The Washington times., 1906-10-13
Humans Carted Into State
Like Mules and Held
in Bondage.
MAY CAUSE A MASSACRE
Determined WomanWill Lay
Case Before President
Monday Morning.

That peonage ard slave-h0lding Of the
most fragrant character exist in the
/ southern part of Florida. and have thus
far not been detected by the Federal
officers in that State, is the emphatic
declaration of Miss Emma Sterling. Of
/ Tampa, Fla. secretary of the Florida
Humane Association, who came 10
Washington yesterday TO tell the Presl-
dent the results Of her investigation.
This morning at il O'Clock Miss Ster-
hng was expected at the White House,
but she had failed 20 make an appoint
ment with the President and did not
call at tbs Executive offices. on Mon
day morning Miss Sterling will pay her
respects to the President by appoint
ment. and az that time she viii ask
Aim 10 investigate the peonage charges.
At the White House this morning IL
was said that the charges preferred by
Miss Sterling viii be placed in the
hands Of the Department of Justice and
that an Investigation viii be instituted
through the district attorneys Office for
the Southern Florida district 10 deter
mine the truth or falsity Of the charges.
"AtrOcity and Cruelty"
.
ington until the charges preferred have
been sifted 10 the bottom and IL an in
vestigation is made. she viii serve as
the representative Of the association in
Washington.
At her apartments IN the NCrmaudie.
Miss Sterling received a reporter for
The Times and talked freely about
"barbarism, atrocity, and cruelty
NH
the slave camps IN the southern portion
OF the state. Condiris rs which shock
the moral sense are told by Miss Steri-
ing in vivid fashion and she declares
that II present conditions are longer
permitted to defy the Law, nothing
short of a massacre and the slaughter
OF hundreds OF lives will result
II don't like to talk too much about
this matter vet she said 81 want
first 10 get IL In the hands of the Prcsi-
dent and enlist his helm. The Humane
Association of Florida proposes 10 put
"a stop 10 this slave-holdiug and fl has
sent me here TO present 20 the powers
that be every fact which viii aid them
in prosecuting the guilty parties.
Bought Like Cattle
Chose responsible for these helpless
black and white slaves are not residents
Of Florida. but come from a Tar dis
tant State. The convict labor in iJseIr
is nothing but slave-holding for the
treatment meted out to them by those
who buy them for term OF months or
years. as though they We're purchasing
cattle, is inhuman in the extreme.
we are trying 20 stop that thing,
but the state delights 10 traffic i'm this
sort OF business and the association is
powerless.
But we are fighting now TO free gangs
of men who are held absolutely in a
state Of bondage. who We're carted into
the State Ike raules and are kept under
the lash at hard labor, ana who are Civ
EN- barely enough 10 live On.
Facts Coming.
''I cant give out any facts Of a def
mite nature as yet. But things Will be
presented in a fOrclble and convincing
light before the investigation into this
horrible situation is ended, and the pub
lie win stare in wonderment when il
does find out the true condition OF af-
fairs now I'm the Land Of Flowers
1T is truly shocking. The fair name
of the State is almost az stake i'm this
issue. and it can't be dropped without
being fully aired. Somebody is going
TO be punished That's all i can say.
/ know that il VIII take some mighty
power in this government to end the
slavery, that / know 10 exist and that's
why / came 10 Washington to interview
the President"
Miss Sterling is over seventy years of
age For ten years, she declares, she
has been q resident of Florida and is
q property owner there. For several
years she has been an ardent advocate
ln the State for repaliug certain laws
on the statute books with reference 10
the leasing of state cOnVicJs. She de-
clares she Is ably supported in her pres
ent plans TO have the slave question in-
yesttgated, and is confident Of success.