The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-09-14
Department Of Justice is CATH
eTing Evidence
SOUTHERN STATES Affected
1t Is Charged That Not Only Negroes
But Italians Have Been Held In
Peonage In Some Sec
tions of the South.

Washington, September 3.-(Special.)-A
large number of peonage cases in the
south are under investigation by the de-
partment of justice through It's various
branches In most instances United
States attorneys are making the investi-
cations and bringing indictments, but in
some instances special agents of the de-
partment are at work running down facts
and evidence. There are complaints from
Florida Georgia and nearly every other
southern state that negroes are being
held in a safe of servitude without legal
reasons. In Florida, North Carolina and
elsewhere the charge is made that Ital-
ians have been subjected to the same
treatment. A recent case in North Caro-
lima would probably have resulted in
prosecutions, but the Italians were bought
off and got away before they could DO
held as witnesses.
An important trial is now In progress
at Cape Girardeau, Mo, where fourteen
or fifteen negroes, including several for
mer soldiers In the United States army,
were held in a state of servitude for
nearly year. being threatened with
death or arrest If they attempted to es-
cape.
The department of justice proposes TO
follow all complaints that appear to be
well founded and to bring prosecutions
until the practice Is broken up in the
south, and wherever else Il may exist.
Teach Agriculture.
Announcement was made at the depart
ment of agriculture today that agricul-
ture is being taught in the public schools
of over a dozen states now and the prac-
tlce is spreading. This is new departure
and the United States is the first country
in the world that has made such study
| a part of its regular curriculum.
1t Is to many of the country school what
manual training is to the school Of the
city, and every effort is being made to
improve the methods and get as much
practical benefit out of 1t as possible
The general government is taking a
hand In the movement to the extent Of
making the bureau of experiment stations
of the department of agriculture a sort
of clearing house through which to gather
information as to methods and what Is
being done and to disseminate this In
formation among the communities that
need IL.
To Succeed Burton.
Col. E. A. Darlington of the army. a
native of South Carolina. will succeed
Gen. G. II. Burton, the inspector general
of the army, when the latter retres with
| In a few days.
Colonel Darlington is the brother-in-law
I OF Gen. j. Franklin Bell, the Kentuckian,
who is chief of staff of the army. Colonel
! Darlington entered the army in 1872 and
will therefore hold the position TO which
he will be appointed until 1919
For number of years plans have been
! on foot to abolish this department, merg-
/ ing 1t with some other branch of the SER
vice. Colonel Darlington Is an officer OF
/ distinguished service and backed by such
officers as General Bell and possessing the
| confidence of the Secretary of War 1t Is
| expected that any attempt to merge the
department will fall.
Bankhead In Washington.
Representative Bankhead of the Sixth
| Alabama district was In Washington to-
day attending to some departmental mai
ters for his constituents. TT Is no wonder
| that Colonel Bankhead led In the pri-
maries" remarked an Alabamian. OBJ
serving that this was about the hottest
day of the summer. He referred to the
! fact that the possible next senator never
found it too hot to work day In and day
out for the people of Alabama who have
so cordially endorsed his good work for
the state.