The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1919-10-09
'RACEOF CHILDREN
VICTIM OF LEADERS
BY YOUNG NEGRO
WHO PREYED ON IGNOR-
ANCE OF RACE.

Helena, Ark. Oct. Ga statement
was made today on the recent riots
by E. NJ. Allen, of the committee OF
seven authorized by local officers and
Governor Brough to investigate the
trouble, charging that the affair was
an organized negro uprising, foster
ed by a negro who preyed on "the
ignorance and superstition Of a race
of children for monetary gains.
Mr.. Allen, who was one of the lead
ing men marked for death, after
hearing confessions, examining clrcu-
lars and other evidence procured by
State andmilitary officers in connec-
ton with the work of the committee,
issued the following statement to ex-
plain what the committee had found
to be the situation leading to the kill
ing of five white men and and up
ward of a score of negroes.
"The present trouble with the ne
groes in Phillips county is not race
riot. 1t is deliberately planned in
surrection against the whites direct
ed by an organization known as the
Progressive Farmer and Household
Union of America, established for
the purpose of banding negroes to-
gether for the killing of white peo-
pie. This union was started by Rob-
ert l.. Hill, a negro, twenty-six years
of age, of Winchester, Ark, who saw
in it an opportunity of making easy
money. He had been a farmer all
his life but lately has been posing
as a private detective doing work in
this and all foreign countries.
"Hill started his first union work
in April of this year," Mr.. Allen
said. "He told the negroes it was
necessary for all members of the m-
MON to arm themselves in prepara-
ton for the day when they should be
called upon to attack their white op-
pressors.
"Negro men are charged $1.5O en-
trance fees and negro women fifty
cents" Allen said in his statement.
Another form of extortion was to
sell shares of $40 each to all the ne
groes in a proposed building to be
erected by the union at Winchester.
Hill would find out what negroes
possessed thrift stamps and liberty
bond and would issue a certificate
stating that so many shares had been
purchased at $40 per share and all
negroes buying shares in the amount
of $50 or more were told that their
names would be engraved in the
building. In others, he had so plan
ned his campaign that any negro
possessing from fifty cents to $5O
was given an opportunity to invest
in something connected with the
union
Another scheme used by Hill to
obtain money was to appoint leading
negroes in each lodge as a private
and foreign detective furnishing
them large nickel plated stars and
"pair of nickel plated handouts
for which they paid him $50 each.
"His meeting at Winchester IN
August was attended and addressed
by white men. He simply played up
on the ignorance and superstition OF
race of children-most Of whom
neither read nor write.
"I have cross examined and talked
to at least one hundred prisoners at
Elaine. They belong to different
lodges in that section. The stories
thew tell are almost identical as to
the promises and representations
made by Hill. He even told them
that probably some of the negroes
would be called upon to Ole peiore
'eaual rights would be assured, but
thew must look upon themselves as
crusaders and die if necessary to Sc
cure the freedom of the other men,
bers of the race.
"All lodge meetings were required
to maintain an armed outer guard
of six sentinels. Hills usual express
sion was get your racks filled for
the day to come
"Aas far as oppression is concern
ed many of the negroes involved own
mules, horses, cattle and automobiles
and clear money every year on their
crops after expenses are paid"
Authorities today continued their
search for alleged ring leader OF a
band of twenty insurgents, who IS
still at large.
Robert L. Hill, named in confes-
x6a 1ooAar nf