Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-03-21
UNCLE SAM IN THE CARIBBEAN--V.


CRAFTSMANSHIP. ST. CROIH, ID. w.
L., March lit seems incongrubus
mat In this sleepy. pretty little island
tho struggle between money and mus
Gle should be wnycd just as Intensely
III not quite 30 vigorously. AS In Chi
chHo or New York. and that socialism
should hnro found Il foothold here In
the Caribbean. which Is the storied
nome OF piracy, slavery and every other
form Of primitive and lawless indi-
vidualisni.
Yet socialism is just now engaging
the attention of st. Croix to the ex-
clusion OF almost everything else, and
this island could probably muster IL
heavier socialist vote I'm proportion to
its population. III II had an effective
electorate. than any other part OF the
world. For Hamilton Jackson, whose
word is divine law TO almost every
negro on the island, has announced
that he is a socialist. and has mapped
out complete program for the 40
cialization of the island.
jackson wants a committee of Con-
gress to come to ST. Crolx and study
conditions: then he believes they Will
see that he is right. The planters
want a detachment Of marines to come
to st. CroiX and put that Niger right
back in his place" II Will be mighty
hard for Uncle Sam to please every
body In ST CroiN.
On the otherwise bare walls OF the
Office from which Hamilton Jackson
edits his newspaper, and administers
his savings bank and his labor union.
hangs a large cheap portrait OF Booker
+. Washington: for the founder of
Tuskcgec is the model and inspira
ton Of the young st. Croix negro who
has set out TO win freedom for his
people. And from all that can be
learned Jackson is fully the equal Of
Washington in mental ability. Even
the whites of ST. CroiX admit that he
is an orator OF real power. His use Of
the English language. as seen in his
newspaper, is not only forcible and
correct. but in good taste. although he
has n ltooscvcltian propensity to apply
the short aud ugly 10 his enemies In
print.
jackson also has what IL more use
full and more dangerous than any
amount of mere brains: he has power
OF leadership. The negroes of st.
Croix who have lived In slavery or
peouagc for centuries. who had no
conception Of collective effort before
his coming. he has organized into an
effective labor union. and an absolute
~ solid personal following. Further
more he has filled these people with a
blind vencration for himself, the ne
groes of st. CroiN openly speak Of
Jackson as "A god. and attribute to him
Supernormal powers.
Jackson is n powerful negro. stand
ing over six feet tall, and is but thirty
two years old HI: is very black and
happy headed. His grandfather was a
Scotchman. he says. but he wishes that
he could claim IA pure African descent.
He speaks very fluent English. with
out the West Indian infection, and has
some command OF Danish. lie has
travelled I'm Europe and America, and
is we'll read. The basis OF his philoso-
ply * that the African negroes are a
people of possibilities which may be
realized II they have proper oppor-
tunitics. He points out that in some
OF the ancient civilizations. negroes
played an important part. and that
many modern negroes have achieved a
grea, deal. He willingly admits that
his people lack the moral stamina and
ndomitable will Of the Aryan. but
points ont that I'm power OF musical
and artistic expression. they are richly
endowed. lie does not desire for his
people social contact with the whites.
believing that they can much better
work out their destiny separately.
But he does believe that the stronger
race should give the weaker one equal
civil rights. AN equal opportunity to
earn and own.
In the people OF st. Croix jackson
has great faith. In spite OF the in
suffciency CT the Danish schools. only
about pS cent or these people are
illiterate, aud they are the very old
Jones. III, asserts that the average st.
CroIS meld hand is just about AS we'll
u, stcd as his master. He also points
out, wha; is true, that these people
are vc.y clcnnly, do not get drunk and
are frugal and thrifty In their own
way. They 60 not work hard AS
northcrncrs. nor AS regularly, but they
save and take care OF their property.
Claims TO HIVE Done Much.
Il is Jackson's claim that but for his
propaganda. the island would have be en-
ucpopulaicd within half century. He
cites the figures Of the Danish census
TO prove that between 1871 and 1911.
the population decreased from about
"5,0Gc to $1,000. and that this dccrea Sc
was gong on steadily. and the island