The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1910-03-25
MASS MEETING OF
CITIZENS OF SCHLATfR.
Bilnd Tigers and other Joints must
Cease d0ln9 Business In that
Community.

Schlater, Miss, March 18th, 191O.-
Special to Commonwealth-Mor than
fifty, of the best citizens Of this and adj
joining communities met in this town
today determined to take some positive
steps to stamp out by the roots these
demoralizing influences, the blind tiger.
and the cocaine joints.
Mr.. billiard, the greatest factor in
bringing this assembly together, being
made temporary chairman called the
meeting to order, and upon Entertaining
nominations for permanent chairman,
the. name of Capt. D. T. Mitchell, was
placed before the house, and unanimous
ly elected permanent chairman, and it
is needless to say that he gracefully
filled the bill.
Mr.. jeff d. billiard, in clear and
forceful manner stated the object of the
meeting, and the great evils to be cor
rected, which was discussed pro and
con, by both the white and colored citi-
zens assembled, and from the start, the
meeting was harmonious, and it was
evident that they meant business, and
the best colored citizens were enthusi-
astic over the purposes to be accom-
plished, and pledged their hearty CO.
operation, aid and support.
Means Johnston, presented to the
mass meeting, set of resolutions, out
lining the purposes and aims to be ac-
comp lished, and in addition set Of by
laws, which were unanimously adopted;
one of the provisions of the resolutions
being that that special committee be
elected to be composed of both white
and colOred representatives to be
elected by the mass meeting, the follow
ing were duly elected. White; Fl. l..
Walton, ]. d. billiard, E. M. Purnell, J.
P. Joiner, William Wall, J. Ell. Weir, W.
e. Manahan, Mr.. Strickland, Mr.. Hamp-
tor. and Eli Etheridge, the colored rep
resentatives being; William McClung,
Ben Moore, Ollie Patton, Oils Coiley,
Boise Dantzler, Ed Johnson, JEFF Holman
and Jessie Griffin.
Motion for adjournment being in order
the assembly adjourned after which the
special committee elected, held special
meeting in which they adopted plans,
and rules, by which the object of the
meeting may be accomplished.
The following are the resolutions
drafted by Hon. Means Johnson and
adopted by the meeting;
Whereas in the annals of human
events, certain acts unlawful in charac-
%<~,a Oh IN
evincing state of disposition regard
less of social duty, in effect, and malici
GUS in results, bringing about immoral
ity and criminality, and endangering
the very foundations of human society
proving menace to same,-aLd the
legal methods of bringing about the
proper reforms, having proved made
quate, or being so constructed as to be
unavailable, and feeling that the special
eXigencies of the situation demand a
change, and that the vital interest of
the public is at stake, therefore we
deem it necessary to resort to means,
extra-legal, in character, to bring about
certain reforms for the mutual welfare
of this community; and whereas the evil
conditions of society are such, that
there can be no gatherings Of certain
classes whether for purposes lawful or
unlawful, that blind tigers, are not evil
dent, and the inmates and patronizers
fill up on this rotten blind tiger whisky,
the result being a row, and killing,
and when a good citizen, or an officer of
the law goes out to restore peace and
order and to maintain the majesty Of the
law he goes at the risk of his life, there
by endangering the lives of all good
citizens, whether white or colored, and
whereas as result of the nefarious and
damnable product, 1.-THE BLIND
TIGERS" which are permitted to run in
open and fragrant violation of the law,
the legal means in practice failing to
stop the owners and operators of same,
and being brought to the realization OF
the evil and damnable effects of this
product, at the cost of the lives of one
of our best citizens, and an officer of the
law in the performance of his duty, and
conscience of numerous occasions,
ameng both white and colored of occa-
slons of like nature, in which human
life has been taken as result of the
blind tiger and the cocaine joints, and
upon authority, the result of nearly
every loss of human life, being traced
to this evil traffic, and yet believing in
organized principles, and the majesty
of the law, and intending to maintain
all respect due the majesty of the Law
by all good citizens and in order tc
prevent crimes more grave in character
take this method Of reform, by organic.
ing ourselves into an ANTI BLINE
TIGER and an ANTI COCAINE LEAGUE
determined to take some positive step
to stamp out by the roots, this great
cause OF all criminal evil, the Blind
Tiger. and the Cocaine joints.
BE 1T RESOLVED:
1st. That we appoint committee 4
be composed Of 10 members, Of which
shall be white, and 8 shall be colored, 4
IS selected Of the citizens of this ani