St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1955-12-23

JuiNuEi bhl ttlidA tiiltlAI " u'
ferred with many of the civic
ranged a continuing program.
The Civil Liberties meetin!
a huge success. Approximately
5000 or more people were in at
tendance. 1t was held at the new
Masonic temple. l was very much
impressed by the sincere inter
est the Negroes had as a whole in
securing their 100 per cent equal
rights in the state of Mississippi.
And this interest is manifested by
men and women in all walks Of
life.
The Elks Civil Liberties Depart
ment and the Masonic Grand
Lodge represented by the Grand
Master of the state of Mississippi,
James Gillian, has planned TO es-
tabhsh a series of instructions
throughout the state encouraging
all qualified Negroes to register
and vote.
We held a conference with the
following: James E. Gillian of
Clarksdale. grand master of Ma
sons: DIR. Lee Owens Of Vicksburg,
Deputy Grand Master Of Masons;
Edward N. Lee, Sr., Of Jackson,
Deputy Exalted Ruler OF Elks and
Atty. Jack II. Young, Legal Ad-
visor of Elks,
This committee held its first
session on Monday Dec. 5. The
matter of how best to operate was
gone into and Atty. Jack II.
Young. a militant worker for hu-
man rights was appointed chair
man. This committee is to start
Immediately organizing in every
section TO get Negroes to register
and vote. The committee is to be
financed by the Elks Civil Liber-
ties Department and the Masonic
Grand Lodge.
! interviewed DIR. A. II. Mccoy,
former state president Of NAACP,
and a leading dentist in Jackson.
DR.. Mccoy as of now has had his
home stoned and has constantly
been receiving threats. He agreed
with this committee that the best
way to solve this problem is to
get Negroes to register and vote.
DR.. Mccoy has proven to be a
real brave and conscientious
worker for the cause of human
rights. He is giving real leader
ship during this crisis. DR.. Mccoy
told us of the move on foot by
some white citizens to stop the
Negroes in their fight by econom-
ic pressure. However, this does
not seem to disturb the Negro
leaders very much for they are de-
termined to continue their fight.
The next day we visited the
rural districts and interviewed
several sharecroppers. This is the
section that is really suffering.
We found most of the sharecrop-
pers in virtual servitude. / can
not disclose the names because
they will suffer If exposed. But
the sharecroppers were willing
and anxious to tell their story to
someone that they felt had their
interests at heart.
For instance, one farmer told US
that he had been farming for his
landlord for three years, and at
no time had he ever known what
his part Of the crop sold for. be-
cause the boss took the cotton TO
town and sold 1t. And the boss
kept all the records OF their ac-
counts and would simply come 20
him at the end of the year and
tell him that ne owed him so much
money to begin with. When asked
why he did not ask for an account
ing. he said he was afraid because
he might be driven off the planta-
ton
school facilities In the rural
districts are most inadequate.
and the children can only 20 10
school when the landlord gives
his permission for them 10 leave
the farm The same condition
maintained In nearly every In
stance.
one Of the banks. The Deposit
Guaranty Bank Of Jackson. Miss.
had pledged 20 the Negroes.
through W X Williams Negro
president % the Security life In
suranoe Company that they
would continue their loans 20 Ne
groes as heretofore However
they I'D no, want this fact Dis