The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-11-12
DYNAMITE CLAUSE
IN NEXT MESSAGE
Race Problem Will Be Handled
Without Gloves by the
President.
Special h The Journal.

Chicago, Nov. ia Washington
special, to the Chicago Tribune says:
No feature of the message President
Roosevelt has written is so charged
with dynamite as that which discusses
the relations Of whites and negroes.
Before his departure for Panama the
president was not inclined to discuss
The views he had expressed to south
White House. The latter resent the
idea that the negro question is to be
treated at all, in the message, insist
ing there is no "question,' and that
if the north will only cease meddling,
the negroes promptly will fall into their
place.
!. But the president has been busy for
several months looking into questions
which have arisen thru alleged NAL
treatment of negroes and of outrages
perpetrated by the latter. He sent
Assistant Attorney General Russell,
southern man and democrat, to Geor-
gia, Alabama and Florida to investi-
gate reports that negroes and some
condition approximating slavery in the
lumber, turpentine and railroad camps
of those states.
Mr.. Russell is authorized to insti-
tute legal proceedings wherever he
finds men are held without due process
of law, and he has reported to the de-
partment that he has taken action in
certain peonage cases at Atlanta, Ga.
At Knoxville, Tenn, recently, the
peonage cases at railroad camps in that
state. A government agent reported
that number Of negroes were held as
prisoners at camps for debt, and an
alleged guard line was kept and no
one allowed to pass except with per-
mission.
Charges Of Slavery.
In Missouri the sympathies of the
government were enlisted by reports of
gross brutality practiced against ne
groes working on plantations in the
southeastern part of the state. In
the turpentine camps of Florida ne
groes and Russian and Polish Jews are
compelled to remain at work to meet
them, and which are ever increasing
thru the system Of prices charged. One
observer reported that the swamps of
Florida are dotted with the skeletons
of negroes and whites who have been
shot down because of refusal to obey
their brutal bosses.
The italian government learned that
half a dozen of it's subjects were in a
sent special agent to ascertain the
facts. This agent reported that all en-
ployees were charged outrageously
high rates for transportation to camps
and were required to pay fee to the
employment agencies which arranged
for their service.
No Pay on Rainy Days.
The men received 1914 cents an hour
and worked ten hours day. They
drew no pay for rainy days. They
were charged for food at the rate of
about $40 month. The weight of
debt upon their shoulders became SO
great that it 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 matter
of fact some abuses were found, but
none as serious as alleged. Its report
is before the president. =
OF course these peonage cases are
only one feature of the big question
with which the message will deal It
is stated the president was actuated in
arranging for their remedy by his de-
sire to show the country that equal JUS
tice should be administered irrespective
of race and color. ..-..
Discharged Negro Soldiers.
An indication of the presidents at
titude was furnished by his dismissal