The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1899-05-24
A BOLD SWINDLE.
Buncoing The Negroes Out Their
Hard Earned Dollars.
HOW THE GAME Is WORKED.
One Hundred and Fifty Thousand
Dollars Has So Far Been
Stolen from the Trusttul
Cclored Brother.
Cclored Brother.

A dispatch from Washington says
thousands Of ignorant col"led people III
this country are being Induced to be-
lieve that they are TO be pensloned by
the United States government upon oe-
ing unable to Show that they were tor
merly slaves. The promoters OF this
scheme, which mas ali the ear marks OF
4 systematic attempt t5 extract money
from creduious colored people, by hold
ing out to them false hopes OF govern
ment pension, have beeu at work Tor a
number Of years, apd it is estimated
that over $3.50, 600 has been col
lected by the sell, constituted mission
aries having the projecl in hand.
The subject came to the service
few days days ago through some CORES
pondence between a colored preacher,
in one of the southern States, and
United States senat Y. The preacher
wrote to the senator to inquire into the
matter in view of the fact that so many
Of the colorcd people in his state had
been assessed to defray the expenses OF
the proposed legislation. The senator,
who is one Of the most iufuentia! mem,
bers of that body, by reason OF his long
service (three terms and his approprl,
ate committee assignments, lnsu'u'eo
an investigation, and his IS the SUB
stance Of what he reported to the col
ored divine who sought information oD
the subject:
It appears that there has been IN ex-
istence for about ten years or more an
enterprise under the title Of the ,,Ez-
Slave Mutual Relief Company and Pen
sion Association. Of the United States
Of America" This association has its
agents in every State in the union, for
the purpose Of locating, if possible, all
former Slaves. The latter are told that
legislation is now pending before con-
gress to pension al former slaves as
follows:
ali persons 70 years Of age to receive
$500 and also S156 more during their
natural lives. Persons 60 years to re,
ceive $500 and 1925 more. Persons 3O
years to receive 500 and $50 more.
Persons less than 80 years to receive
SIG more; etc. It IS necessary for all
the supposed benefcisIies OF the pro-
posed legislation to pay into the assocl-
ton 25 cents as registration fee. 1t
is claimed that over 600, 600 ex slaves
have been so registered According to
the circular sent cut by the association,
a CODY Of which is now IN the hands OF
Of the senate referred to, the headquar-
ters or main cfHce is st No. lOo Gay
street, Nashville, Tenn. /. D. Dlcker-
son is general manager The circular
Is headed "On to Victory 1t also
contains picture # General Manager
Dickerson. 1t is addressed to "All ex-
slave associations in the United STATES.
We come greeting as general manager
and promoter Of the Increment, which
has been so much opposition and more
combats in its own circular than any
other organization Of the pre- sent day.
Then follows special mention Of the
membership fee, 25 cents. Also the
information that the national delegate
in Washington is located at 4l3 Mis-.
souri, avenue; and has secured the scr
vices Of Attorney ". c. Lawson Ike
circular further appeals to every ex-
slave to send his lane aith tie regis
tration fee of 25 ceuts 1t also appeals
to every local association TO send 81 9o
for charter at cnce, aud every ex-
slave to send in addition that amount
to be used in the movement. These
assets are to be SEPT 10 the Office OF tbe
national delegate, gwen above. The
circular also announces that the Nation
al Convention at Nashville in 1898
made the weekly publication, the Ma
tional Capital, % cents for three
months. the official organ Of the as>o-
citation. Another and more recent
circular of similar Importance bears a
picture Of Sc William f. Mason:
Of Illinois, |. II. Dickerson. general
manager, IA Line street, Nashville,
Tenn. This circular declares tits the
only incorporated and chartered move
ment in the United States. and others
are frauds. 1t calls attention to the
bill 10 pension ex-slaves introduced ID
the House of Representatives, June -
1890, By then Representative Connell'
Of Nebraska. In the 54th congress
Senator Thurstou introduced the Con,
nell bill in the senate aid the circular
calls special attention to the fact that
the bill passed to two readings anc
was referred to tie pension commit
tee.