or prohibit the
exodus of laborers through the activity of labor agents or
runners[13]: (1) that applying to the industrial centers and serving
to make conditions of labor on railroads, in mines, and other places
where Negroes are employed more attractive and payment of wages more
certain and frequent than in the case of labor upon the farm and
plantation; (2) that dealing with the relations of landlord and tenant
which in practical operation often makes the life of the tenant and
farm-hand very hard. Coupled with the ignorance of the usual Negro
peasant, these laws are sometimes tools of coercion.[14]

Another line of secondary or individual causes is shown in the reasons
for coming to New York City given by wage-earners mentioned above (p.
27). The tabulation of answers indicates that the influences drawing
individuals to New York City are, on the one hand, family
relationships. These cases, 68 or 32.4 per cent of the 210 replies
noted above, have been classified as those who came because of
parents, because of husband or wife, or because of other relatives. On
the other hand, there are the individual inclinations. The latter, 43
or 20.5 per cent of the 210 replies, are grouped under restlessness,
attraction of New York City, unattractiveness of former residence, and
miscellaneous. These groupings and designations are given as
suggestive only to facilitate the understanding of the mental attitude
of the Negro wage-earner. Their more or less economic tinge may be
seen. The reasons classified as "family" and as "individual" are
reported in detail in Table VII, following:

TABLE VII. REASONS GIVEN IN 1909 BY WAGE-EARNERS SHOWING WHY THEY CAME
TO NEW YORK CITY, 1909.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------+---
|
Family reasons (68 or 32.4 per cent, of 210). | T
| o
-----------------------+----------------------+------------------------+ t
| | | a
On account of parents. |On account of husband | On account of other | l
| or wife | relatives. | .
-----------------------+----------------------+------------------------+---
| | |
"Brought here b