davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1931-1952, 1931-12-24
Letter Reveals
How Peonage
Works In Alabama

CHlCAGO.-A revealing insight
into the workings of the Alabama
peonage system is given in letter
received by the Associated Negro
Press from Jefferson, Alabama, this
week.
A minister of that village ginned
ten bales of cotton and paid for the
ginning with the seed, only to have
his landlord take all of the cotton,
giving him in exchange one pair of
shoes for one of his children.
The landlord also took all of the
cotton of another farmer who had
raised his crop on another mans
land and instructed him to pay the
latter off with corn.
Another farmer sought AN ad-
vance from the same landlord who
refused him the loan. The farmer
then applied to the government for
the money. When the landlord heard
of this, he Immediately foreclosed on
The mortgage and confiscated all that
The man owned.
The entire colored population is in
AFFECT slavery to the landowners who
'PNia tiic VHiy obOItS III lHt HelR0-
borhoods. 1t is impossible for them
to get out of debt.
A sack of feed that sells in De-
mopolis for $1.85, or $3.50 on time,
is sold for $4 at the commissary, plus
interest.
Meat that sells at 10 cents a pound
in the town costs 20 cents at the plan
tation store. The storekeeper buys
corn from the farmers at 20 cents a
bushel, or allows them rs cents in
trade.
Colored laborers on the farm are
paid S12 and SIG per month, which
must be taken out in trade. No
worker is allowed to get hold of more
than one dollar in cash.
Colored men are underpaid, and in
many cases they receive no cash for
their services, but m u S maintain
themselves and families on goods OBJ
tanned from white merchants, who
charge exhorbitant prices. Whites,
through this method, have subdued
the colored men, and made them
fearful of leaving.
Everybody is afraid to make COM
plant against these conditions be-
cause the one who complains is apt
to be found dead. There is an ur-
gent need for an investigation here.
The Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1931-1952, 1931-12-24
Bishop -
To F.se Trial
Next Spring

GENEVA, Ala.-Indicted on bas-
birth of son to Miss Ollie Glass,
Bishop r. A. Grant, of the African
Methodist Episcopal Church, must
stand trial in the circuit court of
Geneva county in the spring of the
coming year, at date to be set later.
After hearing the evidence here,
the presiding judge announced that
he considered the bishop guilty as
charged and required him to post a
$1,000 bond to appear in the circuit
court.
Sitting in court with his face in his
hands, the bishop heard the girl re-
cite how he had seduced her when
she brought his breakfast to his bed
room. The bishop made no state
ment.
In the record of the case so far,
the following high points stand out:
% the 15-year- old girl charged that
the bishop made love to her and that
as result she gave birth to child +;
(2) Bishop Grant signed confess
sion of guilt and promised to pay to
the parents of the girl $4,000, with
down payment of $500 and ten
yearly payments Of $170 each; 90
the bishop was tried by a church
court and adiudged innocent of the
crime; ca the bishop decided to re-
pudiate his confession and hold up
his payments to the girls parents, al
leging that he was forced to sign the
confession under the duress imposed
by threats against his life, and (6)
renewed activity on the part of the
family to see the bishop punished
which has resulted in the present
status of the case.
The Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1931-1952, 1931-12-24
vote ON COL or BASIS" SAYS BARROW
Ivory and Gold
BY MELVIN J. CHIsUM

EDITORS NOTE: The opinions
expressed by Melvin ]. Chsum in this
column are not necessarily in con-
formity with the views of THE EN-
TERPRISE and its editor assumes no
responsibility for Mr.. Chisum's views.
He is a much travelled and well
known editorial writer. This col
umn is printed in this newspaper, be-
cause THE ENTERPRISE believes
its readers will appreciate the OPP
portunty of following Mr. Chisum' s
comment on widely diversified sub
jects.
This writer sat in an audience last
June and witnessed the graduation
exercises where forty-two young men
and women received their diplomas.
There they were, graduated from
college, proud as peacocks and ready
to go. But where? how? what is
there for them to do? Look around
you, buy land and keep it, when you
are old it will keep you.
Oh, yes, that Signor Grandi about
whom the young lady made inquiry.
If We followed the tea-table and post
prandial diplomats, the Foreign Pol
icy Association and the Council of
Foreign Relations, if we took them
literally, one might be led to believe
that the distinguished Italian leader
was here in the interest of interna-
tional disarmament.
The truth Of the matter is, how
ever, Signor Grandi was here in the
interest of that age-old scramble for
mastery in the Mediterranean. The
French are the smartest, most ca
pable, and warlike people in Europe.
During the six hundred years the
French have whipped every nation in
Europe in order to keep the eco
nomic and financial control of the
Mediterranean Sea and Peninsula,
the last Of these beatings was given
the Central Powers in the World.
Italy has always cherished the hope
of getting the upper hand of France
in this struggle.
Italy regards us as logical sup
porter in her stand against France,
loses no time in an endeavor to line
US up on the Italian side in the
grouping of the powers which will
be disclosed at the Geneva confer
ence on disarmament next February.
When time permits, this writer Of
CONTINUED on page three.)
The Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1931-1952, 1931-12-24
Talk About Passing In Philadelphia
$4,000 Are White By Day; COlOred By Night

1t was the fashion even during
slavery days for certain white mas
ters to send their colored children
here to be educated. Others, to in
sure the greater freedom of their
colored bloodkin, sent them to this
old Quaker City to live. Nearly all
of these went over to the whites
Added to these were the thousands
of free persons of fair compilations
who, during slavery, found Philadel-
phia the nearest and most convenient
haven for their "passing" operations.
Recent additions to these original
groups have been almost too vide
spread to trace. In good times thou
sands Of fair persons of color here
abouts merely go white during their
working hours in Philadelphia shops
and stores and factories, and then re-
turn at evening to the bosoms of
their colored relations. Others find
it to their profit and liking to 90
Continued on page three.)
The Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1931-1952, 1931-12-24
Survey Describes
COlored Life In
Jersey Towns

II =
RfN On n. An unnamed
, ,Ss, Jersey Town iletitiouSly labelled
M,dulelo"n, one poVerty-st sieken
section OF which Is occupied h col
oreu people was described in dra-
matte lashion mere Friday afternoon
al me session OF the lnferracial
Noniihiilee or Inc New Jersey Con
ference OF social Work. at the Hotel
illuebfeeht' ira D. A. Reid. acting
director OF the survey OF colored life
IN New Jersey which has beer con-
quoted by the conference throughout
the state III recent months, read the
account IN a preliminary rf0oft.
Fhe description OF colorea life in
TINS town Is typical OF such life in
most other towns g. j citie in the
state the survey Indicates.
J.. Ihat recent migration to the
state from other states reached its
peak mere during the years l922-23.
Z. Ihat illiteracy among colored
people had made striking drop
rom lSoo to l95o.
.. Ihat unemployment among col
ored people IN tue state In 1890 was
tour times thai OF whites; twice that
OF iof ,rt5a WHITES -. .,,
The Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1931-1952, 1931-12-24
Father Divine
Gets sl,200 Week
From Followers

SAYVILLE, l.. Investigation
by the state and federal authorities
into the operations of the interracial
"heaven" cult established in this viii
lage by Father" Major Divine, fol-
lowing the action of the village au-
thorities designed to Gust the cult
center, reveals that the sauve and
mysterious leader of the cult has
enjoyed an income averaging $1,000
per week for period of more than
a year.
Divine. the propounder of a wierd
and mysterious cult philosophy
which he defines as religious psy-
chology," has captured the interest
of a large number of white and Jew
ish followers, as well as the original
colored group with which the "heav-
en- colony began. In his congrega-
ton are lawyers doctors, stenog-
raphers, public officials, shop keep
ers, and housewives, as well as do
nestle servants and laborers, all on
the same footing in the cult regime.
In the ritual of the cult, Divine
has dispensed with the flowing
robes, costumes, and insignia OF
mystery which abound in most of
the wierd religious cults. He dresses
in a regular business suit, and the
meeting place of the 'heayen" col
only resembles a lecture hall, com
bined with a banquet dining room.
Part of the service of the cult is the
regular banquets, at which a long
table is set with the choicest of vi
ands, at which all of the members
sit in no special order, except, that
Divine sits at the head, and his
pretty young Jewish secretary sits
at the foot. AS the feast proceeds,
the leader directs the discussion OF
religious emotion, and the operations
of religious psychology in the every
day life of the cult members.
On certain days Divine gives pri-
yate interviews, during which he adj
vises his members about their prob
lens. These interviews are of the
nature of a confessional, and mem
bers are expected to report to the
cult leader the most intimate de
tails. of their daily life, in order thai
he may advise and counsel them II
the way Of religious psychology. Nc
actual collections are taken up bu
members are expected to set aside
part of their earnings each week L
be devoted to the work of thu
'heaven" colony.
The Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1931-1952, 1931-12-24
mo QUESTION SO IMPORTANT TO
negro PEOPLE AS THAT OF COLOR
Judge Springs New
State On Henry

LUBBOCK, Texas. - Although
Henry Young had never lived in the
"state of matrimony,' he was award
ed a divorce from his wife. Vera.
They had been married since 1923.
The case was tried in Judge Clark
NJ. Mullican's court.
Asked Judge Mulliean: "How long
you been livin' in the State of Tex
as" -Four or five years, sir" Henry
answered readily. "How long have
you lived in the state of matrimony ?"
the court shot back. Henry twisted
his fingers, then: 81 Amt never lived
in that state, your honor"
The Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1931-1952, 1931-12-24

WAcuINcTON n - ar -.
bo. snoat ;no, ~ ~; =, II ,e'i,eIii-
II i not nfto, ~ ', ms. ' .i' 1L peioie'
snoal. ~ '' -, se' t"e ta,a,lce 70
bebayo nrsoIf "u ne e''i con Sna da Try 10
ao,ain ny owl % "a" Be' ihfi'eu
n'
was interested IN this conven-
t,oh because | have long felt that
lne NEGROES should do Just what they
seem TO want TO be dong at this
llme' everything that happens for
your oeheiit, you must do yourself.
AFTER the CWil war, over a large
part OF the N ort h, Negroes had
The Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1931-1952, 1931-12-24
Sues Greyhound Bus Line

NEW YORK CITY. - Declaring
that she had been Inundated, denied
service of food or drink and the privi-
lege of using the restroom at one of
the many scheduled stops of the
Greyhound Bus Line, in Ohio, Mrs,
D'Lallah McIntire of this city has in
structed her attorney to begin pro-
ceedings for damages against the
transportation company, it was
learned. The humiliation took place
at MassiIlion, Ohio. November 10.
The Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1931-1952, 1931-12-24
(Enterprise Now Bureaul

PHILADELPHIA, Pa.-There are
fully $4,000 persons of color who
are passing for white, here.
These figures include the thou
sands of near-white Virginians who
have flocked to this city since that
state began to crusade for so-called
racial purity.
These Virginia near-whites have
had it easier than other groups of
our people who have gone over to
the Nordics. Their white blood was
merely under suspicion in the Old
Dominion State, Moving to Pennsyl-
vania allowed them to get from un-
der the old threats and dangers, with
out actually having to make new
group connections.
But these near-white Virginians
are only a small part of the total
number of persons of mixed colored
and white blood who are passing in
this section of the East.
The Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1931-1952, 1931-12-24
The Duke And Band
Meet James Crow

ST. LOUIS.-Duke Ellington and
his band were compelled to ride to
the broadcast station of Will last
Monday on freight elevator when
they gave an air concert for the To-
cal street car company.
After the program was finished
Ellington approached a passenger
elevator but the operator refused
to carry him and his musicians
down. All efforts to find the man
ager were unavailing. Wednesday
Ellington gave the services of his
band to a benefit at the Hotel Co
ronado, but he refused to appear I'M
til assured that he and his men
would receive no silly Jim Crow
treatment.
The Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1931-1952, 1931-12-24
Norfolk Woman Is
Awarded 81, 10000

NORFOLK, Va. -- Although Mrs.
Elnora Heckstall was riding on the
running board of an automobile last
summer when in a collision she lost
one of her legs, she was awarded
$500 in compromise Judgment in
the Court of Law and Chancery here
last Thursday.
The original suit was for 100000
and was against w. l.. Sutton, white,
the owner Of the car which collided
with the one on which Mrs. Heck
stall was riding.
The Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1931-1952, 1931-12-24
$40, 900 Dairy Serving 1,400

CHfCAGO.-Fo Forty thousand dol
lars is said to be the investment of
II. e, Cross in his modern dairy with
a capacity for pasteurizing 200 gal
Ions of milk daily, 1900 customers
have been secured on the southside.
Beside milk, butter, eggs. cheese
and ice cream will be handled. Mr..
Cross has had extensive experience
in his field as a promoter, organizer
and milk foreman.
The Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1931-1952, 1931-12-24
Man Employed "a Years
Fired; Stores Boycotted

NORFOLK, Va.-Colored citizens
are boycotting the d. p. Stores here
following the discharge of A. B.
Hunter, coffee expert, "a years
in the employ of the firm, and
number of porters, checkers, packers
and foremen. When Mr. Hunter first
entered the service of the firm it.
had but two stores. Now they oper-
ate over 400.
The Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1931-1952, 1931-12-24
Chicago Urban League
Asks $4,000 Fund

CHICAGO. - The Chicago Urban
League is making a public appeal
for $4,000 with which to finish out
the calendar year without a deficit
This is the first time that the office
has been confronted with such fl
nancial difficulty in six years.
The Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1931-1952, 1931-12-24
EIks' Conference In
Chicago, Sunday-Monday

CHICAGO. Finley Wilson, ex-
allied ruler of Elks, has called con-
ference of officials and delegates of
the order to meet in this city Sun
day and Monday.
The Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1931-1952, 1931-12-24
Preacher Held For Murder

LENOIR, N. C.-The Rev. Walter
Horton, 81 years old, was arrested
here Sunday after a 12-hour man
hunt, and confessed that he muir
dered his 70-year-old mother-in-laW,
Mrs. Betty Floyd. last Saturday.
The Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1931-1952, 1931-12-24
White People Won't
Let You Forget
You Are CCIored

Address of Clarence barrow
before the Non-Partisan Confer
enee, in Washington. d. c., at
the John Wesley A. M. E. Zion
Church.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-11

quarters, where it was planned to
examine them for possible marginal
notations.
Mrs. Ceilings stayed last night at
the Garden City Hotel, where she
was registered under an assumed name
by Inspector King and kept under
guard A police matron spent the
night in her room.
In her dealings with the investiga
tors she bore herself in determined
manner. Her nervousness was revealed
principally by the frequent biting OF
her lip.
A piece of leather about six inches
square was cut out Of the rear seat
of the Penguin by the investigators and
sent to a chemist for analysis Of blood
which stained 1t.
To Be Further Examined.
The re-enactment on the Penguin
took about two hours, and then Mrs.
Ceilings was driven back to Mineola
for further examination by the dis
trict attorney.
Inspector King revealed before leav-
ing that he had found on the Penguin
a .32-caliber automatic pistol with
empty chambers and q hunting knife.
No cartridges were found with the gun.
and 1t apparently had not been used
recently, but 1t was taken to Mineola
with the knife for examination by
1ngerprtnt experts.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-11
OIL MEN TO MEET
AT FARLEY TODAY
Delegates From Six States
and Four Big Companies
to Study Problems.
ny the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
OKLAHOMA CITY, September IL
Representatives of six Southwestern
States turned their attention to oil pro-
duction and marketing problems today
in an effort to lift the petroleum in
dustry again to dividend-paying levels.
They were to sit at q conference here
with delegates from four major oil-im-
porting firms and members of the Oil
States Advisory Committee, headed by
Cicero Murray, cousin Of Gov. w. II.
Murray of Oklahoma.
The six-State parley was called re-
Gently by Thurman Hill, member of
the Kansas Public Service Commission.
Representatives Of Louisiana, Arkansas,
New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas and
Texas were invited. The Oklahoma
Corporation Commission was expected
to sit in on all sessions.
Curb Of Output Hoped for.
The more optimistic observers saw
this conference as opening the way for
uniform price quoting and production
regulations for the major Oil States The
volume OF Oil imports constituted an
other problem.
Gov. Murray has suggested a plan
Tor utilization of Oil fields of Okla
homa, Kansas and Texas with a gauge
OF production through flow meters. He
declined to say whether he intended to
advance specific proposal today.
A. threefold plan for fixing the
method of taking potentials. setting
the allowable production from each
state, and maintaining definite price
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-11
ASKS CURB ON SEA HOPS.
Col. EaSterwood, Donor Of Prize Given
COste, Stresses Peril.

Coste, Stresses Peril.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Sep
TENDER IL (P.-Commenting on the
failure of Don Moyle and C. A. Allen
to reach Seattle on a transpacific hop
from Samushiro Beach, Japan, Col. w.
E. Easterwood, Dallas, Tex, said yes
terday there should be international
regulations to prevent airmen Of insuffi-
Gent experience with inadequate equip
ment attempting such dangerous trans
ocean flights"
Col. Easterwood gave SIS, 900 to Coste
and Bellonte, French airmen who made
the first Paris-to-New York flight and
then went on to Dallas.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-11
JAPAN-U. S. FLYERS
GIVEN UP FOR DEAD
In MISSING PLANE
Continued From First Page


credence to the theory that the flyers
may have found safety on one Of the
uninhabited islands along their route.
Capt. H. D. Hinckley, division COM
mander of the Coast Guard here. was
frankly gloomy about prospects of his
Boring Sea patrol finding the men or
wreckage of their plane.
ITS almost hopeless task" he said.
If the plane reported seen above Car
macks were that of Moyle and Allen, 1t
would indicate they were forced north OF
their charted route. In that case they
must have landed somewhere en- route to
take on additional fuel. Many small
settlements in Alaska, uneQuipped with
a radio station, have ample supplies OF
airplane gasoline.
Meanwhile Coast Guard vessels and
ships of private companies kept watch
for the plane. In Alaska, cable and
radio stations, Government and private,
were alert to fash the news, should the
plane, Clasina Madge, or her pilots be
discovered.
The Coast Guard cutter Haida about
100 miles off the south end of VAN
couver Island and the cutter McLane,
about half way across the Pacific be-
tween Unalaska and San Francisco, were
assisting in the search. Canadian au-
thorities had instructed all points to be
on the look out.
Il believe they went down some
where south of the Aleutians and will
never be found" said Capt. Hinckley.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-11

schedules for both crude oil and its
derivatives has been created by Com
missioner Hill.
In the last six weeks prices have
climbed from a bottom of 10 cents q
barrel to a general top figure Of 10
cents q barrel, largely under the i'm
petus Of curtailed production from
Oklahoma, East Texas and certain
Kansas pools. Producers assert, how
ever, they are still too low
Oil companies participating in the
session were the Standards of Indiana
and New Jersey and the Gulf and
Shell.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-11

London now has ~ justices of the
peace.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-11
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
INDIAN HEAD, Md, September IL
j. p. Gibbons, n years old, merchant
OF this community. died here last night
after lingering illness. He leaves his
widow. Clara, and eight children. Mrs
w. B. Perry Of Welcome, Md. Mrs E.
G. Eldrtdge of Boston; Mrs. J. A. Clat-
terbuck, Charlottesville. Va; Mrs r. E.
Heise Of Indian Head; Mrs. L. A. De
Cherry, Indian Head; Mrs. r. G. Fer
guson, Baltimore; Miss Maud Gibbons
Of Baltimore and Maynard Gibbons of
Indian Head.
The funeral services will be held at
Pomfret Catholic Church at 10 o'clock
tomorrow morning.