davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1908-01-11
Another Sixteenth Section Decision.

Judge Henry G. Niles has rem
dered decree in settlement of
several sixteenth suits now pend
ing in the federal court adhering
to his former ruling that the lessee
of sixteenth section lands has the
right to remove merchantable tim
ber therefrom.
The opinion is rather lengthy,
consisting of eight typewriter
pages, and Judge Niles sets forth
his views in very able and com
prehensive manner.
The decree is in direct conflict
with the decision of the Mississip-
pi supreme court on the same
question, the latter tribunal haV-
ing reversed itself after Judge
Truly left the bench by holding
that lessees have no right to re-
move timber from these lands.
/ Judge Niles quotes copiously
from the several decisions that
have heretofore been rendered in
the state courts. His decree is of
exceptional Importance by reason
I of the fact that this branch of the
litigation will 90 to the United
States supreme court for final set
tlement.
Timber rights valued at from
$4.0OO, 900 to $4,000. 900 are in
volyed in the federal branch of the
sixteenth section controversy, a
large number OF che leases on
lands of this character in the pinev
woods belt being held by nom
residents, while many others held
lby resident parties were trans
ferred to non-residents prior to
1.-THE date on which the Mississippi
supreme court rendered the cele-
brated decision reversing itself,
thus taking the cases out of the
jurisdiction of the state courts.
Added interest is given to the
litigation by the fact that during
1.-THE approaching Legislative session
! d bill will be introduced having as
| its proclaimed purpose the inval-
idation of the supreme court de-
cision on the ground that lessees
lof sixteenth section lands procured
these leases under the belief that
Ethey could remove the timber from
| the lands, and the supreme court
Iruling is, in effect, Reputation
lof legal contracts.
4 This proposed law will be for
1.-THE relief Of resident holders Of
lsixteenth section leases. The
lnon- -resident holders are confident
THAT Judge Niles will be sustained
lby the United States supreme
lCourt. and will continue to remog Q
The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1908-01-11
The IcOnocIasts at Sea.

When the Constitution of 1890
was framed by the lamented j. q.
George and his able coadjutors,
the question of legislative repre-
sentation was carefully guarded
and provided for. Mindful of the
periIs that once enviruned us, the
balance Of power was so lodged in
the app0rtionment as to best pro-
vide for the safety of all the peo-
pie of the great commonwealth,
but in section 256 it was arranged
that The legislature may, ait the
first session after the state census
of 1895, and decennially there
after, make a new apportionment
of senators and representatives. .
To meet this condition the con.
stitutIon of 1890 provided for a
state census In 1905, and every
ten years thereafter, in order that
our apportionment should accord
with our own enumeration and
not await the tardy figures to be
later furnished by the Federal
government.
This provision was particularly
valuable because while enumer-
ating the people it would have
afforded opportunity to gather,
five years in advance of the Fed.
eral census, those statistics oil
products and progress SO valuable
in advertising the state, and under
existing law half the cost Of tax,
ing this Intervening census would
have been betrayed by the genera
government.
A few years ago the constitu
tions tinKers Of the legislature
without any plausible reason d
excuse, started aSclamor for thil
benehcent clause, and an amend
ment to that effect was submitted
to the people and ratified, though
fought by the Examiner fron
start to finish.
Now The very peorle VIII
clamored loudesf for repeal ar
howling about disproportion meI
|represe ntation, and holding GO
The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1908-01-11
NEGRO EDUCATION.
Southern Educational Association Gives
its Qualified EndOrSepP;:...- -'r

The Southern Educational AS
sociatlon' which met at Lexington,
~, during the Christmas holi-
days, made the following deliver
ance on negro education:
1--WE indorse the accepted policy
OF the States of the South in pro-
viding facilities for the youth of
the negro race, believing that t
whatever the ultimate solution of
this grievous problem may be,
education must be an important
factor IN that solution. We be-
lieve that the education of the ne
gro is the elementary branches of
education, should be made
thorough and should include
specific instructions in hygiene
and home sanitation for the better
protection of both races. We be-
lieve that in tire secondary educa-
tion of negro youth, emphasis
should be placed upon agriculture
and the industrial occupations,
including nurse training, domes-
tic science and home economics.
We believe that for practical
economical and physiological rea,
sons negro teachers should be
provided for negro schools. We
recommend that in urban and
rural negro schools there should
be closer and more thorough
supervision, not only by city and
county superintendents, but also
by directors of music, drawing,
manual training and other special
topics. On account of economic
and physiological differences in
the two races we believe that there
should be difference In courses
of study and methods of teaching,
and that there should be such an
adjustment of school curricula as
shall meet the evident needs of
negro youth. We insist upon
such an equitable distribution of
the school funds that all tbe youth
Of the negro race shall have at
least an opportunity to receive
elementary education provided by
the State and in the administra-
tion Of State laws, and in the ex7
.ecutian of this educational policy,
we urge patience, tolerance and
justice.
The association, by d standing
vote, adopted unanimously the
resolution.
The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1908-01-11
PRESIDENT CLARK WARNS FARMERS.
Urges that They See Handwriting on
the Wall and Plant Corn.

President Walter Clark of the
Mississippi Division of the South
ern Cotton Association issues "a
warning to the farmers of the
State, saying:
Il am now, and have always
been, opposed to any and all reso-
lutions for reduction of the
acreage in cotton. l have always
advocated the growing on each
and every farm of all necessary
food crops, and after this all the
cotton possible. The high price
of food products ought to teach
every farmer the present urgent
necessity for an increased acreage
in these crops she coming season.
There are thousands of people
in every town,and village through
out the South who will find it
necessary, within the next sixty
days, to leave their present places
of abode, and seek livelihood
somewhere else. These people
will necessarily go to the farms;
and / expect a greater abundance
of farm labor throughout the en-
tire South for the present year
than for many years past; and I'M
less it is brought to the immediate
attention of all the farmers, we
will have large increase in the
cotton acreage.
While the present indications
are that the worst of financial con-
ditions are over, [ am still fearful
that normal conditions will not
come about as speedily as some
think. The return to normal
conditions is more in the hands of
the farmers than any other class
of people. Hard times hurts the
man least who has at home plenty
to eat; and | urge upon every man
in Mississippi, no matter what his
vocation may be, to take it upon
himself to keep this idea In front
l0f our farmers.
With SO many thousands of
\ people out of employment, neees-
|sariIy the demand for cotton
goods the coming season will be
lessened, and a small cotton crop
/ only will be needed. A man may
| be cut of employment and unable
| to buy dry goods. and yet must
eat, and there will be no diminu-
tItion in the demand for food; aad
The cotton growers of the South.
labove al people, need cheap food
Icrops. if they would MAINTAIN the
price Of cols0ns
The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1908-01-11
and lecturer, and Miss Kearney.


A committee on resolutions was
appointed consisting of DR.. La
Prade, DIR. W. B. Murrah, DR.. A.
V. Rowe, f. M. Barber, A. Lot
terhos, VIM. Bailey, j. M. Cashin
Mrs. Fl. B. Kells and Miss Belle
Kearney.
An adjourned meeting of the
Convention was held in the Hail
of the House of Representatives at
g p. M. which was crowded to its
full capacity with a splendid au-
dience composed largely Of ladies
and members of the Legislature.
The committee on resolutions
submitted its report at the night
meeting, and pending the adoption
|of its report stirring addresses
were delivered by Hon. G. Ii.
Alexander of Jackson, and Editor
UpsIaw, of Georgia. Which were
applauded to the echo.
The platform declares uneqniyo-
caIly for statutory and constitu-
tionaI Prohibition by the present
Legislature, and re-afiirms the
i u i
Temperance declarations Of former
platforms.
There seems to be no, serious
question from any quarter that
| the Legislature will respond
promptly to sentiments expressed
by the platform and the Conven-
tion speakers. Gov. elect Noel
expressed the hope at the night
session that the Legislature might
pass and Gov. Vardaman approve
a State Prohibition Law before the
date arrived for his Inauguration,
and declared that il it had not, he
would then address the Legisla-
|ture on the subject in the way the
constitution provides.
Gov. Vardaman's message,
which was sent TO both houses
Thursday, contains a very strong
land eloquent plea for the passage
of an act outlawing the saloon, so
| IL takes 10 prophet TO tell what
Misisssippi's brilIiant retiring
lGovernor will do If the Legislature
! puts q strong prohibition bill up
40 him for bis signature.
Prohibition is ID the very air
laround jackson and the State
/ House.
The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1908-01-11
Odd Fellows installation and Banquet.

Torrey Lodge No. SO, /. o. O.
F., with auxiliary Magnolia Re-
bekah Lodge No. 81, held a grand
installation and banquet Tuesday
night in their new lodge rooms
in the Perkins building. An
elegant supper was prepared for
large number of invited guests.
Following are the officers in
stalled for the ensuing year:
Torrey Lodge No. 8S-P. I.
Byrne, p. &; N. g., j. q. Hamil-
ton; V. g.; w. S. Rudder ; Sec.,
j. E. Adams; Treas, r. L. Boad-
wee; Warden, s. w. Havlin;
Con, W. M. Abshagen; |. S. e.,
Ferd Abshagen; o. S. e., G. P.
Hoffman; r. S. N. g., g. E..
Penn; L. S. N. g., VIM. Laird !;
r. S. v. g., e. w. Blue; l.. S.,
". g., W. G.. Davis r. S. S. F.,
r. G. Smith l.. S. S. p, j. S.
Penn; Chaplain, w. E. Phifer;
r. w. McNair, Acting Grand
Master; VIM. Abshagen, Acting
Grand Marshal.
Magnolia Rebekah Lodge No.
Past Grand, Mrs. Addye
Layton; N. g.. Mrs. S. VI. Hav-
lin; Vice Grand, Miss Edith M.
Love; Sec., Mrs. w. S. Rutter
Treas, Miss Elsie Stewart; Con
l.ductor, Miss Stella West; Warden,
Mrs. Julia G. Smith; Chaplain,
Rev. w. E. Phifer; Outside
Guardian, Ernest Blue; Inside
Guardian, Miss Eva Boadwee; r.
rs. IN. O., Mrs. r. Fl. Hamilton:
| IL. S. N. g., Mr.. s. w. HavIin;
| lR. S. ". g., Miss Mamie S. Alb,
shagen; T.. s. n. g., Wm. Laird
| Miss jamie Rowan, of Wesson,
Secretary State Rebekah Assem-
bly, of Mississippi, Acting Crane
| Master.
The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1908-01-11
ELI PICOT CAPTURED
THE ASSAULTER OF MISS MATTE WILL
LIAMS IN CUSTODY.
Admits Guilt in New Orleans jail! ISIreIir Where
He Was Taken by Sh9Eriff J. F. Greer.

Sheriff J. F. Greer quietly took
the 2 O'Clock train Thursday after
noon and went t. Kentwood after
IsiLi Eli Pisot' the 9luch wanted negro
After Al 1lving and taking
charge of Pgot, the sheriff kept
right on to- New Orleans, to put
Pigot in tne Parish Jail for safe
keepingf
lhegIimes- Democrat of yester-
Gay 9ad the following to say:
admitting that he bad assaulted
MiEttie Williams, nineteen-ye year
Old white girl. daughter Of Mr..
and Mrs. James Williams, living
F'at Ruth, Miss, Eli Pigot, negro
twenty-three years old, was
brought to New, Orleans from
Kentwood, La, on an Illinois
Central passenger train at 10.45
O'Clock last night, by Sheriff
Greer of Brookhaven, Miss, and
4 placed in the Parish Prison for
safekeeping. The deed was COM
mitted on the afternoon of Dec.
27 near lonely road about half a
mile from the home of the girls
parents. Since that time the
country was secured by officers in
an effort to find the negro, and he
was captured yesterday morning
while working on a cane farm
four miles from Kentwood.
Pigot was badly scared when
seen last night. He related In de-
tail the features of the revolving
crime. As be told the story the
faces of the officers around him
stiifened and hands we're clenched
in rage at the brute who stood be-
fore them a selt-contessed fiend.
The negro said that the father
Cf the girl was a farmer, and that
he got acquainted with his victim
several years ago. He lived about
two miles from the Williams home
be said, and admitted that be had
traiIed the girl on several preVi-
GUS occasions, but had never been
able to catch her alone.
Following the commission oi
the crime, Pigot left the vicinity
of Ruth and went to McComE
City, where he stayed a day ol
two before going to KentwoodY
where he was captured. He pre-
tended that he was not hiding,
and that he did not know that the
officers we're after him. This pre-
tension, however, be belied by
his appearance, his eyes plainly
Indicating that he had gone fol
days without sleep, and, later il
his story, be admitted that be hac
maintained constant lookout ful
officers from BrookhaVen, Miss.
Sheriff Greer, who brought th'
negro to New Orleans, stated Jas
night that the people Of RutI
were thoroughly aroused, and tina
ii would require the presence Of
regiment oI soldiers tu prevent
lynching should the brute be re
turned TO the scene Of the crime
Tie will BE held In the Farisl
Prison pending the action Of thl
Governors Of the two States:
The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1908-01-11

timber from the lands on which
they hold leases.
Acting on the theory that the
common school funds of the va
rious counties have been defraud-
ed under these leases, State Rev
enue Agent Writ Adams is pre-.
pairing suits against sixteenth
section lessees to recover the value
of timber removed from the tracts.
All IN all, the sixteenth section
question promises to be very much
in the public eye during the next
year or SO. jackson News.
The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1908-01-11

ventions to swap views in regard
to a matter amply provided for
by our wisest men, and which
they themselves retarded by reck
lessIy destroying the most states
manlike provision for its equitable
and speedy accomplishment -
Aberdeen Examiner.
The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1908-01-11
Marriage Licenses issued During the
Week.

White Bob Smith and Miss
Mariah Mitchell; Thomas A, Her
ring and Miss Laura Bridges; a..
D. Easely and Miss Dayie Nc
David.
GoIored Lee Smith and Hem
rietta Scott; Lucius Hage and
Rachel johnson; John Hooker
and Mary Jane Humphrey Moses
Quinn and Eunice Porter; Charlie
Williams and Letzie Hanna; Will
lie Williams and Cora Ferdinand;
Charlie g0nsy and Blanche Nell
son; Horace Shelton and Beulah
Wallace. ; George Keys and Clara
Burt; Ionic Stanley and Mary
Childs.
The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1908-01-11

Assurances of fidelity to The
Leader continue to como to us.
Sometimes il SO happens that q
surgeon must hurt to heal. =
Perhaps in it's battle for the great
est good to the greatest number
The Leader may wound or offend;
but it has but one end iii view
the ultimate good Of all. Think
ca these things, friends.
The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1908-01-11

Miss Webb, of Chicago, stepped
over here Wednesday on her way
to spend the winter With her sis
ter, Mrs. johnson, at WeIlman,
The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1908-01-11

Work Il being rapidly pushed
on the paving around the !. g. de-
pot.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-03-29
Our Diminished Army.

From "The Trouble With Our Army" by
Lieut.. Paul H. Clark, in the April Met
ropolitan Magazine.
The shortage of Officers is also very
embarrassing, because there are hundreds
of officers detailed away from their reg
ifnents to perform o-ner necessary duties,
there being too few officers y fill all tho
positions Work at good wages is offered
II en- everywhere, therefore, they will not
enlist in the army where the pay is So
small. Among officers the financial strin-
scncy is SO great as to cause embarrass-
ment and absolute need, and the great
expense to which officers are subjected
finds vast numb of them in debt to-
day. That fact is unfortunate rather than
indicative of extravaganza. 1t is almost
impossible for married lieutenants and
captains who have children, to make both
ends meet. The whole army needs more
pay; their wages have not been increased
for over 80 years, though their expenses
have increased enormously. The nom
commissioned officers should have the
largest increase, the privates, leutenants
and captains are the nett most needy,
and the increase should come quickly.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-03-29

is Kampala proper, and the other hills
are devoted to missionaries, schools and
private residences.
All these hills are beautiful, and Mengo
IS especially so. 1t is several hundred
feet high and well rounded in shape 1t
is covered with banana groves, in which
are the matched houses of the chiefs
and officials, and on its very top is the
royal council house and the great bunga-
low which forms the kings palace. The
hill is cut up by good roads, and l made
my way UP it in a jinrikisha.
On the Way to the King.
My audience with his royal highness was
arranged through the British officials, to
whom 1 brought letters of introduction,
and I was accompanied there by native
policemen in uniforms and by Mr.. Paske-
Smith, the assistant collector of revenues.
My son Jack was in a jinrikisha behind
me. We crossed the sWamps on a cor
duroy highway, our eight black human
horses singing and grunting in chorus as
they pushed and pulled us along up the
hill. We went to the residence of the ma
tive prime minister a matched, but as
big as the largest hayrick, and then drove
On between the high fences of mating
v hich surround the homes and estates OF
the native officials.
After several miles of such travel we
reached the grounds belonging to his royal
hlghness, the kabaka or king These are
guarded by wall at least 10 feet high.
made of sort of cane which grows
wild in Uganda, and which is known as
elephant grass. Each stalk is about as
thick as fihaing rod and almost as long.
Inc canes of the fence around the king 5
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-03-29


Soma abomu United States.
Me,
"DAUDI CwA. Kabaka."
Translated this is as follows:
Il am glad to salute all the boys who
are in the United States.
"I am,
"DAUDI CHAU, the King"
Writing this letter put his royal high
ness in an excellent humor, and l asked
him to step outside in the sun and have
his photograph taken. He gladly complied.
and Jack photographed the little king and
myself standing together.
A Concert by the Royal Band.
Shortly after this we again shook
hands and then said farewell. AS We
were leaving the king asked us If We
would not like to listen to his royal band.
and upon our saying yes he sent forth
directions that the court musicians were
to give us concert on OR way out.
Leaving the palace we then went to tho
drum houses and othe;' matched hurs
which form the quarters of the musicians
The drum house looks like great invert-
ed basket. 1t is about 40 feet In diameter
and perhaps 20 feet high at the cone. It
is made of thousands of reeds, SO tied to
enc another that they go up to one GEN.
ter, forming straw tent, with rouni
rolls of reeds running about 1t like ribs
from bottom to top. The roof is made OF
split canes, each as fine as a darning
reedle. In this house a half-dozen men
sat on the ground and played upon pipes.
Another half dozen pounded on the great
drums with their hands, and at the back
others were dancing.
After the concert inside was ended l
asked the musicians to bring their instru-
ments into the open, that l might make
photograph. They did SO, and at tho
same time the kings dancers came out
and cavorted around. hopping higher and
higher and swinging their legs this way
and that to the pounding Of the drum.
The chief music for the dancing was
made by the head drummer, an old negro
who was perfectly bald and whose ears
had been cut off close, so that nothing but
the holes could be seen. Remembering
the remark of the tutor as to how thu
blind fusician lost his eyes because the
King Mwanza did not like his playing,
asked how the head drummer came to
lose his ears. The reply was that they
were cut off by the orders of this boys
grandfather, King Mutesa. 1t was hot
cay and the drummer was taking bath
in the kings lake, when one Of the prin-
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-03-29

cesses saw him and reported that she had
eeen a naked man. Whether MuteSa was
angry because the man bathed in his spc-
clal pond, or whether he thought 1t dls-
graceful that the princess should see MN
IN the water, do not know. AT any rate
he was angry. and he ordered ms eAecu-
TONERS to cut off the mans ears as
punishment.
Such things are not common since the
British took hold, and at present the
young king, even if he wished, would not
be permitted to kill or MAIN his subjects,
without cause.
I understand that the Kabaka, as the
king is called is fond of his pands. he
always has a large retinue with him when
he goes outside his palace grounds, anu
the drummers march in front, yelling and
bounding, while the people come Tor
miles to look at the sight. The drummers
play very we'll. They use the holio"
trunks of resonant tree with sklns over
the ends The drums are all shaped like
barrels or kettles, and are OF dli1erent
heights and sizes. Each has its own note
or pitch; and the musicians sound the
different notes, using a number OF oruihs'
as our people do with the keys of q piano.
Some of the kings drums are loo years
old. They are considered invaluable.
Only a Boy After All.
I am told that this little king, notWitn-
standing the care with which he 70
watched and the respect with which his
people regard him, is good deal OF q
boy after ALL He Is fond OF sports, and
especially foot ball. He is good bicycle
rider, and has wheel which was made
for him in England. One Of the greatest
Joys Is a little white pony, which he con-
siders the finest animal in the country.
When he goes out upon 1t he puts on
riding trousers and leggings, and cuts
gay figure as he dashes over the roaos
and about the ant hills. His royal nigh
ness is seldom allowed to go far from
home He has been to Entebbe, ana mas
seen the steamers which ply upon Lake
Victoria.
a AS 1t is now Dandi Chau has but little
TO do with the government, and, as l
have said, this will be the case until ne
is IS years of age He will then Jake ms
place upon the throne as the real ruler Oh
the Baganda and In connection with MS
royal advisers will govern the country.
He will, however, always be subject ID
the English officials, who are the real
governors and who will rule the natives
through him. This is the policy OF the