Le MeschaceÌbeÌ. [volume] ([Lucy] La.) 1853-1942, 1918-05-04
STATE SUPERINTENDENT HAR-
RIS AND AGENT FAVRoT DE-
PLoRE INCENDIARY CASE.
AUTHORITIES INVESTIGATING
Nothing VIII BE Left undone to Run
the Criminals To Earth and Land
Them In the Penftentiary, II Pos
sibie, Says Mr.. Harris.
Baton Rouge

Baton Rouge
State Superintendent T. H. Harris
has just received notice from Parish
superintendent Dickersen of jackson
parish that the Strange Industrial
School, negro institution, valued al
more than $4,000, was burned by In.
cendiaries. The school, which was 10.
Gated about three miles from Vernon
employed seven teachers, was attend
ed by more than two hundred pupils
ranging in age from to 20 years, and
had in connection with it an eighty.
acre tract of land, more than half OF
which is under cultivation by the pu-
pills. In addition to this school tract,
home gardens were being cultivated.
The authorities are investigating.
The Strange School, like a number
of other negro educational institutions
In this state. was supported partly
by the Federal Board for Vocational
Education and by such phflanthropic
funds as the Smith-Hughes fund It
is said the Jackson parish police jury
lost about $4,000 by the destruction Of
this property.
The destruction of this school prop
erty, as wen as bodily harm to the
negro teachers In the faculty, has
been threatened for some time, it Is
said. Notices were posted IN the vi
entity Of the school, several weeks
ago, ordering the closing of the school
and threatening the destruction of the
property and injury to the lives of the
teachers If the children were not
made to discontinue their attendance
at the school
Superintendent Harris says he
wrote sherin Jones OF Jackson parish
Immediately upon receipt of the in
formation of these threats, urging him
to appoint deputies In that comrAun-
ity to preserve the peace and to place
guards at the schooIhouse at nig1k to
prevent the burning Of the property.
Governor Pleasant telephoned Sheriff
Jones also and urged him to take the
necessary steps to prevent any law
less acts.
Nothing win be left undone to run
the criminals to earth and land them
in the penitentiary, if possible" said
State Superintendent Harris. .tIt is
taken for. granted that the good citi.
zens OF Jackson parish viii lend every
possible assistance to wipe out this
grave reflection upon their parish.
The Strange Industrial School was
doing splendid work in fitting the ne
gro youth, of that section for efficient
service in. agriculture and other in
dustries Of the state It is inconceiv-
able that. few ignorant, prejudiced,
laWless individuals viii be permitted
to stand in the way of the school Off
cials in maintaining school of that
character
The lawless act deserves the con-
demnation of every thinking person
in the state. said State Agent Favrot.
Public sentiment should demand that |
the guilty parties be run down. The /
negro patrons are helpless to resent
this actSand unless the act is proper
ly punished they should quietly move
away into ssome section of Louisiana
where they will be permitted to live
In peace and educate their children"
Two women organizers or the su-
preme Forest Woodmen Circle have
been at Tota several days conducting
a campaign for organization of a To-
cal circle Of the w. o. w. as an ad-
5unet to the w. o. w Cedar Camp.
No. SS3
The School Board of East Feliciana
parish soon viii call 3 special tax
election to raise $1,000 to $4,000 for
the erection Of modern rural school
tc replace the four-teacher ward
school building which burned re
Gently. !
The Monroe Defense Council, at d
meeting called to investigate the rea- /
son of 50 many idlers in the parish
adopted q. resolution asking the Leg !
Islature to pass laws giving city and
parish officials authority to suppress
ding. !
W J.. Duhig and Armand Levy. both :
u Lake Charles. have purchased the
sland plantation. twenty miles south
u Lake Charles. consisting OF / $50 !
lcres, Of William G. Gragg of Roam :
,ke, La. 1t win be planted In rice. !
IS