Should pre-election forecasts gathered through interviews with a large number of citizens in East and West Durham run true to form, employes in the Erwin cotton mills and the Durham Cotton Manufacturing company fearful of rent increases, will for the most part cast ballots against city extension in Tuesday’s election. This information carefully compiled, fails to bring gloom to extension headquarters and Victor S. Bryant, chairman of the general committee is confident a great victory will be realized.
A continuous stream of reports in the downtown section to the effect that the rent question is bothering West Durham people, sent the political reporter scurrying to the suburban districts. The reports were readily confirmed. Very few mill workers were interviewed, but the business men in both sections testified unanimously to the effect that the rent question is worrying employees of the mill.
In West Durham it was found that mill employes are receiving phenomenally low rents. The house, ranging from three to five rooms, rent from 50 cents to $1.25 per week. Each house is furnished with lights and water, and in some instances sewerage. The employes of the mills are well satisfied with their homes. The report has gone out among them, but not officially, to the effect that city extension will mean an increase in rents. Just how heavy the increase would be, if an increase is levied, the mill workers do not undertake to estimate. They merely compare West and East Durham rents with rents in the city. The comparison is so evidently favorable to the mill employes that they are totally at a loss on the question of voting.
At city extension headquarters, Mr. Bryant takes no stock in the political rumor, declaring that Mr. Erwin has emphatically declined to fight the city extension movement. He believes the reports relative to higher rents are political fabrications weaved by enemies of Durham’s progressive programs. He also discounts rumors to the effect that employes of the mills have been given to understand that their annual bonus will be chopped off if city extension carries. The reports are too preposterous to be given credence, Mr. Bryant asserts.
Heavy Registration
West Durham is furnishing a heavy registration, and the citizens interviewed on the subject of city extension say the majority will be against the measure. They make estimates ranging between 75 and 90 percent. Just about all of the mill employes, a former West Durham registrar said Friday, will cast ballots against the measure, if they do as they say they will on election day. There are a few friends of the measure among the people who reside and work in West Durham. The advocates of city extension in this thriving suburb, however, are for the most part downtown people who have purchased property outside of the corporate limits. Over on Club boulevard and streets nearby, the sentiment seems to be overwhelmingly for city extension. This, according to Mr. Bryant, is going to do a great deal to check the anti-extension sentiment in mill sections where the rent ghost has undoubtedly gotten in some heavy work.
In a good many instances, west Durham citizens say the question of increased taxes bobs up. This, however, is a minority matter in comparison to the rent business. The rents, it is said, is something over which the officials of the mills have absolute control, and is a weapon that could be used should the mills decide to take a hand in politics.
East Durham Different
The situation in East Durham is considerably more favorable to city extension. The rent ghost is wading and wending its way through the mill district as in West Durham. The mill district in this suburb, however, happens to be much smaller, and the number of employees less. Most of the employes of the mills live on the southside. They will, according to citizens interviewed, vote against extension. Very few of the mill employes reside on the northside, and it is believed by business men in East Durham that this precinct will offset any damage incurred on the southside. Sentiment on the southside is pitted against sentiment on the northside, and a rather peculiar situation exists.
Mr. Bryant expressed considerable optimism over the situation in East Durham. “You know,” he said Saturday, “I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if East Durham goes for city extension.”
Lakewood Park Right
The rent ghost does not stalk its way through Lakewood Park residential sections, and city extension advocates find very few opponents to the measure in this suburb. Several citizens of the Lakewood park district called at city extension headquarters yesterday to offer their services in the campaign. This suburb, they assert, is going almost solid for extension.
With the city at least 75 percent for the measure, West Durham probably 25 percent; East Durham 50 percent and Lakewood park at least 75 percent, Mr. Bryant sees very little cause for worry. At the same time, he took occasion Saturday to issue an open letter to the advocates of city extension, urging them to cast ballots. He says it will be fatal if the friends of the measure are caught asleep at the switch.
From page 2 of the Durham Morning Herald, Sunday, Dec. 7, 1924
newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn84020730/1924-12-07/ed-1/seq-2/
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