The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1906-11-09
NO POLITICS IN MOVE .
Probing of Alleged Peonags Cases in
the South Explained from Author-
itative Source.

AA0tANS NNNA~Ss
Representatives Of the department
Of justice do not wish that the inves-
tigation iuto peonage charges in Geor-
gla be regarded as of a political ma
ture or as crusade against any one
section.
Such is the statement Of gentle
man who is in a position to know
the alleged motives Of President Roose-
Welt in dispatchlng to the state Assist
ant Attorney General Russell, who, for
a week or so past, has been investigat-
Ing charges Of peonage against R. D.
Cole & Co, Of Newman.
President Roosevelt" the gentle
man continued, feels kindly toward
the south He has every reason to.
But he feels that this is q matter
in which the very prosperity of the
south is concerned as we'll as the
prosperity of the country. The south
is crying for immigrants and Ehe
only way to get them is to treat the
ones who come fairly. Otherwise the
news will soon spread and desirable
immigrants will be kept away. The
present investigation is not directed
against the peonage of negroes, but
applies to white as well"
In substance, it was further stated,
that in the specific case now being
investigated before the federal grand
jury at Atlanta fifty German immi-
grannts had been induced to come to
Newman, Ca, by an immigration agent
in New York city, named Richardson
who inserted an advertisement in "a
German paper for fifty immigrants
to work in a furniture factory; that
they signed no contract and were
taken to Newman, where they were
told the factory would not be III OPP.
GRAFTON fer some days; that they were
placed at hard manual labor at $125
q Gay, out Of which they had to pay
81 per week on transportation, which
haG been advanced them.
Several left Newman, but were com.
PEELED to return and complete the
terms of their contract. The German
consul at New York was appealed to
and in this way the matter found its
way into the department Of justice.
The law inregard to enforcing con
tracts in Georgia applicable to charges
of peonage is we'll known; and in
cases where persons have been com
PEELED to perform labor through force,
that portion of 1t applying to receiv-
ing advance money with the intent to
defrand has been resorted to, it is
alleged by the government, and the
real intent Of the law purposely mis-
credited 50 as to put peonage into
practice although unconstitutional
While the people Of Georgia are
perfectly cognizant Of the state and
federal laws applying to the case, they
have been SO frequently imposed upon
by interruptions labor agents ana
been so often buncoed by immigrants
they feel it is very strange that spe-
clal officials should be sent to this
section instead of the west and north.
west, where the same conditions pre-
vail and are drawn to the conclusion
that politics does play a part in the
matter despite all protests that such
/ is not the case
I'm many cases." said the gentle
man referred to. "these charges are
deliberately trumped up and some fed
eral officials are only too glad to
make CAPITAL Of statements which II
investigated would prove 9. tissue OF
falsohood3. Many immigrants core to
4 this state with no intention Of doing
labor and intend to jump us as soon
4 rs they arrive. we are constantly be
ing imposed on and It is only nat
ural we should attempt to protect our.
selves. However we do not commit
the abuses urged against us any more
/ than persons Of other sections"
!