The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-10-04
SOLDIERS SEARCH
CANEBRAKESFOR
ARMED NEGROES
Leaders of Elaine Race War
Are in Custody and Quiet
ReignS-NegrOeS Used the
Union to Plan Instruction.

HELENA, Ark, Oct. 4. (spl)-
Elaine, scene Of the three days race
troops under Col l. C. jerks, will
search the canebrakes along the Mis-
sissippi river for fugitive negroes who
are known to be armed.
The small towns along the river are
heavily patrolled and no negroes will
be allowed TO cross the river into Mis-
sissipph II Is estimated that there are
several hundred armed negroes in hid
ing. When the 400 troops from Camp
Pike under command OF Col jerks,
reached Helena, negroes took to the
brakes in squads. These negroes, it is
said, were prepared 10 participate in
further trouble and would have been
factor in one Of the greatest race
wars OF the South but for the timely
arrival Of the troops,
The number Of negro prisoners at
Helena and Elaine is being augmented
by arrests every hour The guard over
the Helena courthouse and jail and the
school building at Elaine is being rig
idly maintained
With the arrest Friday Afternoon Of
Ed Hicks, said to have been a ring
leader OF the organization believed by
OFFICIALS to have been largely respon-
sible for the race disturbances in Phil
lips county, civil and military officials
expressed the opinion that at least one
OF the sources of the>rioting of the past
two days had been definitely eliminated
Hicks Is said to have, admitted he had
been president of the Progressive
Farmers and Hopsehold Union Of
America" the title of an organization
under which the negroes had banded
themselves. Other negroes taken made
similar statements, although literature
seized by military authorities showed
the signature of T, l.. Duker, Winches-
q ,..Vp.
are credited with having declared that
Ed Baker, another negro under arrest,
was the secretary of the organization
and military authorities declared that
they had other leaders in Frank and
VIII Hicks and Frank Moore. These
officials stated they had beer advised
that a man known as Frank H. Will
OF winchester, was an organizer for
the union
Constitution of Union.
Among the papers brought in by pa
trols Is printed copy of what purports
to be the United States constitution
and bylaws Of the Progressive Farmers
and Household Union OF America, the
negro business league" The object OF
the union as stated in the pamphlet,
shall be to advance the interests of the
negro, mentally and intellectually,
and to make him a better citizen and
a better farmer" The constitution au-
thorized passwords, door words. grips
and signs which we're to be changed
every three months, and provided for
a fine and expulsion for exposing Sc
crets. Any excluded member was not
to be. allowed to rejoin within 80
years"
A negro in custody, when asked to-
day by officers as to the e.>tent of the
organizations membership, said he was
certain there were $50 and probably
500"
Army officers estimated today that
the number OF negroes that have passed
through their hands exceeds 500.
Fifteen additional negroes were Gap
tured In the fight near Elaine between
soldiers and negro rioters late Friday
evening, and others in tho band were
scattered 1t is believed that virtually
ali Of the leaders Of the negroes have
been captured. Several negroes were
wounded and one soldier was slightly
wounded.
Ed Hicks, the "second-in- command"
Of the negroes, was captured In a
single handed fight by Sergeant Major
Lower, 3Sth infantry, and mace a de.
tailed confession, saying negroes had
been organized by Il Little Rock white
lawyer. Hicks could not remember the
lawyers name bat gave his deScrip-
ton. He said the white man did not
organize the, negroes TO- fight except
armed with a 5ScalIber rifle when
overpowered by Lower.
Bratton Still Held.
o. s. Bratton, son Of U. S. Bratton,
lawyer of Little Rock, is still in GUS
today on a charge of melting to riot,
and Is said to have had on his person
discriminating literature connecting him
with the insurrection then under way.
In calmer mood the feeling OF bit
terness against Bratton seemed to have
somewhat diminished, and 1t is said
that the nature of the documents found
in his possession had no direct bear
ing on the action Of the insurgent ne
groes, although they might have had
some influence in that direction,
Evidence points to the fact that agi-
tators were planning to use the Pro-
grcssive Farmers and household union,
an organization seemingly benevolent
in It's purposes, for thorough uprising
among the blacks. The organization
was secret In its nature with pass
words which were changed every threS
Ii is said that the leaders Of the in
correction made n mistake IN flring
upon the Adkins-Pratt party Tuesday
night, which disrupted the entire plot.
The party was fired upon by the ne
groes because they believed the off
GERS were watching a church In which
the negroes were holding meeting
Hardware men in Helena declare that
more arms and ammunition have been
sold to negroes within the past two
months than in many weeks and IN tar