The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1934-09-20


Subterfuge to hide the real issue
at stake in this trial; the right OF
the thousands of unemployed to
enough 10 eat. That and nothing
more is behind this idle chatter
about vagrancy. Judge Hadley, we
ask for an acquittal on the grounds
that the prosecution has failed com
pletely to establish a case against
US and we have proven beyond
shadow of doubt that we are not
Migrants within the meaning of
the law"
AS Harry finished the Judge rose
from behind his desk like a spring
released. He opened his mouth,
thought better of it and sat down
suddenly, drumming angrily on the
desk with his fingers A wave of
comment swept through the room,
not all of it unfavorable now.
The prosecutor spoke-the same
story-"Overthrow the gov-ment,
trample our glorious flag under
foot-trade on ignorance Of the
black man-social equality the
pure white women of the South I'M
der the heel of the black beast
protection of our homes, our wives
and sweethearts-root out this evil
cancer now, before it spreads.
A burst of scattering applause
followed. Significantly not all APP
plauded. Some looked serious, un-
certain. The prosecutor mopped
his forehead and sat down with a
smirk.
Judge Hadley Strengthened, his
face contorted, twitching, his deep
set eyes two wells of hatred. No
wisecracks now. His high-pitched
voice quivered; ridiculously it
threatened to break. He leaned
across the desk and shook bony
finger in Harry's face.
Harry reached over swiftly and
gripped hard on Genes arm, whis,
his eyes never left the Judges face.
''Here it comes, kid he whispered.
"Never In all my years on the
bench have 1 witnessed such de-
fiance and disrespect on the part
of defendant. From your own
atement it is clear that you have
come among US to besmatter with
your venom and destroy everything
which we Southerners have built
up and cherish! l commend the
!, police for their vigilance and the
promptness with which they have
set about scotching this menace to
our city and our country. Jail is
the proper place for rats like you!
|; "I warm you that every sneak
: ing Red agitator that comes be-
: fore me will receive the maximum
sentence the law allows. I find
you, Harry Pearson, guilty of vag-
rancy and sentence you to eleven
: months and twenty-nine days on
the county roads at hard labor, and
fine of 800. I regret only that
the laws of our state prevent me
from imposing a sentence equal to
: your gNilt."
He turned to Gene, his voice
calmer.
Gas for you, Ferris I am con-
WINGED that you have been misled
by the lynn tongue of this older
man who has come among yo' peo-
pie spreading his hellish doctrine
of social equality and inter
( marriage between white and black
) The great mass of the niger popu-
lation of our state are decent, harC
workin' folks that know their place
and keep to it, and want the white
man to keep his. l say to then
l and to you that you have no neeC
to go to New York Jews and Their
Yankee followers when you arr
troubled. You will find that today
as always the Southern white mar
is yo' best friend and best able t.
help you. When you need help, gC
to the police or come to me, here
in this court, and we will give vol
advice and aid. But" he paused Il
let the words sink in "for the SAX,
of your own people, it is necessar,
to make an example; it is necessary
to make plain to every niger II
the South that no good can come
of gettin' uppity and nixin' with
these Rooshian Reds. Gene Ferris
: eleven months, twenty-nine DAYS or