The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1906-11-16


One observer reported that the
swamp of Florida are dotted with the
skeletons of negroes and whites who
have been shot down because Of re-
fusal to obey their brutal BOSSES
The italian government learned that
half dozen of its subjects were in
a condition of peonage In Florida, and
sent special agent to ascertain the
facts This agent reported that all
employees were charged outrageously
high rates for transportation to camps
and were required to pay a fee to the
employment agencies which arranged
for their service.
No Pay on Rainy Days.
The men received 121s cents an
hour and worked ten hours a day.
They drew no pay for rainy days.
They were charged for food at the
rate of about $40 a month. The
weight of debt upon their shoulders
became so great that 1t proved almost
impossible for them to work It off,
and to prevent escape they were kept
as prisoners.
The bureau of labor investigated the
charges that the East Coast Florida
railroad was practicing peonage along
its new line, but satisfied itself they
were greatly exaggerated. AS mat
ter of fact some abuses were found,
but none as serious as alleged. It's re.
port Is before the president.
Of npnrcp tbnGn nppnnun nacnc arp
only one feature of the big question
with which the message will deal. 1t
is stated that the president was ac-
tuated in arranging for their remedy
by his desire to show the country that
equal justice should be administered
irrespective of race and color.
Discharged Negro Soldiers.
An indication of the presidents at
titude was furnished by his dismissal
of negro soldiers from the army and
at the same time calling Colonel Pitch
err, at Fort Sheridan, to account for
the criticism he had made of the mill
tary value of blacks.
officers of the army think the presi
dent went too far in declaring the re-
marks attributed to Colonel Pitcher
were as offensive as the rioting negro
soldiers, for which they were dishon-
orably discharged.
Booker T. Washington, the negro
who was consulted by Roosevelt,
would have liked the negroes retained
in service and Colonel Pitcher disci-
plined, but the president was inclined
to believe that public sentiment would
not sustain such a course.
Asks for Courtesy.
1t was admitted today that the
wholesale discharge of soldiers had
relieved the war department from an
embarrassing situation. Had the gull
ty been detected, the civil authorities
at Brownsville, Texas, stood ready to
demand that they be turned over to
the state courts for trial. There isn't
any doubt as to what would have hap
pened to the negroes after they had
passed into the possession of Texas
people The military, of course, would
have courtmartialed the culprits, but
in all probability this would not have
been enough to satisfy the Lone Star
state, and the remainder of the south.
The question of the relations of the
white people of the country and those
of other races, either negroes or ali
ems, has warranted the president, in
his judgment, in calling attention to
the Importance of a display Of greater
courtesy by all Americans.
The south would never consent to
the entrance of negroes in their white
schools and yet if the demand of the
Japanese government that it's subjects
be admitted to San Francisco public
schools be sustained Great Britain,
France and The Netherlands, which
have possessions in the West Indies
can insist upon the privilege being ac-
corded to their negro subjects.
Fear Japs Will be Rejected.
The department Of justice expects
to take the Japanese question to the
supreme court, but it will do it half
heartedly, as the opinion prevails
among the legal lights of the admins
tration that the highest legal tribunal
will deny the Japanese claim A ques-
ton of this character never has been
presented to it, but it has been decid-
ed by circuit courts and decisions UNI
iformly have justified the separation
of races in the school of the country.
Attorney General Moody has decid-
ed to leave all these questions to his
successor, in order to free himself as
much as possible from the embarrass-
ment of expressing views which will
commit him and influence his action
as a member of the supreme court
Secretary Bonaparte, who is Mr..
Moodys successor, is a southern man,
coming from Maryland, and has more
or less knowledge of the race question
as result of personal experience and
observation. The instructions under
which Mr.. Bonaparte will act will re-
quire him to continue the policy OF
preventing peonage or seeing in all
| fadaral pacpS that naprOaS are oivan