Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-10-14
NIGHT RIDERS NOW
ACE PROSECUTION
BY US. GOVERNMENT
Posting of Gins and Violence
in Cotton Belt Referred to
Department of Justice for
Action

WASHINGTON, Oct. 13-Federal
prosecution of might riders" and
others responsible for the burning
| Of cotton and cotton gins in the
| southern states will be ordered If
an investigation started today dis
closes violation Of any federal laws.
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, but the in
vestigation was ordered when it was
Indicated there might have been in
reference with shipments in inter-
state commerce.
| A special committee of the con-
ventio-- of agricultural interests in
s sion here decided tonight to rec
omrhend that the convention adopt
a resolution tomorrow denouncing
the work of night riders and others
in cotton states. The committee res
| OIL, will decl.>-e that activi-
ties of those responsible for the
burning of cotton and cotton gins
and for threats Of violence are cal
culated to hinder rather than help
rehabilitation Of the cotton market
While no further reports had been
received Wednesday of the posting
of warnings at cotton gins in Geor-
gia, there was no slackening in the
efforts Of the authorities to establish
the identity Of the parties who have
thus far posted threats to destroy
gins which remain in operation while
cotton stands at its present market
price.
The posting of gins in Georgia has
apparently been confined to certain
sections of the state and the move
ment has not become general. The
authorities believe it Is the result
of a wave" originating in Texas and
travelling eastward through the cot
ton belt. When it spends it's force,
they say. the fanatical element will
subside
The Associated Press sent out the
following general account of the sit
uation in the cotton belt:
"The federal authorities have TAX
en- cognizance of the activities of
night riders in the south, who are
Wag1ng a campaign to keep cotton
Off the market until it reaches a price
or forty cents a pound by threaten
Ing to destroy gins whose owners
ignore warnings to discontinue oper-
alton until that price is realized.
"The department Of justice an
nounced it's agents in the affected
| areas had been inStru :ted to .nyes-
tlg9te instances where federal laws
relating to interference with ship
ments IN interstate commerce might
nave tcen violated.
| department Of justice agents
| have been Investigating the destruc-
tlon Of compress and warehouses
at Cameron, Tex Sunday morning,
with a loss estimated at $1,000 900,
| according to A. J. Dossett, owner Of
! the property, who returned to waco
| from Cameron.
THE burning of two more gins
In Texas was reported. One at
Pursley was destroyed Tuesday night
the other, at Branchville. near Cam
eron, was burned Monday night with
a loss of approximately $4,000
Both fires are believed to have been
OF lnceRdiary origin.
FLAMES were discovered at the
Fort Smith, Ark, compress Tuesday
| night. 1t was the third fire in a pc
Rod Rod of two weeks at this point. but
| there was nothingj to indicate a will
full attempt at its destruction.
=. The posting of warnings on gins
| at Lavaca. near Fort Smith, discov-
ering placards on their plants with
this inscription:
Don't start this gin until sixty
days. If the wheels turn you know
the resalts-unless the price gets
right
Guards were placed about the
gins and the owners were to confer
today with farmers to determine
what course to pursue.
Several additional gins in Morgan
county, Alabama, were idle yester-
day after the receipt of warnings to
discontinue ginning.
Up to d late hour there had been
| no reports of The receipt of further
warnings BY ginners in Georgia and
South Carolina"