The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-10-12
N|GHTR|D|NG GIN
BLAZES IN SOUTH
ROUSE GOVERNORS
Brough and KiIby Issue Proc
lamations Calling for Action
to Suppress Price Decline
0utraqeS.

ATLANTA, Ca, Oct. 12.--Several
fires OF undetermined origin in which
cotton has been destroyed and wide
spread threats of nightriders to burn
gins whose owners ignore warnings
to discontinue operations until the
staple reaches a price of 40 cents a
pound, have resulted in the issuance
of proclamations by Governors
Brough of Arkansas, and Kilby of
Alabama, and statements of their po-
sition by Governors Dorsey of Geor-
gia, and Cooper Of South Carolina.
GOV. Brough, upon being advised
last night of the shooting of Noah
Canada q negro gin guard. in Lonoke
county, issued a proclamation citing
the killing and 'lawlessness in some
of our counties growing out of the
prevailing low price of cotton" The
governor called upon the state adju-
tant-general and sheriffs of counties
where there are likely to be dis
turbances" to use all power at their
command to suppress these night
riding outrages." Posts of the Ameri-
can Legion also were urged to CO.
operate with the authorities.
The killing of Canada until late
last night had been regarded by the
authorities as q possible outgrowth
of nightriding activities as the owner
Of the gin at which the negro was
killed is said to have received a
warning to close it. Two negroes
have been arrested and charged with
| the killing, however, and one of them
is said to have confessed that the
| motive was robbery, refuting the
| theory that the shooting %gas an act
of nightriders.
In proclamation citing the burn
ing of gins and gin houses in Ala
bama Gov. Kilby has offered a re-
ward of $3.50 for the arrest and con-
viction Of any person guilty Of the
! destruction of property. This char
acter of lawlessness deliberately vic =
| lates one of the fundamental pur-
poses for which government is es-
| tablished and threatens to substitute
| for orderly government q reign of
| terror and Violence" the governor
declared.
Governor Cooper. in a communica- e
ton to j. w. Harris. solicitor of the
tenth judicial circuit of South Caro-
| lima, deplored the acts of fanatics
and gave assurance that should any
situation which would require extra
effort on - part of the state he
would not hesitate to order it. Mr..
Harris had written the governor of
the posting of warnings on gins and
had asked if any preparations had
been made for the sending of detec-
tives into the affected districts. The
only overt act so far committed in
South Carolina was the removal last
week of mechanical signs from a
gin in Anderson county. These were
replaced, and the gin resumed opera
ton.
Replying to a suggestion from a
county sheriff that the offer by the
state of a reward for the arrest of
nightriders in Georgia would have a
beneficial effect. Governor Dorsey
stated that threats against property
in Georgia constituted a misdemean-
or only. and that in the circum-
stances he was not authorized to dc
so. The governor declared, however,
that in the event property was de-
stroyed, a felony would have been
committed and that he would be
glad to offer the highest reward pos
sible under the law"