Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1919-10-07
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Helena, Oct. GA statement was made today on the recent riots by B. M. 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, tostered by a negro who preyed Con the ignorance and superstition of a race of children, for monetary gains. J
 MT. Allen, who was one of the leading men listed for death, after hearing confessions, examining cir culars and other evidence procured by state and military officers iii connection with the work of the committee, issued the following state ment to explain what the committee had found to be the situation leading to the killing of five white men and upwards of score of negroes:
 "The present trouble with the ne- groes in Phillips county is not race riot. it is deliberately planned in- surrection of the negroes against the whites, directed by band known as the Progressive Farmers and House. hold Union of America,' established for the purpose of banding negroes together for the killing of white people. This union was started by Robert l.. Hill, a negro 26 years of age, of Winchester, Ark, who saw in it an opportunity of making easy money"
 The committee of seven is composed of leading Helena business men. It has been authorized to carry on the it,yy f hot and county authorities and by Coy. Charles H. Brough of Arkansas. It is cooperating with the military authorities. Among members is F. F. Kitchins, sheriff of Phillips county.
 "I have cross examined and talked to at least 100 prisoners at Elainep says Aliens statement. j..
 Negroes Stories.
 "They belong to different lodges in that section. The stories they tell are almost identical as to the prom ises and representation made by Hill. He even told them that prob. ably some of the negroes would be called upon to die before equal rights would be assured, but they must look upon themselves as crusa- ders and die if necessary to secure the freedom of the other members of their race.
 "A remarkable thing about the de- velopments is that some of the ring leaders were found to be the oldest and most reliable of the negroes whom we have known for the past 15 years. He had made them believe that he had been intrusted with a sacred mission which had to be car- ried out regardless of the conse. quences.
 "All lodge meetings were required to maintain an armed outer guard of six sentinels. Hills expression was get your racks filled for the day to come'
 "As far as oppression is concerned many of the negroes involved own mules, horses, cattle and automobiles and clear money every year on their crops after expenses are paid"
 Was Private Detective.'
 He had been a farmer all his life, but lately had been posing as "pri- vate detective, doing work in this and all foreign countries"
 "He started his first union work in April of this year. He organiz- ed the Ratio lodge in May of this year, when he chose Ratio because his mother happened to be living there. He told the darkies that he was an agent of the government and because the senators and repre- sentatives at Washington were white men and in sympathy with the white men of the South, it was impossible for the negroes to get the rights that had been promised them for service in the army, and so the government had called into existence this organi- zation, which would be supported by