davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-08-04
CIIESTEIuS NEGRO SECTION, Is
INVADED.
WHITES DRIVEN OUT BY POLICE
AFTER 100 SHOTS ARE FIRED.

Chester, Pa, July 29.-With the ex-
ception of brief period this morning,
when score Of whites In automobiles
invaded the Negro section with the
announced intention of cleaning 1t
up" Chester was quiet throughout
the day. More than 100 shots were
fired by tho invading party, but SO
far as could be learned no one was in
jured. Numerous window glasses in
the homes of Negroes were shattered,
however, before the police arrived and
drove the white men out of the dis
trict No arrests were made.
Trolley traffic was resumed today
and more than the usual number Of
persons were on the streets. Policemen
and deputy sheriffs kept the crowds
moving, while tho Negro dietrict was
roped off and white persons were for
hidden to enter.
1t was announced tSnight that sa-
looms and places Of amusement, which
have been closed since the race trou-
bles assumed alarming proportions
"Wednesday night, would be open to-
morrow. Five persons have lost their
lives III the riots, scores have been
injured, and more than so are held
under heavy bail OH charges Of incit-
ing to- riot.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-08-04
THE RICHMOND PLANEr, R1oHMoNp. virginia.

law. The respectable colored clements
have use for them to preserve the
law. The best time to "cool off" a
would-be lyncher Is when he IL bent
upon his murderous mission.
Grand juries cannot find them after
tho melee is over and accordingly
cannot ipdict them. When they arc
lying in a gutter with bullet hello
III their anatomy, the task Is easy
and others are deferred from doing
the same thing, The attitude Of tho
colored people Of Chester, Pennsyl-
vania was all right. If other COM
munities In tho North will follow
their example, organized white labor
and disorganized white labor for that
matter, will think three times and
possibly double that number Of times,
before staging another massacre of
the kind that disgraced the United
States of America at East st. Louis,
Illinois.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-08-04
RACE RIOTS START ANEW AT
CHESTER, PA
Colorcd Man Is Beaten InscnsibIe-
Others Shot-Scores Arrested,

Chester, Pa, July 27.--Although a
force of nearly two hundred armed
guards, including local and State
police and volunteer deputies, were
patrclling the city, mob of several
thousand men and boys renewed race
rioting here tonight. Shortly after
dark the rioters got beyond control
and beat Negro insensible before
he could be rescued by tho police.
Scores were arrested. The authori-
ties, who believed the situation was
under control. were taken by surprise
when tho rioters first appeared in
largo numbers In the central section
o fthe city. All colored residents had
been ordered to remain indoors and
the crowds of white men were kept
moving.
When they attacked tonights vic
tim, rioting broke out on a large scale
for the fourth time this week. Wagon
leads of guards held ready for trouble
were rushed to the scene Of the dis
order and the mob was driven back
at the point Of revolvers and rifles.
After scene Of confusion the streets
were cleared, but not before dozens Of
white men had been knocked un-
conscious with riot sticks.
Frank Meadows, n Negro, who was
shot at noon today, was reported to
be near death In the city hospital.
Two other colored men, firod on at
the ssme time, are algo In u sortous
condition.. $50 ,RN
Sheriff Hepburn Issued a proclama-
ton tonight forbidding all citizens to
congregate on tho streets and order
ing every one indoors after 8 p. M,
except these whose business made 1t
necessary for them to be on tho
streets. All saloons and places Of
amusement were ordered closed In.
definitely.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-08-04
Tho SILENT PARADES.

We don't know who thought out
the idea Of the silent parade staged
by the colored people Of New York
last Saturday, when anywhere from
Ave to ten thousand of them marched
down Fifth Avenue In solemn protest
against the East st. Louis massacre.
1t was admirably handled from start
to finish and it must have had its
effect.
1t may be that tho idea was Dor
rowed rom the suTragettes. 1t would
not be bad idea to carry this plan
out in other sections of the country.
Tlfe~ pSopie IN that parade did not
speak, but their banners did. 1t may
be that this divided race OF ours will
yet come together to the extent Of
stop lighting among themselves and
to the extent of Turning their guns
upon the enemy"
We are having q hard time Of 1t,
but God Is raising up white friends
for us. We should prove ourselves
worthy of their friendship. We must
work out our own salvation and our
organizations must take charge of the
rising generation when 1t is born and
train 1t along the paths of honor and
rectitude from the cradle to the
point Of self-support and righteous
living.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-08-04
LINCHING n LABOR AGITATOR.

Lawlessness begets lawlessness.
Those who appeal to the sword shall
perish by the sword. We thought of
these axioms when we read Of the
lynehing OF Frank Little, tho Indus
trial Workers of the World agitator,
at Butte, Montana. The colored
people wero massacred at East st.
Louis with the tacit approval Of some
of the leaders Of this great labor
organization. The appeal to law in
their behalf awakened derision in
some quarters
Now the same lawlessness that has
run riot for a decade In the Southern
States and for ton years in the North
orn ones is reacting upon the very
same class Of people that had pre-
viously aided, abetted and condoned
it.
We cannot understand how Frank
Little could have permitted himself
to be strung up like dumb cattle and
that he did not make fight for his
life. 1t must have been that he felt
secure In the midst of friends. 1t
may be too, that he did not believe
that personal harm would come to
him as a result of this virtual mid
night removal.
So far as we are concerned, we are
opposed to this kind of treatment Of
Little or any one else. The spectre
Of the horrible crime In Illinois Is
reflected by the horrible murder of
Frank Little in Montana. The former
is worse than the latter and certainly,
an advocate of lawlessness in the one
State should not complain about the
lawlessness in the other State, even
though he himself was the victim.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-08-04
lHREATEN TO TAKE LAW INTO
THEIR OWN HANDS.

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, August
frank Little, the I. w. w, organ.
nHer' lynched to-day at Butte, telo.
graphed Governor Campbell. OF Ar.
iona, from here July II as follows, re.
gardlng the deportation from that
state or members of the 7 w. w.
understand that the mine owners
mop VIII take same action at Globe
ana al Miami as was taken at Risboo
me membership Of the 1. w, w. Ia
settmg tired OF the lawlessness of the
capltalistic class and will no longer
stand for such action. If you, as
uUvernor, cannot upheld the law. We
VIII VII take same into our own hands
VIII you act or must WEI"
In reply Governor Campbell said bo
felt sure no deportations could occmr
win the Federal troops stationed in
,he district, and that hc was using his
best efforts to protect rights Of all
cltlzens. Concluding, he said:
resent your dinloyal and untimely
threats In view Of my earnest efforts
to bring law and order and such
forces as will maintain same, and.
further like behavior on your part vii
be punished to the full extent Of my
authority.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-08-04

Save me Cassius, or perish!" When
this "Oaving act" has been accom-
plished. what will be the condition of
tho United States and what will BIO
the condition Of Japan?
A few years ago, Japan was fight
ing Russia. Now Japan is in a strong
alliance with Russia and is furnish
ing 1t with the munitions Of war to
combat the onward march of the
German combine. Gagged from any
angle, and vowed from any stand
point, Great Britain and France will
be practically helpless to start anoth-
or contest, win or lose in the one
now pending.
Should Japan make demands upon
tho United States this country must
stand alone In meeting the issue.
Japan will have money, a navy and
an army second to mono in the civil
lied world. No one knows this better
than that remarkable statesman at
Oyster Bay, New York. He sent the
hSS| VI IltlS COuuIIy W WISH Japan
many years ago. Some people think
that the million or so dollars expend-
ed upon the occasion Of this visit
was more than benefit by the many
more millions it saved IN keeping us
out Of a war with tho great Mikado.
The Japanese are looking at the
Philippine Islands and they aspire to
be a world power. The humiliation
of the United States by even partial
defeat in war of this country would
cause this dream to be realized. Are
we preparing to fight Germany or
Japan, or are we getting ready to be
prepared for any emergency In the
premises?
No one knows, but 1t would be we'll
for those people who like to speculate
upon future happenings to watch the
reports as they come through the
fine mesh screen Of tho censor and
see that this mammoth preparation
may portend greater results In the flu
ture than now appear upon the sur
face. Is there any possibility Of our
going to war with Japan?
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-08-04
A PECULIAR CASE.

A white man in Newport News, Va.
wrote all order to Washington whis-
key house ordering whiskey for a
friend. The Supreme Court has
sustained the conviction Of this white
man and under tho decree Of the
court, he must pay n fine and 60 to
Jail. Who believes that this white
man has committed a crime? Such a
law Is a disgrace to the statute books
of Virginia. 1t Is forcing respectable
people in jail, while thieves walk un-
harmed on the outside. It tends to
make incarceration in Jail respectable.
It Is Gods way OF bringing about
retribution. Many innocent colored
people have been disgraced in the
same way. Now 1t Is the white mans
turn. Look at 1t from any angle,
"the same measure We mete, the same
shall be measured to you again"
This white man has no business in
jail for such an offense. We were
opposed to furnishing colored men In
this way and We are equally opposed
to Furnishing white men by the same
method. This form Of fanatacism
will do the cause Of temperance more
harm than good,
It makes honest men enemies Of
society and 1t drives deep into tho
very soul OF one proud of his inno-
cence, spirit OF reyengefulness
against organized society that would
so needlessly humiliateE and oppress
him. We are living in the age Of
"little men." Let us pray God that
the statesmen who are Gin hiding"
may come forth and relieve the peo-
pie Of their present embarrassments.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-08-04
HAYWOOD DEEPLY GRIEyED nv
DEATH OF LITTLE

CHICAGO, August 1.-Frank little
who was lynched early today Mt Rutte
Mont, had been identified with Tho IN
ausCrial Workers Of the World since
l9o0. His home was in Fresno, Cal
re was thirty-eight years old ana
single. Gnu
WORD OF his death was received
WIN emotion by w. d. Haywood. sec.
lc'ary or the national organization
OF the l. w. w. ''1"'''''"
FRANK Little was an earnest, &c.
Tive advocate cf the interests OF tho
working classes" said Mr. Haywood
l cannot begin to say how deeplv
regret his death death"
IN recent trip from Phoenix To
n ,' ARR, Little broke leg and
h ,,sn'. not fully recovered from tho IN.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-08-04
THE CLOUD UPON THE HORIZON.

1t Is difficult to understand just
what all of this present agitation
means In favor Of war, the destruc-
ton of human life. A person who
talked peace a few years ago was
regarded as a public benefactor. A
person who talks peace now Is regard
ed as disloyal and suspected Of being
in league with the enemies Of the gov
eminent. What does all Of this
drafting of men mean? Why is 1t
that the flower of American manhood
Is being forced into military camps?
Can it be on account Of the present
war with Germany or has 1t a deeper
Significance?
In this connection, 1t may be said
that the dark cloud upon our present
horizon Is not the German Empire or
that of any Of her allies. The Yellow
Man in the Far East is casting
shadow over this continent from the
Pacific to the Atlantic. The friction
caused by the color line and the racial
uloCl ALIiAdIAOH Ou lilo IaClllC SOdSL,
Is the cause Of the unrest In the jap
anese Empire.
Japan is becoming immensely
wealthy as the result Of the war be-
tween the great nations Of Europe.
Her man-power Is not being utilized
in tho contest and she Is using it to
the extent Of increasing its efficiency.
She has been in an open and active
alliance with Great Britain. The
good Offices OF that great empire have
been used to promote peace between
Japan and the United States.
But the Central Powers have ad-
mittedly hopelessly crippled Great
Britain. and the strongest nation, or
rather aggregation of nations on earth
has turned to the United States
for help and succor, exclaiming in the
language OF Shakespeares creation,
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-08-04
CHESTER IS SCENE OF SERIOUS
R1OTING.

Chester, Pa, July 26.-Race rioting
broke out here tonight and as re-
suit two men are dead, three fatally
wounded and twelve others are In hos
pitfalls with more or less serious in
juries.
The rioting took place in the heart
OF the town and the police were UNI
able to curb the mobs.
Tho dead are Joseph Mccain,
white, twenty eight, unidentified Me-
gro.
Race troubles broke out here two
weeks ago after two Negroes had at
tackled q white couple, taking girl
been scattered fights between whites
and Negroes ever since.
Today the rioting began to take on
a serious aspect. Throughout the af-
ternoon there was fighting in various
psr:s Of the city.
Then at o'clock this evening, a
mcb OF white men started to chase two
Negroes down Howell street. The
chase continued for several blocks
when one Of the Negroes turned, drew
revolver and fired. The bullet
pierced McCann's heart and he dropp-
ed dead
The Negro resumed his flight. pur-
sued by the mob. Flo dashed into a
two-story shack below Howell street
and started firing at his pursuers from
window.
TWO state constables and eight
policemen drove the crowd back from
the house and ordered Lucas to come
out. He fired an them and they
sought cover. Finally they set fire to
the house and threw flaming brands
In through window. The fire spread
quickly and Lucas jumped from a
second story window. He was caught.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-08-04
SHRINERS TO HOLD CON-
CLAVE.
WILL GATHER FOR 18TH ANNUAL
SESSION AT DETROIT NEXT
WEEK.

Detroit. Mich. August 2.-Dusty
travellers Of the desert will water their
camels in the Oasis Of Detroit next
Monday and Tuesday, while the nine
teenth annual session OF the Imperial
Council OF the Ancient" Bgyptisu
Arabic Temple Of Mobiles OF the Mystic
Shrine Is being held here. The
Daughters Of Isis will also meet.
The auditorium of tho Wayne Count
Medicali Association will DO the
meeting place, while the Daughters Of
Isis will hold forth at the Second Bap-
list Church.
Fdllowing the opening, next Mon
day, Imperial Potentate Clarence Dun
lop, OF Indianapolis will deliver his
annual address. The imperial record.
er, Levi Williams. and the imperial
recorder. Charles d. Freeman, will
make their annual reports. The
Daughters Of Isis will bc received at
noon. The annual election Of officers
Will take place Tuesday and parade
Will follow. A number of social feat.
ures have been arranged fer the dele-
gates by Maracei Temple, the hssts
for the session.
Baltimore, Md, August with over
$4,000 just raised in a big rally, Bethel
a. M. T.. Church is endeavoring to so.
cure $4,000 more within the next 80
days. The latter sum will secure n
gift Of $4,000 from some Baltimore
whites. The $4,000 will be applied to
the mortgage debt OF $4,000. Tho
Rev w. Sampson Brooks Is pastor Of
the church.
Thomas II. r.. Clarke, Of Washing
ton; the Reys. G. +. Bragg, l.. G. Jor-
dan and Ernest Lyon were among the
speakers Mt the celebration of tho
SEVENTEEN anniversary OF the indie
pendence of the Republic Of Liberia,
held at John Wesley M. e. Church,
Thursday evening Of last week. The
celebration was arranged by DR.. Lyon,
who Is the Liberian consul general to
this country
John Fl. Murphy, publisher of the
Afro-American, has returned from a
combined business and vacation trip
to Philadelphia, New York and Sea
Isle, N. J.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-08-04
N. "A. A. O. 2. TO PUSH RIOT CASE
When tho first frnOhloc In II.

When the first troubles In East st.
Louis became public late in May, the
N. A. A. c. P. recognized that this
was something Of the utmost impor-
lance. East st. Louis is one Of the
great centers wither the migration
Of at least quarter Of a million Ne
groes has set. 1t was therefore of the
utmost Importance to understand any
troubles that might arise and to ward
them off II possible. We recognized
the rtrong interest that various peo.
pie South and North had in stopping
Negro migration and discouraging
the emancipation OF the black serf.
Before. however, our representative
could get to East St. Louis, the ter
rible riot Of July 2. had taken place.
A hundred or moro Negroes were
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-08-04
4 DISTINCTION WITH A DIFFER
FNCE.

There was a vast difference be-
tween the riot at Chester, Pennsyl-
vania and the massacre at East St.
Louis, Illinois. Colored people in
Pennsylvania were armed and fired
from the windows Of their houses.
while the colored people Of East St.
Louis, Missouri ran like sheep and
pleaded with the lawless elements for
mercy, which to them was denied.
In Chester, Pennsylvania, for every
cOlored man killed, white hoodlum
went the same way and as q result
not moro than five deaths have been
reported and about two score injured,
most Of the latter being white, who
had refused to obey the police officers
sent to quell the disturbance.
In East St. Louis, anywhere from
one hundred to three hundred colored
people were killed and many of them
being burned alive in their own hous-
as, from which houses they did not
dare to flee and hundreds more were
injured, while all OF their earthly be-
longings were destroyed. Their only
crime was that they were seeking
work. They belonged to the indus
trious class in contravention to the
worthless, loafing contingent that has
disgraced the Southland and that now
infests the streets in the Northern
cline.
The moral Of this Is that when the
authorities. find that the killing Of
black men will be accompanied with
the killing Of white ones, way will
be found to preserve order. We are
glad to note the attitude of the col
ored people Of Chester, Pennsylvania.
We refer to the respectable elements.
The disreputable elements have no
use for firearms except to break the
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-08-04

tho United States soldiers as "Uncle
Sans scabs in uniform
In tho same speech no said:
III tho mines are ken under Fed
eral control we will make 1t so hot for
tho government that it will not DO
able to send any troops to France"
lettering IN another address to his
Interview recently with Governor
Campbell, Of Arizona, Little said that
he used these words:
governor, l don't give a d--what
your country Is lighting for l am
hghting Tor the solidarity of labor"
Last Friday night at Finn Hail be
Iore the metal mine workers union.
Little said: "A city ordnance is sim
ply piece Of paper which can be
torn up. Tho same can be said df
the. Constitution of the United States"
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-08-04
THE TROUBLE IN DANVILIIE.

We have read with interest the
account Of the trouble In Danville,
Va. and 1t seems to us to be case
OF much ado about nothing" An
irresponsible colored youngster made
an Incorporate remark, probably In
jocular manner and a body OF SOL
diers, presumed to be mustered into
the service OF the United States to
"a rough house" and started to drown
other colored men who had absolute
ly nothing to do with the affair.
Howard Grasty had not committed
any crime by what he said. But this
was taken as an excuse to endanger
the lives Of the colored people of
Danville and those Of some of tho
white people for that matter. Tho
city of Danviile has not very long
since recovered from the massacre
that occurred there many years ago.
There Is no reason to have 1t recur
again.
The white toughs, who had boon
mustered into the service were worse
than the person they attempted to
punish. They were bent on commit
ting murder. The better class of
colored people and the better class of
white people must cooperate to keep
these elements under control. There
are some Of tho best white people in
the country right in Danville. There
are hundreds Of them, who would go
to any length to help deserving COL
cred friends that they have learned
TO like so we'll.
Let them see to 1t that this happen
ing, which has been spread broadcast
over the country shall not be utilized
to arouse racial antipathy in its worst
form in that community. Colored
people would do we'll to think more
and talk less and above all make
friends with the better class Of white
people. These are peculiar times
now. These are times when white
mon can barely secure their rights
in the courts of the land at the
hands Of the legislators being sent
to Richmond to control the affairs OF
State. All things will come right
after a while and in the meantime,
let us not weary in well-doing.
Mayor Harry Wooding Is friend
to the people Of Danville regardless
of color. What he did in this case
was a stroke Of diplomacy, done to
appease the passions Of the thought
less. Let us cooperate with him.
1t is n good radiance to that commun-
ity that the high-spirited soldiers are
gone. Before they come back per-
chance, some black trooper may ha, 0
rescued them from dangerous situa-
lions and they may have drunk from
the same canteen upon the shell-swept
battlefields OF PARKWAY France.
Life Is too short for such misun-
derstandings. Colored mon, do like
the married man does. Speak like
the married man spoke when some
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-08-04

There Is no law against your
thinking what you please about the
government at Washington, but there
Is law against your putting your
thoughts in word form. The best
way to do is to tell your troubles to
God, but go into your closet and shut
the door while so doing else some
one else than God may hear you and
arrest you when you come out.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-08-04

ono advised him to go contrary to
the wishes OF his wife. He replied,
Il have got to live with that woman"
So 1t Is, colored folks. We have got
to 1.-Two with these white folks. Let
us have peace, even in Danville, Vir-
ginia.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-08-04

Be polite and obliging, colored
men. If you can better your condi-
ton by staying in the South, now
that so many of your people have
gone North, do 80.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-08-04

Everybody seems to have become
impregnated with the doctrine of de-
ception. The people, like some
women, idolize a deceiver.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-08-04

Tho dry people have split. Well,
the sun has always been noted for
splitting dry boards.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-08-04
BODY FOUND HANGING FROM
RAILROAD TRESTLE

The body was found hanging On tbo
north side Of the railroad trcstle, Tho
ties on the trestle were about fourteen
leet ABOVE the roadway. Little's feet
were ABOUT five feet from the ground.
on the back of his head was bloody
marx. me coroner could not deter
m1he whether the mark was gun
shot wound or an abrasion from a
blow. An autopsy was ordered held
late today.
Little wore only hfs underclothing
when taken from his room. He is
not known to have made any outcry
or demanded any explanation.
Little began to make speeches on
the day OF his arrival In Butte three
weeks ago. On July 10 before mass.
meeting of miners Little referred to