Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1919-11-29

ho had sold his cotton. Other people
say that like any other Northerner
who knew nothing of Negroes, nc
thought he could compel them to stay
on tho land by thus holding out q
settlement until it was too late for
them to find another place to crop
the following year:
THE NEGROES AROUSED.
EVIL rumorS spread among the Ne
I grocs, not only on this land, but on
all adjoining it. Every cabin hummed
| with the iniquity Of ii. Whatever the
| inspiration the Negroes saw in it on
ly that great injustice, and known as
such throughout the world, of with
holding from the laborer his hire.
Tho firm of BrattOn, Bratton and
| Casey, attorneys, of Little Rock, Ark.
had set up a branch Office in Helena
There were three Bra tons, father and
/ two sons. Casey had been q telegraph
| operator, train dispatcher and law
yer. IIc had advanced ideas. The
younger Bratton took contracts from
the Negroes to enforce settlement
for them and to get all moneys due
them in the past.
Robert l.. Hill was projecting
| around trying out his powers over his
people and on the lookout for some
| way to make Il living without work
ing.
The southern part of Phillips Coun-
ty was just made to order for him.
He decided that what was needed was
| not exactly Il lodge, the lodge bust
ness being somewhat overdone, but
u union. He formed the Progr essfve
Farmers and Household Union of
America. He had already tried out
| the Negro Business League and the
Great Torch Of Liberty, but neither
seemed indicated in this case
PROCLAMATION OF LEADER.
Here is his proclamation under the
caption:
"TIIE NEGRO BUSINESS LEAGUE"
"Join the Progressive Farmers
| and Household Union of America.
o you laborcrs of the earth, hear
the word!
! "rhe time is at hand that all men,
| all nations and tongues must receive
In just reward!
THE union wants to know why it
| is that the laborcrS cannot control
! their just earnings which they work
for. Some of the leading business
merchants and authorities arc say
ing We are pleading the right cause
ana due consideration.
! "Thero are many of our families
suffering because our men are forced
; to act as children.
| 1--WE also plead that we be recog-
nizcd as taNpaying citizens
/ Remember the Holy Word when
the Almighty took John up on the
mountain and commanded him to
look. and asked John what he saw,
and John said: j sec all nations and
tongues con- ing up before God
; Now we are a nation and tongue
Why should we be cut off from fair
play?
| "lIear us, o God, hear us!
I'VE only ask every Negro man
for $3.50 for joining fees; women so
cents.
Write Box 81, Winchester, Arkan-
sas, and we will come down and set
up a body among you. Get fifteen
men and twelve women: We will set
you up together.
/ l1i1
| HILLS BIG COLLECTIONS.
| Hill worked through June, July and
August. AS preccdcnts were needed
he made them. The union flourishcd
under his oratory and he found flu
cncy as he went along. The $3.50 fee
admission to the lodge was too easy
SO he spread out. There were grand
lodge dues, which was cheerfully paid
Hill was the grand lodge From some
Negroes he collected as high rs $3.50
These were to have Their names en-
graycd on the temple "now being
erected" i'll Winchester, Ark, and
were to be members Of the first con-
gress to be held there. In addition
they were to have the right TO speak
on all motions and laws.
1t was only when business COM
menced to wanc that Hill began to
emphasize the sinister side OF the or
ganization. He spoke darlIly Of the
whites and he chose his words we'll
He said all members who did not
have guns should get them. The Ne
grocs had heard many patriotic speech
es during the war, they had bought
Liberty Bonds and Thrift Stamps,
and they were keenly patriotic and
for the Government.
So many Negroes bought liberty
Bonds that some enterprising gentle
men from Kansas had been working
among them explaining that they
were only inspired by the keen inter
est all Kansans had in downtrodden
Negroes. Since Liberty Bonds were
practically worthless, the Kansans
willing to exchange several kinds of
, stock (all worthless) for these Liber
/ ty Bonds. The law got the Kansans.