The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1893-10-14
Communicated.]
TO THE PUBLIC.


Mr.. Editor:-I am sorry / have
been called upon in this manner 10
vidicaie myself. To begin with, 1t
was 80 unjust and unnecessary, that l
really do not know how to begin. In
the first place, | was encouraged by
one and all to take the men down TO
Woodland plantations, SO | went to
work and carried down about the 1st
Of September tair,y-one. aud on the
18th of September, | returned to
Providence with the same good inten-
lion TO be relief and benefit, both To
the planters and iaborers. In small
extent have been relief aud benefit,
for lust before lefi Woodland PLAN
,atiou | went to MIR. W.. I'll Ctaffe
and asked that he advance to the boys
who came with me two or three dol
lars apiece TO sead their wives. That
idea met Mr.. Chaffe's approval, and
the money was sent to me. $500,
which was given to their respective
! wives. Had all of them asked for
money il would have been given them.
Ii is true, there was some little OBJ
jeciions by a few q say few, for they
were very few Oh my second trip; SO
TO try and get the sentiment and feel
ing of the community, | asked that all
the planters meet me III the town of
Providence. The day aud time were
appointed and place of meeting.
was there, and the only planter pres
ent was Mr.. Geo. f. Blackburn He
and others expressed their opinions in
the saloon OF j. r. Keller & Co.'S The
subject was then dropped tor the
time being. The next day callel 10
see Messrs. r. j. Barney, W. p Bur-
ney, capt. VIM Rnus, j. 4. Brooke
and j. G.. OIdfieid. They expressed
| themselves about as follows: "We
have been overlooked, are moi able In
Ia e care OF our labor, and we believe
they viii 90 oil to hunt work. and We
would much rather see them Ga down
the river than up" Now with such
encouragement as this. went 10 work
again Ia seenrr bands. Mr.. Benjamin
! OF The second ward. expressed aooui
the same feeling towards those tina,
were not being taken care Of. and said
/ down III hat ward the plan RS we're
/ all trying 10 All care az their labor
and would aot ike for any person Ia
interjere with them. | promised him
that | would not. Several OF his
hands came Ia me 30 go down the river
aud finding out where they were
from, | told them no, | had NIL | want.
ed. And ju>i here. wiz say have
bad no negro agent OUT iB the parish
aud any such run0rs are false.
Having come here with such good
intentions, | teei that the actions OF
the people in this community have
been without grounds altogether, and
unjust and uncalled for, and, saving
the least, rather uuiiinely. Had
they acted MS men with M, as asked
there would have been no such feel
ing between us. can go farther
and refer The kickers to Messrs. W. N
White, j. e. Ransdell, Hill Bros. r
N. Rea, j. w. Dunn aud j. s. MiiIikin
as to my course i'll this matter.
have beeh open and above board il
every hing in connection with thi.
labor question, and believe they vii
bare me out In il.
! As to my good and kind friend
"Plauier." | will pass him by uu
noticed. The humiliation to me anc
my family is sufficient.
| win only only reiieraie what
have always said-tbat as soon as
was convinced of the fact that tia,
planters did not want The labor Il
leave here, would respect their " ish
es. aud not take single hand from
the parish. This propose 10 Carr,
oat. lam glad To say have beer
successful both in Arkansas and Mis-
sissippi in getting all the labor neet
for Woodland plantation.
w. H. DAVIS.