Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-10-13
JUSTICE OFFICIALS
To PROBE ACTIONS
OF NIGHT RIDERS"
Investigation Will Determine
if Federal Laws Were
Violated.

Night riders" or others responsjhia
for the burning of cotton and cotton
gins in southern states are to he
prosecuted by the Department of Jus
tee II violation of the federal laws
I is shown by an investigation ordered
by the Attorney General yesterday
department of Justice agents have
been instructed TO investigate and
report Immediately instances where
federal laws appear to have been vio-
lated
In most cases. officials believed. the
outrages have constituted crimes
only under state laws. lint tha in
Vestigation was ordered when il was
INDICATED there might have been in
reference with shipments in inter.
state commerce
Inc convention of agricultural in
terests IN session here is acting to-
oay upon recommendations of a spe-
clal committee. denouncing the work
of the might riders" and others who
are carrying on the campaign to keen
cotton on the market by forcible
methods and destruction of property.
Inc committee resolution declares
mat the activities of those responsible
LOT the burning of cotton and cotton
gins and for threats of violence are
calculated to hinder rather than helm
rehabilitation of the cotton market
Farmers to Hold Stock.
JACKSON. Miss. October 13-Farm-
ers, business men and cotton pro-
oucers met here yesterday and adopt
| co strong resolutions urging the re
duction of cotton acreage for the next
| crop, the holding of certain percent
, ages OF the present crop off the mar
ket and a general holding Of the pres
| ent stocks for better prices
! W. +. q. Harding. governor of the
| Federal Reserve Board, sent a COM
! munlcation to the meeting assuring
| 1t OF cooperation of the federal re-
| serve banks in the financing of cot
| ton.
A telegram from sunfiower county.
4 MISS, read to the meeting announced
| the closing of gins in that part of
the state until cotton reaches a bet
ter price
| ABILENE. Tex, October ia COM
mittee of the West Texas Chamber
plan whereby approximately 5000
bales OF low-grade cotton in the hands
| of west Texas farmers will be ship
ped to Europe for market.
! The cotton is to be pooled and
prepared for shipment by a local cot
ton firm with European connections.
| The cotton will be stored in Europe
| should there be no ready market.
| SELMA, Ala. October 13.-Respond-
| ing to committee from the Dallas
county branch of the American Cot
! ton Association, bankers of this city
have pledged themselves to give every
assistance possible to cotton farmers
| or the country, and to advance from
$50 to $50 per bale on the 1920 crop
| where such cotton was stored and
| properly insured in bonded ware
| houses.
More Gins Burned.
FORT SMITH, Ark, October Ia
| TWO cotton gins at Lavaca, Ark near
here, were found to have been posted
with warnings. Armed guards were
placed about the gins. The notices
read:
do not start this gin until sixty
days. If the wheels turn you know
the results-unless the price gets
right" r. r'i - 9
For the third time in two weeks fire
broke out last night at the Fort Smith
compress, but as on the two previous
occasions damage was slight. 1t was
impossible to determine whether the
fire was of incendiary origin No
warnings have been posted at the
+; compress.
| WACO, Tex, October 13-The Glib
| son cotton gin. at Branchville, twelve
| miles east of Cameron. was DESTROYED
| by fire Monday night. according to re-
ports received here today. The loss
was estimated at approximately
$4,000. A small gristmill adjoining
| the gin was also destroyed Neither
plant was covered by insurance
A. j. Dossett. owner of the COM
press, said he found Department of
Justice agents and the state fire mar
shall investigating the fire
NASHVILLE, Tenn. October 10
Several additional cotton gins in Nor
gan county, Alabama are renorfed IN
have closed following the receipt OF
warnings from night riders, accord
ing to the Albany, Ala. correspondent
of the Banner.