clash unless the ill-advised action of some simpleton or trouble seeker of either race should be so magnified as to encourage attacks. The sentiment of this whole community is against any such trouble and citizens of all groups ought to repudiate anything of the kind regardless of who might be the instigator.
People who have property and business, those of families and decent interests as citizens are earnestly against racial troubles, and this is true of Caucasians as well as race people. And these classes in Los Angeles are going to be mighty outspoken in this respect. This is their attitude in the present case. They will never cause trouble.
Who then might want to bring about the trouble? Only those who have nothing, who might want to overthrow government, or do a certain kind of “politics.” During the war German propagandists were accused of trying to stir up the race to trouble; then it was claimed the bolsheviki and radicals were at the same scheme. A revolution of all classes with a grievance was predicted. It might be possible that agents of such notions would go about whispering of “riots” and “attacks” and “race trouble.” Thinking citizens are not going to permit their families to be terrorized by anything of this kind. The race does not propose to be used as catspaw for anyone’s trouble making.
Let us have a reign of common sense for the next two weeks. Discourage this riot talk, do not permit it to be discussed before children. Level-headed citizens must put their hands upon the helm of sentiment and steer the ship of their own interests away from the rocks which any designing might hope would cause a wreck.”
Source
N/A
Publisher
Washington Bee
Date
7-9-1921
Collection
Citation
“The "Riot" Scare Put An End To It, p. 1,” African American Fourth of July, accessed April 29, 2024, https://africanamerican4th.omeka.net/items/show/360.