Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1919-11-29
DEATH PENALTY FOR Il
MEN IN THE ELAINE
UPRISING
''Elninc Uprising" in Arkansas Was
Causccd by Robert l.. Hill, Who
Saw Opportunity to Reap
n Golden Harvest.
Famed Discomfort Over Pay for Cot
ton Into Disorder Which Resulted
in Murdcrs-Did All in Name of
Government
(By CLAIR KENAMORE.)

Helena, Ark, Nov 15-"rhc
Elaine uprising" is finished and the
books arc balanced Except for 4
dribblc of indictments expected from
tho Grand Jury, which meets today,
the execution Of eleven Negroes at
the State Pcnitcntiary two months
hence, and sthc trial of few cases
still on tho docket the incident is
closed.
Prompt and vigorous action Of citi
Zcns and soldiers has left no trace Of
the trouble, and serious men, who
hope to prevent Il recurrence, womb
or whether the sore has been cured
or its virus driven inward to reap
pear elsewhere. One OF the reasons
for fearing recurrence is that the
principal germ. Robert l. Hill by
name has not been isolated.
The story of the uprising is now a
complete and soon told tale, and in
reading it the reader should know
and accept as n basis that Arkansas,
like all the South, is white mans
country, Whatever majority of num-
bcrs tho Negroes may have in any
community, and at places it is 1000
to !, the white is still the ruling race.
They accept the responsibility and
they manage the affairs. They care
for the Negroes in their employ, adj
vance them money n year ahead OF
crop time, advise them, manage for
them and govern them. It is the GUS
tom Of centuries land whether good
or bad is not for me to say.
THE ELAINE DISTRICT.
lNI'.,s,..,,..,.- ,...n, ., ,sA.t.lfj},
The country about the little town
of Elaine is cotton land, owned in
large parcels by corporations and
opened up in recent years. The land
nearest Elaine is owned by the Ger
ard b. Lambert Company, composed
OF the st. Louis family Of chemical
manufacturers. Into this section last
spring and summer came n short thin
very black Negro wearing frocll
coat. His name was Robert l.. Hill,
and he came from Winchester, Ark,
where with his wife, he lived on a
small farm.
He gave advice to Negroes after
the manner OF lawyer, and he liked
TO speak at meetings. He could read
and write, but that was the limit Of
have, or really had a deeply religious
turn, and spoke and prayed at church.
but the thing he had most surely was
that personal magnetism which
should be part Of the equipment of
all confidence men, orators, politl-
clans and cvangcls;s. Whether he
came to Elaine with his scheme full
blown or whether it grew with each
fortuitous circumstance and condi-
ton / do not know
Phillips County has about 5000
population about three-fourths or
which is black. In one township there
is only one white man. In another
township there is not even one. Con
ditions among the tenant Negroes
were ripe for Hill and his promises,
because Of the most recent attempt
made to improve them.
1t is the custom of the Awner OF
, the land to leave it to the Negroes on
crop,Shaamg plan, whereby owner
and renter each takes half OF the crop
OF cotton. The agreements are made
the first of the year, and upon the
landlord is the obligation to Garry"
the tenant through the year.
IN