The leader., 1905-03-15
THE OATH.


|ization
THE OATH.
With the right hand upIifted,
q do solelnnly swear to keep and
never reveal any Of the secrets Of
this organization. and 90 solemn
- swear that ! will live and abide
by any Of its rules AS they are
now or as they may ke hereafter
revised. That If ever called upon
to sit upon any grand jury, or
other jury, to hold out forever
against any bill or verdict direct
Ied against any member of this or
ganization; also, that / will assist
ID every way directed BY the or
ganization To compel negroes to-
vacate any and all property own
led by merchants, and to assist To
put out Of the way any and AL OBJ
noxious negroes living within the
jurisdiction of this club, and that
/ fully understand that death shall
be the penalty to any and all
members revealing any Of the se-
|crets or workings Of the organiza-
|tion sd help me God. Y
He stated that after he had tax
len the oath that he turned to
who was standing near
him and asked him If that oath
was not unlawful and said
chat It was, but made no explana-
tion ii the matter from the fact
that at about chat moment some
one Of the guards discharged 4
pistol or gun and the report caus-
led commoti0n on the inside or
among the crowd, and he never
had chance to talk with
about the matter again.
He informed me that he was So
licited to join the Farmers League
By and that be was curious
to know what they we're all doing,
claiming that he had noticed peo-
pie going to Che vicinity Of Shall
low Ford for some time prior to
the night chat he joined and that
they could be seen coming and go
ing at all times Of the night, and
that there were SO many that they
appeared like an army of soldiers
marching up and down the road.
He also stated that when he ar
rived at the meeting and had been
made d member, that he realized
that be had undoubtedly joined a
white cap organization and that
he made up bis mind then and
there never to 90 to another meet
ing; but that he would take in the
situation the best be could at this
meeting and did.
He stated that there were sever
al speeches made; ID fact, it seem
ed that eveFv ono there wanted TO
say something about The negroes
and the necessity for driving them
of from the merchants places and
the public land that they occn-
pied.
He stated that among the SPEAK
ers that made real white cap
speeches were
Among The things that
said ID his talk was The objects
of the Farmers League and this
meeting is to drive the negroes all.
off from the public land and the
merchants places BY giving them
orders FIRST to 60, and those chat
don't go when they receive the or
ders, will he carried out feet fore
most.
Among some of the things that
said ii bis talk was, We
viii first get thoroughly organic
ed into 4 solid organization, and
then we will attend to the negroes
as brother has said, for it
lis necessary for us to put a stop
TO the cOlonizing of the negroes
by the merchants and make them
yacate the public land, that they
are now occupying, or they will
soon control al Of the choice land
of this county, and we can not and
will not allow such under any
consideration.
Among some Of the things that
said in his speech, which is
described BY as q long and
fiery one was:
This organization is composed
of the right kind of men to carry
out the objects of the organiza-
tion, which are to either compel
the negroes to leave this county
or to kill them, and thus rid the
country Of any and all such negroes
as we have ID this county who are
about to rise up 10 rebellion and
epdeavor To kill the the white
people aIl Of even now; planning
to kill our families as well as US.
and this is proven BIZ their action
liz buying up guns and having
them shipped into our county ID
collins and various other ways and
c0ncealinQ them ii their churches
and other places where they think
that they can not Be found until
they cot ready to assassinate rs,
our families and children ap-
pIause and bow is The time for Us
o. n 80 q.