The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1922-05-12
100000 ACRES
OF LAND STOLEN
FROM PEASANTS

WASHINGTON, d. c., May s.
| Charges that the seizure of Haiti
for financial exploitation by the Ma
tional City Bank, the Hatian-Ameri-
can Corporation. and others. which
expect profits "far in excess of 10
per cent" is the result if not the
real purpose of the military subju-
cation of the Colored Republic for
the last six years. were made to Sec
rotary of State Hughes here today by
delegation of representatives of
several national organizations. Charg-
es that the whole episode is illegal
and virtually reduces our treaties to
SCRAPS of paper" were made by a
committee of distinguished lawyers.
All demand the restoration of Hal
tian sovereignty and the withdrawal
of our troops. that the "honor of the
! United States" be restored.
An Address" by the National
Popular Government League, signed
by its president, Senator Robert l..
Owen, William Kent, VIM. H. John
ston, Herbert Quick. DR.. John A.
Ryan, and others, presents startling
evidence drawn directly from the Of
ficial hearings of the investigation
into the Haiti Occupation. conducted
by Senate committee, Senator Me-
dill Mccormack. of Illinois, chairman,
showing that powerful financial in
terests are the only ones backing the
government in its military conquest
of the island.
Over 100000 acres of fertile lands
have been virtually stolen from the
Haitian peasants under the terms of
treaty and new constitution
forced at the point of bayonets.
That labor is now 20 cents a day
in Haiti, and it is expected to be very
far below American and even Cuban
standards for years to come.
That there are vast mineral, tim
Der and other resources awaiting
"The enterprise of American capital
lists" and that huge profits are ex-
pected.
That loan by private banks is
being forced on Haiti.
1t is claimed that the government
has spent over $50.0O0,000 on the
conquest Of Haiti and Santo Domingo
to date; at time when American |
people are burdened with taxation
and credit facilities greatly restrict
ed; that many Americans have lost
their lives, and that horrible tortures
and slavery have been inflicted upon
the natives when resisting the loss
of their independence.
An important legal document. is
sued by the Foreign Policy Assn, of
New York. signed by twenty-four
eminent lawyers, was filed which |
proves beyond question that the
president of the United States has
no right to set up colonies under
military conquest in violation of our
treaties and our constitution without
act of congress. 1t is signed by
such great lawyers as Moorfield
Storey. of Boston. Louis Marshall. of
New York, Alfred Bettman, of Gin
cinnati, Jackson H. Ralston. of Wash
ingotn. Frederick Bausman. of Seat
tie. Professors Frankfurter and
Chafee. of Harvard University Law
School. etc.
Other organizations in protest were
the American Federation of Labor,
represented by President Samuel
Gompers and Secretary Frank Nor
rison: the Pan-American Federation
of Labor. by James Lord. C. A. Var
gas. and Chester A. Wright. the Fed
eral Council of Churches. by DR.. Sid |
ney L. Gulick. and the League of
Women Voters. by Mrs. Charles l..
Tiffany. of New York.