The Denver star., 1915-11-13
M'ADOO ISSUES
TIMELY WARNING
E1-Slavs's Suit For Millions
i. Has No Merit
CLAIMS FOR COTTON LABOR

ObtSSo STATES oOPFOs10 ~ouFt way LIS
miss Action Brought Against the Gov
eminent by Attorney For Four Fer
msr Slaves to Recover 96Ao0o.oo0
Case Creates Unusual Interest.
Washington.-Secreta of the Treas
ury McAdoo has earned the everlast-
ing gratitude OF the colored people of
the entire country. The latter part Of
October he released an official state
ment to the effect that there is no fund
Of $6s,O0O,O 900 or any other sum in the
treasury of the United States for ex-
slaves or their heirs or for any other
persons who worked in the cotton
fields Of the south.
Secretary McAdoo thus sounds a
timely note of warning that payments
made by individuals to defray costs
and expenses of suits against the gov
ernment to recover any part Of any
such fictitious fund is waste OF mon
ey. This is intended to shut of the
financial supply OF promoters of the
action against the government. who. 1t
is said, have sent circulars broadcast
over Iue iuuu NbllAIlS Aol Npull
OF $1.75 each from those who might be
supposed to have an interest In press
ing the claim.
The record shows that suit was
brought last July in the supreme cour:
of the District of Columbia in the
names of four persOns-H. n. Johnson
OF Louisiana. K. Bowers of Texas. c,
B. Williams of Mississippi and Mamie
Thompson OF Tennessee-for them
selves and NIL others who have similar
interests as plaintiffs. in which the
secretary OF the treasury OF the Unit
ed States Of America Is made defend
ant. the purpose Of the suit being to
have the sum of S6S.OOO, 600 pro rated
and paid to claimants and nll ex-slaves
who helped to produce certain cotton
or to their heirs.
The cotton in question was produced
by slave labor between the years 1859
and 1868 or the period between 1882
and 1865. and the GS.OOO.OOO repre-
sents the internal revenue tax on the
raw cotton under the law and Is now
held in the treasury among the general
funds OF the government. 1t Is the
view of the treasury department that
there is no legal or Just basis for the
suit filed in the supreme court. and
that 1t or any other suit brought for
the same purpose will prove unfound-
ed and fruitless.
The treasury holds that the tax was
collected lawfully. as determined by
the courts years ago. and no one who
is familiar with the law on the sub
~. Of h.
thereon would think OF bringing suit
for the recovery thereof. Even II
those who were slaves were entitled to
compensation for their work. their
claim would be against their former
masters. and they would have no re-
course Mt this late day against such
masters or for the proceeds of the cot
ton produced by their labor. A con
tention that they could now collect
anything for such service would be
fraudulent and absurd. Secretary Nc
Adoo explains this point Mt length be
cause the statements Of the promoters
OF the suit are liable to mislead per
sons unacquainted with the facts.
Cornelius j. Jones OF Memphis,
Tenn. is chief counsel for the ex-
city recently and delivered speech on
the matters at issue. He made no at
tempt. however. to answer leading
questions raised just after the fling of
the suit. The Baltimore speech of
Lawyer Jones was published in the
Washington Bee. The treasury calls
attention to circular sent out by the
said c. ]. Jones purpOrting to give
instructions what to do to make claim
to share in 6s.OOO.O 600 sued for by per
sons who labored in the production OF
said cotton" The department has also
received another circular issued by G.
B. Williams of Clarksdale. Miss. which
Is headed Make a Just Claim" en-
bocying therein a copy OF the bill Of
complaint filed in the court in Wash
ington.
When the suit was filed by Lawyer
Jones in July he had associated with
him former Judge e. N. Hewlett, u
prominent member Of the District bar
Judge Hewlett, in view.o OF all the facts.
has now made affidavit that his con
6dence has been abused and that he
now sees no merit in the suit and. fur
ther. that in view OF the statements
made in the printed circulars put Into
circulation In the south advising the
colored people to give money to con-
duct the suit. ETC.. he has withdrawn
from the case.
Judge Hewlett IL man of the high
est standing and his action Is asserted
to be an indication that an honest mnn
cannot afford to be identified with the
proceedings rs conducted by the pro
moter In chief. The treasury warning
concludes with the declaration that AZ
the pending suit is against the secre-
tary Of the treasury 1t Is a familiar
law. that anti nf this nature IN )