The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-10-07
TROOPS FAIL TO
FIND LEADER Of
NEGRO1UPRISING
Member of Committee of
Seven Relates Details of
Plot to FOiSt Negro Rule
Upon Phillips County.

| ~ ~ WV 'SS' AhStN
Upon Phillips County.
! ELAINE, Ark, Oct. 7.--Thirty-fiVe
negroes who were arrested by soldiers
searching for suspected leaders Of the
Progressive Farmers and Household
! Union Of America" the negro organiza- :
tion which authorities say plotted a
/ general massacre Of whites in this and
| other Southern localities were to be
1 questioned today in the hope that fur
| ther light would be thrown on the race
! clashes which occurred here last week.
Federal troops covered an area of IS
| square miles, military officials an
| nounced, but no trace was found Of Ed
| Ware, alleged ringleader, or any Of the
negro chiefs. A quantity Of rifles and
| shotguns were seized.
All Of the prisoners, II was announced,
were brought In for investigation and
| officials said today they probably would
| be released.
There were no further reports of
| trouble anywhere in the district early
today and 1t was thought the emergen-
cy measures put into effect several days
ago when the trouble was at its height
might be withdrawn In short time.
Plan of Uprising Told.
How the Ignorance and superstition
of race Of children" was played upon
for monetary gain and for the banding
togRther Of negroes to slay whites. was
authoritatively revealed in a statement
issued here today to the Associated
Press by n. NJ Allen, member of the
committee Of seven, who has heard vir-
tualy all of the prisoners confessions
following last weeks uprising in this
section of Arkansas.
Mr.. Allen Is considered by leading
officials and citizens Of Helena as being
most competent to speak on the subject
because of his prominent part in the
investigations which have taken place.
He has been a resident of Helena for IS
years and was one Of tho men who orig
inally plotted and created Elaine, cen
ter of the recent disorders.
Aside from being locally prominent as
president of the Helena Business Mems
league and as the owner Of considerable
property, Mr.. Allen is president of the
National Association of Insurance
Agents, the headquarters Of which are
in New York city. His name was on
the list of those the negroes plotted to
kill today as the signal for general
slaughter Of whites, according to papers
confiscated and confessions of leaders
captured.
Trouble Not Riot.
Mr., Aliens statement follows.
The present trouble with the negroes
In Phillips county Is not race riot.
1t is deliberately planned instruction
OF the negroes against the whites di-
rected by an organization known as the
Progressive FarmersAnd Household I'm
ion OF America established for the pur-
pose Of banding negroes together for
the killing of white people. This union
was started by Robert l.. Hill, negro
26 years Of age, OF Winchester, Ark,
who saw In 1t an opportunity of making
easy money. He had been farmer all
his life, but lately had been posing as
private detective doing work in this
and all foreign countries, He started
his first union work in April this year
He organized the Ratio LODGE IN May of
this year. He chose Ratio because his
mother happened to be living there. He
told the negroes that he was an agent
OF the government, and because the sem
ators and representatives at Washing
ton were white men and In sympathy
with the white men of the South, 1t was
impossible for the negroes to get the
rights that had been promised them for
service In the army, and so the govern
mont had called into existence this Or
ganisatlon which would be supported
by the government In defense of the
negroes against the white people. He
told them that II was necessary for all
members OF the union to arm themselves
In preparation for the day when they
should be called upon to attack their
white oppressors.
'"The slogan Of the organization Is
We battle for our rights The pass
word OF all the lodges, was we have
just begun
He told them that those members
who were unable to buy ammunition
would be supplied by the union from
the government storehouse at Winches-
ter:
THE purely mercenary side Of 1t de-
velops as follows:
Negro men were charged $3.50 en-
trance fees and negro women so cents.
At the second or third meeting he
would bring DR.. V. II. Powell, of Win
chester with him, who purported to be
the examining physician for the gov
eminent In Its work OF registering the
negroes In defense Of their rights. A
certificate was filled out and signed by
the doctor and given to each negro upon
payment OF DO cents, This certificate
was supposed to be the registration doc
ument, Those negroes who were pos
sessed OF funds In amounts from SIS to
SIS were enrolled In an advanced section
OF the union, and upon payment Of
whatever sum he (HilD could procure
In excess Of SIS a certificate was given
emitting the holder to attend the con-
crosses Of the union at Winchester and
speak on the floor Of the meeting re-
garding any question brought up, and to
assist In keeping the constitution of
the United States from being ques-
| toned.
Another form of extorton was to sell
| shares OF $40 each to the negroes In a
proposed building to be erected by the
union at Winchester, Hin would find
out what negroes possessed thrift
stamps and Liberty bonds and would is
| sue certificate stating that so many
shares had been purchased at $40 per
share and all negroes buying shares IN
| the amount of $50 or more were told
| their names would be engraved In the
building In other words. he had so
| planned his campaign that any negro
| possessing from 80 cents to $50 was
given an opportunity to invest in some
thing connected with the union.
Attorney at Little Rock.
He then advised the members that
| the general attorney OF the union In
| Little Rock would, for an additional
consideration represent all OF the ne
| groes in their settlements with land
lords during tho ginning. season. He
| went to several OF the meetings with
! typewriter powers OF attorney which
| he had signed by all the negroes, col
| Letting amounts from SIS to $50 and
pledging payment of the balance OF $50
| each with the crop as security He was
very adroit In making use Of certain
| circulars issued by the government and
in distorting the purpose OF the Arkap-
sas warehouse and ginners law to con.
vince the negroes that the United States
government was endeavoring 10 correct
evils which he alleged existed among
the farmers.
HE further told the negroes that the
II plan of Secretary Lane to provide home.
steads for the soldiers had been carried
out where the white soldiers were con-
oerned. but the negroes had been refused
participation In Il. I'VE found where ne
gro soldiers at Elaine had sold their
discharge papers for sums ranging
from so cents to 800 on the theory thai
such discharge entitled the holder to AZ
acres Of government land He produced
government maps Of state lands In tn,
Elaine country u,600 acresl, which h'
said. could be bought for 5000, Thi,
amount was raised at one meeting ant
paid in cash, The land was all de