The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-10-13

GRENADA, Miss, Oct. 10. (spl)-.
lack c. Wilson, executive secretary Of
the Mississippi Welfare league, with
headquarters at Jackson, Miss, has Just
returned from Helena, Ark, where he
spent several days investigating the re,
cent trouble between the white ana
colored races in Phillips. county. Mr.,
Wilson makes the following statement
relative to the Arkansas uprising TO
your correspondent, which he thinks Is
of interest to the entire state:
Being convinced by press reports
that the affair In Phillips county was
unusual and since the uprising was SO
close to Mississippi and thinking that
the organization responsible for the
trouble might be at work In my state, |
went to Arkansas to investigate the
affair.
mo n who is not familiar with the
facts gotten from the testimony Of the
negro who participated In the affair can
have even a faint idea OF the hanger
with which the white people there. We're
confronted. 1t was indeed fortunate for
them that the negroes started trouble
two DAYS before the time set for united
action. The facts recalled the same old
story. The negroes are victims or a.
vicious negro leader who exploited them
and led them astray purely for mer-
ceny reasons. As usual the leader left
lIt CVuIttIJ Wall al AA0 fNNNN -
his followers to suffer. This negro
leader, whose name is Hill, had an In
fluence over these ignorant people that
Is hardly less than marvellous.
Age Needed Folly.
80 great was this influence that old
men with gray hairs and stopped with
age took q black hand oath and at
tempted to live up to that oath. Hin
represented himself as an agent OF the
federal government. He made his APP
peal through their superstitious and re-
ligious instincts. One of the remark
able things which ! observed was that l
did not see among more than l5O pris-
oners what | would consider q bad
negro. They are all of that peaceable
working class type and there were
not more than two mulattoes among
them. ana those. were not leaders. The
testimony revealed the fact that, after
the trouble began, many negroes who
were at work were forced by the lead
ers, under threats Of death, to leave
their work and join the army,
Another remarkable thing Is the abb
sence Of race hatred among the white
people. OF course. they were incensed
against the organizers and leaders. |
past have taken much interest in the
welfare OF the negro race, who feel more
hurt than angry over the action Of the
negroes. The calm behavior Of the
white people, and their willingness for
the law to take its course. Is unusual
under such a great provocation. But
this IL the spirit Of Phillips county peo-
pie. They boast Of the fact that there
has never been a lynching in the county.
fhites Act Generously.
Having investigated the recent race
riot In Chicago and knowing. the intense
race hatred among the white people for
the negroes there, / am of the opinion
that II the people in Chicago and Cook
county had had the Same ~provoeation
that the people Of Helena and Phillips
county had there would have been but
few negroes left in Chicago to tell the
tale.
THE people in Helena and Phillips
county, both white and black, are GO
ing about their work as though moth
ing had happened.
nThere Is some evidence to the ef-
feet that the organization responsible
for the trouble, The Farmers and
Househoiders Union Of America, with
Headquarters in Washington, d. c. has