Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-03-21

being less and less efficiently culti-
waited. lie asserts that since he has
formed his union and raised wages
several thousand people have come in
from the English Islands, and that he
tx In touch with II colony OF $500 St
Croix negroes I'm New York, who are
anxious TO return, but are waiting to
see what the United States will do
The dcpopulation OF ST. Croix. he
says. has been due to the existence Of
what is practically pconage The
planters own all the land and control
HI the employment. Hence, the negro
is dependent upon the planter for
roof and for Il chance to work. When
there was no labor organization. he
had To accept what the planter chose
to pay. ana being often unable ITO get
enough money to leave the island. the
difference between his condition and
peonaHc was slight
Jackson was born on the island, and
educated In the local schools He then
became schoo1-teachcr He says TINT
lie mndc Il study of msditne.5 4nu spent
nil OF his nights trdmpng about the
island with II small stove strapped to
his back for heating water. In order
to minister to sick negro children. In
this way he gained the confidence Of
the people and became IL recognized
leader. few years ago the Danes
decided to make an Investigation OF
social and economic conditions in the
island. and Jackson. beng recognized
ar spokesman for tia negroes, was
invited to appear before commission
| In Copenhagen
WINS Received by OHiciuis.
i'ia really remarkable powers OF eX-
preston attracted much attention, he
took the lecture platform. and was well
received by radical audiences. In Den.
mark there is no color line. ouch az wa
draw in the United States. 1 Jackson
was received socially by the Minister
| OF Finance and other ofiIUais lie had
an opportunity to talk with leaders
| or social reform in Denmark lie re-
turned TO his island with new com.
piete social philosophy ard new con
hdcncc in his own powers.
his nrst move was u organize f,
laoor union and strike for better wages
| TOT the field hands. by two successive
strikes he has raised wages from -
cents TO 30 cents a day During til.
iast strike. the planter, turned tho
negroes out OF their huts and homeless
1 crowds filed the streets OF Christian
sten. Many OF the people being with.
! out food. Jackson secured two sIoons
TO carry some or them 10 other island.
where they could get work The Dam
Ism government refused 10 let then,
! board the sloops Despite thj. double
pressure. the strike was carried
through TO successful conclusion
without any violence beyond the throw
/ Ing OF few rocks
jackson has always been strongly in
favor of the sale OF the Islands to the
! united States. believing that this re-
( public VIII give his people civil rights
Thts negro leader is accused by the
/ planters OF organizing the union for
/ his own profit. lie replies by produc-
! Ing his books. which shos that ne re
/ ccires nothing but salary OF $40
month. and bills Of sale to prove that
all the pr"pert? he has bough, is In
the name Of the union. He Is also ac-
| cused OF preaching race hatred. |ut he
ASSERTS that race does not enter into
I the matter. that he is lnenly unfolding
capital against labor
J The SERIOUS charge brought against
Jackson is that he has hied the people
| with Il spirit Of Arrogance and djscon-
tent such that they will lot work The
trouble with his labor uron, the plant
crs say, is that it will MT labor They
are also of the opinion that tho pco-
pie or 81. Croix arc ut capable OF
much Improvement. The see In Jack
son only man who hasgained a dan
Eerous power over Il chililike and ire
! sponsible people, threataing industry
and the peace. They aimit <thnt no
! legal charge can be bpught against
him. but are confident hat strong
military government would find way
OF suppresstng him and his p-opa-
Sanda. There are NOR, -ya,y3 to Kill
Il cat than TO choke II with butter" as
one veteran Irish landowner remarked
! Jackson, on the other hand wants
I the establishment OF civil ,overn-
,nent with local assembly elected by
! the people. This much he feels sure
! the United States will grant a. IL is
the greatest democracy n the world
and believes in the right OF all peo-
pies to self Governmcnt. He funhcr
! hopes that eventually the govern ncut
will buy tho sugar land, from tte few
men who own them let the people buy
! them back In small tracts. and sell
their crops TO central factory owned
by the government. Thus does he see
hope that the people OF ST. CroiS
who have been slaves and poems for
three centuries shall come to securely
own their homes and their souls under
the protection OF a great democracy.