Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-02-27
(ey william woiH smith.)

10y william WON'T oUsb.i
WASHINGTON. Feb. 26.-The co
operation of the American govern
ment and of the American people is
being sought by England 10 suppress
the slave trade i'm Africa. This sounds
as though II might have been written
q hundred years ago. but it applies to
the year Ammo Domini 1910. II Is true
the solicitation has not not come
through afficial channels. but those
1t have the unofficial sup
port of the English government. Mr..
Joseph Burt of London, has been u 4
the city for some days presenting the
matter TO high officials of the govern
ment. including President Taft. Sec
rotary of State Knox, Senator Root
and number OF others to whom ne
brought letters of Introduction from
distinguished Englishmen and Amerl-
cans as wen. Mr.. Burt is repre- sent
ing the AntiSlavery and Aboriglne3
Protection Society" of England, OF
which Sir T. Foxwell Buxton Is presi-
dent, and which has for its object the
stamping out of the slave trade in all
parts of the world.
The visit OF Mr. Burt TO this coun-
try is TO arouse sentiment aGain>t
slave grown cocoa. In the early part
of the Nineteenth century England
suppressed the slave trade with her
guns and ships. Today she employs
more modern methods and in this case
has resorted to commercial agencies
on the behalf of freedom. In other
words the appeal is that all Ameri-
cans should join with the English,
Dutch and Germans and cease 10 buy
slave grown cocoa. While this Is GO
ing on Mr.. Burt hopes to arouse SUI
ficient interest in Congress TO secure
the adoption of a resolution condemn
ing the slave trade in Portuguese Al
lica, which supplies the labor Tor the
cocoa plantations. Early last year the
English cocoa manufacturing firms,
aroused by the horrors perpetrated IN
securing the labor for the Portuguese
plantations. declared they would buy
no more of the product. Great man.
ufacturers of Germany and Switzer-
land joined in the movement. The
Portuguese Islands of San Thome ana
Principe. lying off the west coast OF
Africa. produce about one-sixth OF the
worlds supply of cocoa, and the prac-
teal European protest was severely
felt by the planters. But they mad
America on which 20 dump their cocoa
so the anti-slavery society sent Mr.
Budtt here to lay the situation before
the American government and people
and especially the cocoa manufactur-
ers. A number of the leading manu-
facturers have agreed not to buy any
more Portuguese cocoa until free iaoor
is introduced and the National Con-
sumers League has taken up the cause
with the object of urging consumers
to decline to buy cocoa manufactured
from slave-grown raw material. Al
ready there have been evidences gwen
that the Portuguese planters are alarm
ed at the situation and are taxing
steps towards reform. Two thousand
free Iaborers were shipped TO the IS
land last year and some of the labor
ers were sent back to their native
land of Angola.
Description of Conditions.
Mr.. Burt has made two trips TO An
COLA. Portuguese West Africa, where
the slaves are recruited, and has thor
oughly explored the plantation OF san
III D-fn
able to speak with authority. lie
made his preparations for the journey
with the greatest care, spending some
months in Portugal studying the Ian
guage and customs of the people be-
fore setting out for Africa. He spent
nearly six months at the cocoa plan
tations and considerably longer on the
continent. the trip consuming nearly
two years in all. During this time ne
interviewed men and women OF all
stations and degrees. from the gov
ernOrs gs neral of Angola and Mozam-
b:aue the governors of San Thome
Principe, Cabinda. Benguella and Mos
samedes, consuls. commissioners ana
other officials. down to the natives
themselves. Speaking Of the eondi-
tons he found there. Mr.. Burt said;
The island of san Thomc lies in the
Gulf of Guinea. 200 miles west of the
French Congo. II has an area OF si6
SQUARE miIes. is mountainous and well
waiered and with its rich soil and
hot damp atmosphere, Is peculiarly
suited for tropical agriculture. Prin-
cipe is about 100 niles to the north
east with an area OF ~ square miles
and a similar climate and soil. but not
to productive The natives pScfeT
will not work and the cultivation Is
conducted by blacks imported from
Angola. No official figures are obtain
atle on the number Of servicals. as
the slaves are called. but 1900 were
=. tho