now I never knew any other way to find out as I want to leave the south and I feel very much confidential that you would give information if in your power. So if you know of such why please inform me at your leasure time. Any charges why notify me in return but do not publish.
VICKSBURG, MISS., May 2, 1917.
_Sir_: I am a reader of the Chicago Defender I am asking you a little information. So many people are leaving south for north and it is too big families and we want to come north or middle west for better wages. We all have trade and if you think we all can get position just as we get north if not the middle west.
Better please dont publish this is no paper. here is a stamp envelop for reply.
LAUREL, MISS., 4-30-17.
_Dear Sir_: In reading your defender paper every week find every thing so true makes me want to come more every day. so i am thinking of coming in a few days decided to write you in regards to getting a job that will suit my age. I am 48 years old am in very good helth and likes to work just like the days come. Have farm the biggest position of my life untill seven years ago. i follow publick work untill now would not like for my name to be publish in the paper.
FULLERTON, LA., May 7, 1917.
_Dear sir_: This comes to inform you that I would like very much to come up and locate in your town, but would like to have a little advise before I leave the sunny south. I am a railroad man by trade. Of course I am a Colored man but I have been Conductor for the G. & S. R. Ry. of the past eight years. I have acted as yard master, and manager of the switch engine and had charge of the local freight department. Please advise if you think I can secure a fairly good paying position up there and I am ready to come up and take hold. I can furnish good reference, and have my own typewriter and equipment.
I am not particular about working for the rail-road, but I would like to get something respectable if possible.
I think my reference will satisfy the most interogator. Kindly advise privately and do not publish.
GREENVILLE, MISS., May 12, 1917.
_Dear sir_: Please inform me as to wether there is imployment for col. insurance agents by Company as industrial writers sick and acc. and deth if thair is such co. handling coolored agents in Chicago or suburban towns, please see suptender as to wether he could youse a good relible live agent. I am contemplating moving to Ill. This is confidential.
My experience as ins. agent 15 year industrial and ord. life and prefered.
LETTERS EMPHASIZING RACE WELFARE
AUGUST, GA., May 12, 1917.
_Dear Sir_: Just for a little infermation from you i would like to know wheather or not i could get in tuch with some good people to work for with a firm because things is afful hear in the south let me here from you soon as poseble what ever you do dont publish my name in your paper but i think peple as a race oguht to look out for one another as Christians friends i am a schuffur and i cant make a living for my family with small pay and the people is getting so bad with us black peple down south hear. now if you ever help your race now is the time to help me to get my family away. food stuf is so high. i will look for answer by return mail, dont publish my name if your paper but let me hear from you at once.
DELAND, FLA., 5/1. 17.
_Dear sir_: I being onknon to you in personnal but by reading the Chicago Defender I notice in its ad that there is chance for all kind of imployment that a men that will work can get and as I am one of the negro race that dont mind working study so it is understand that you will please let me no as to wheather you can place me in some of those positions for I sopose to be in this town about 5 more weeks. after leving her stopping in Savannah my home city to see my too bro. and mother I will then leve for the northern states I will thank you for some information.
NEW ORLEANS, LA., May 1, 1917.
_Dear sir_: i am a reader of the Chicago defender and i seen in the defender that you are interrested in the well fair of the colored people those of the cla.s.se that is interested in themselves and coming to the north for a better chance so i take pleashure in riting to you that i may get some under standing about conditions of getting work as i see that you are in turch with the foundrys warehouses and the manufacturing concerns that is in need of laborers and i thought it was best to rite you and get some understanding as it is 4 of us expecting to leave here in a few days to come north but we are not coming for pleasure we are looking for wirk and better treatment and more money and i ask your aid in helping us to secure a good position of work as we are men of familys and we canot aford to loaf and i will be very glad to hear from you and an my arival i will call at your place to see you.
COLUMBIA, S. C., May 7, 1917.
_Dir sur_: i saw in one of our colord papers your ad i now seat my selft to seak work thru your ade of which i beleve is ernest devotion to our betterment i am a brick layer and plastrer i rite to no if i can get or you can get work for me please let me know detales plese.
MEMPHIS, TENN., 4-23-17.
_Gentlemen_: I want to get in tuch with you in regard of a good location & a job I am for race elevation every way. I want a job in a small town some where in the north where I can receive verry good wages and where I can educate my 3 little girls and demand respect of intelegence. I prefer a job as cabinet maker or any kind of furniture mfg. if possible.
Let me hear from you all at once please. State minimum wages and kind of work.
JACKSONVILLE, FLA., May 2, 1917.
_Dear sir_: I am writing you a few lines seacking information about some work as i was read a Chicago Defender i saw where labarers wanted very much I am a labarer now have not no work here to do i am married man have one child and would like for yo to give me work to do anything I am well expereinced in ware house and foundry and if there any way for you to fearnish me a transportation to come at once do i can go so i can make my family a desen living you will please let me know and if you would help a poor need man i am willing to come any time if I had the money i would pay my own way but i realy ain got it so i am asking you to please do this for me i am realy in need if you can do a poor negro any good please do this for me.
PENSACOLA, FLA., April 25, 1917.
_My dear Sir_: I noticed an anticle in the Chicago Defender that officers and members of your organization officer to a.s.sist any member of the race to secure steady employment in small cities near Chicago. I am verry anxious to secure a job the year round at any kind of honest work, trusting that I may hear from you at an early date, I beg to remain.
ATLANTA, GA., April 11, 1917.
_Dear Sir_: I am a reader of you paper and we are all crazy about it and take it every Sat.u.r.day and we raise a great howl when we dont get it. Now since I see and feel that you are for the race and are willing to a.s.sist any one so I will ask you to please a.s.sist me in getting imployment and some place to stop with some good quiet people or with a family that would take some one to live with them. I will do any kind of work. I am a hair dresser but I will do any kind of work I can get to do I am a widow and have one child a little girl 6 years years old I dont know any body there so if you can a.s.sist me in any way will be greatly appreciated now this letter is personal please dont print it in your paper. I hope to hear from you soon.
ROME, GA., April 28, 1917.
_My dear Northern friend_: I saw in the Chicago Defender where llabors are wanted I am sure a man that wants to get out of the south and would do most any kind of work I has a wife she works all the time We has a boy age 13 years he has been working with me 5 years I has been working at the pipe shop 11 year but I can do other work you said you will sind a transportation after labores please send after me I can get 10 more mens if you want them. ans. soon so that I will no what to do but I hope you will say yes. hope you will say get the mens and let us sind for you all I am a man woks all the time I has a wife and 4 childrens.
HOUSTON, TEX., April 27, 1917.
_Dear Sirs_: I am a reader of the Chicago Defender and I seen where you are in need of men and are also in the position for firms to seek you. I see where you are in the lines of work for the betterment of the race.
NEW ORLEANS, LA., April 22, 1917.
_Dear sir_: in reading the defender I seen where this was an oportunity for work, for the betterment of the race. Just out of the city and i thought to get in touch with you to see if their would be a chance for me an my brother, i dident no if you meant any one this far from Chicago or not but i rite to find out. but i hope you will except me please and let me no your wages, i hope to hear from you and if you will except me i can pick you up some responseful families mens but if you dont want them take me because i wants work, so good by.
SHERMAN, GA., Nov. 28, 1916.
_Dear sir_: This letter comes to ask for all infirmations concern emplyoment in your conection in the warmest climate. Now I am in a family of (11) eleven more or less boys and girls (men and women) mixed sizes who want to go north as soon as arrangements can be made and employment given places for shelter an so en (etc) now this are farming people they were raised on the farm and are good farm hands I of course have some experence and qualefication as a coman school teacher and hotel waiter and along few other lines.
I wish you would write me at your first chance and tell me if you can give us employment at what time and about what wages will you pay and what kind of arrangement can be made for our shelter.
Tell me when can you best use us now or later.
Will you send us tickets if so on what terms and at what price what is the cost per head and by what route should we come. We are Negroes and try to show ourselves worthy of all we may get from any friendly source we endeavor to be true to all good causes, if you can we thank you to help up to come north as soon as you can.