Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-02-20
Newspaper Mans Experiences in
Getting News for His Paper.

Getting News for His Paper.
\ newspaper man who had worked in the
south was telling a Star reporter of some
Of his experiences.
Il notice. he said, that the National
Farmers Alliance has been in session in
this city. Now, that was big political or
ganization five or six years ago, and its
membership in southern and western states
was large. Many statesman went under
as result Of projecting with the alliance
and refusing to heed its demands. The
venerable statesman from Georgia, Repre-
sentative Leonidas Livingston, came into
Congress as result of loving the alliance
Senator Tillman Of South Carolina rode the
alliance horse until it carried him into
power. l could name many others, but it
Is not necessary to the story. What l am
telling about now is the distrust which the
order and its members have always enter
tanned for newspaper men. especially at
times when they are holding meetings.
Nothing IS ever given out except through
press committees, as the Washington re-
portsrs have no doubt ascertained That
used to be the fashion with the county al
llances when they met. Eight years ago
when the alliance was f1ourishing in a GER
tam southern state. 1 determined to secure
the news OF county alliance meeting for
the paper was then working on The al
lance met In hall over a livery stable.
Adjoining the hall was a hay and fodder
I ien GOT into this and prepared hole to
hsten to the proceedings. I didn't care
anything about the secret work. and merely
wanted the proceedings on political sub
1ects. with hay under me and hayseeds in
hours, but got full story of what was
done. The alliance membership in the
county was amazed and mad. They bow
cotted my paper In every way possible for
years as result of that trick, but the pa
per still exists. There are many men still
IN Congress, however, who still keen I'M
with the order, and in a secret way Pat It
on the shoulder. They are afraid Of 1t.
MY experiences with this order recalls
the run had, when a very young man re-
porting republican ward meetings in the
south. These meetings were attended
", who e by c9iored citizens. and every man
In the crowd had his razor with him. AS
rule, the meetings were held by the
flicker of dim oil lamps. Two out of three
times the meetings would break up in a
row, the lights would be put out and tharo
would be scuff1ing, scrambling and the
scudding OF dark figures. At one of these
meetings, after the scene described Inc
police arrived. and with lanterns ascer-
tanned the situation. Two or three men
were lying on the floor, badly whacked
with razor cats. while under every bench
ana behind every box or chair were cit
izens VINO had sought those places of safe
ty until the war was over. After the no.
lice arrived there was a general demand to
know. Who struck me on the head? and
Who done dat foul lick while 1 wus try
m to preserve peace" Representative
George Murray. the colored member of the
house. represents a district where such
things occurred frequently years ago.
These disturbances often came about over
the rulings Of the chairmen. but the color
ed citizen now understands parliamentary
tactics better. and the chairman is never
in SO dangerous predicament. This also
reminds me that I have Travelled through
portions of Mr.. Murray's district for hours
without seeing white face. 1t Is known
as the black district because of the I'M
usual predominance Of colored people. This
is especially so in the rice fields back from
the coast. This section is so full of ma
laria that white man cannot live in it.
White overseers go to the rice fields in the
daytime. but at night go to higher places
by rail- or swift horses The negroes are
acclimated. and rarely get sick. They
were faithful people during the war. They
could have murdered the few white people
near to them, but instead of doing their
owners and white friends harm they work.
ed for them as loyalty as before the war.
Many OF them still live with their former
owners. and are kindly treated