The big increase in arrests on charges of felonious cutting, pointing firearms, and carrying concealed weapons, may be explained in a variety of ways. Since the post bellum days, the carrying and handling of arms in the South was sanctioned socially. The whites have carried, and in some places are still carrying these weapons with them. The Negro, whether because of his habit of imitating the whites or because he has learned the lesson of protecting and defending himself, has also acquired the habit of carrying weapons. Being too poor or too timid in the South to purchase a revolver or similar dangerous weapon, he had to content himself with a knife or a razor. Immediately upon the Negro’s arrival in Pittsburgh, and as soon as he gets off the train, his attention is called to these means of defense which are profusely displayed in the show windows of second hand stores near the stations. These arms are tempting to his primitive instinct of display, and being unfamiliar with conditions in this city--still thinking in terms of the Southern environment--he considers these things a necessity. As they can be obtained easily, he manages to purchase one of these weapons at the first opportunity. That the lynchings, riots and mistreatments should not teach him a lesson of self-defense and the need for such weapons would be incredible. It may also be added that the Southern Negro does not consider cutting another Negro an offense against the law. Such cutting was frequently practiced in the South and arrest did not follow. It may therefore not be strange to learn that on several occasions, when arraigned on charges of felonious cutting, these migrants expressed great surprise when they learned that their offense involved a jail or workhouse sentence. _TABLE NUMBER XIX_ _Total Number of Negro Charges in the Juvenile Court from January 1st, 1915 to June 30, 1915 and January 1st, 1917 to June 30, 1917._ +-------------------------------+----------+----------+ | CHARGES | Total No.| Total No.| +-------------------------------+----------+----------+ | | 1915 | 1917 | +-------------------------------+----------+----------+ | Incorrigibility | 11 | 10 | | Delinquency | 34 | 13 | | Dependent and Neglected | 18 | 23 | | Entering a Building | 4 | 1 | | Larceny | 5 | 8 | | Violating Parole | 1 | | | Malicious Mischief | 2 | 1 | | Assault and Battery | 5 | 1 | | All other Charges | 3 | 3 | | | -- | -- | | | 83 | 60 | +-------------------------------+----------+----------+ _TABLE NUMBER XX_ _Dispositions of Same._