The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-01-26

shington-Women are more valuable than men in Liberia's do-
 mestic slavery. | The international commission of | inquiry. which investigated slavery and forced labor in the African re- public, reports that between 1912 and 1920 the redemption price for 1 female slaves was about $20 and l that for men about $15, but that
 since 1920 the price for women has been $3O and that for men has re- | mained the same.
 | Domestic slaves become such un- der the "pawning' system which IS ] officially recognized by the Liberian l government but which the commits sion severely condemns. In return for money, human beings, usually child relatives but often wives or mothers, are given into uncompen- sated servitude for indefinite periods and with little chance of redeeming themselves.
 Woman PaWned for $5 Pawns may be repawned by the holder, and the commission found persons remaining in pawn for 10, 20. 40 years or for life. One woman had been held in pawn six years for the sum of $5. Instances are cited | where, in order to pay government l fines or taxes, many natives pawned | wives, sisters, or children for from l $15 to $40.
 Late in December, the state de- partment sent scathing note of l cenSure to the Liberian government | which is supposed to have caused | the resignations of President King and Vice President Yancy. Secretary Stimson said the report established | the direct criminal participation of | Yancy and many other officials in | shipment of forced labor to Fer | nando Pc and said King was aware of the various practices.
 The note mentioned evidence of torture and the "pawning" system.
 Liberia has promised to clean up, it said, but had done nothing in that direction and guilty officials re- mained in office. Stimson virtually threatened to break off relations. | One of the many pitiable stories told in the report, on which the
 note was based, concerns long i march of several hundred women who went to Cape Palmas in 1928
 to petition Yancy not to send away their husbands and brothers to Fer
 nando Pc, a. Spanish colony. The
 woman ranged helplessly about the I town" and their petition was ig-
 nored
 | Strange cases are found in the evidence taken by the commission such names as Sea Breeze and Sea
 Breeze No. 2, Africa, Tin Cup, Book
 Don't Lie, Black Mans Trouble,
 John No. 1, John No. and John
 No. 3.
 A profitable traffic grew up at one time among persons who could lure boys for shipment out of Liberia to
 other African points, using various wiles. One woman, who was said to have worked for Yancy and the l postmaster general. testified that
 civilized" persons were paid $5 for | each boy recruited and natives $1.25. She severed relations with the post master general when she discovered she was being paid the native rate.
 Stories of foggings .recur time
 and again in the report, but Liberian soldiers and others who had power over the forced labor on the roads
 also engaged in more bizarre tor lures. An apparently well known
 practice, the commission says, was
 that of tying victims with ropes,
 dangling them in the air, building fires under them and throwing red
 pepper into the flames.
 Many Prisoners Tortured
 The basket punishment" was a favorite punishment and amusement
 of soldiers guarding the road work
 CTS. A big basket loaded with earth
 and heavy stones was lifted by four
 soldiers and placed on the prisoners
 head. the prisoner then being or
 dered to walk. Many men were
 killed thus when their necks were
 broken, according to the evidence and others received fatal injuries