Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1955-12-23

ranged a continuing program.
The Civil Liberties meetin
"A huge success. Approximately
5000 or more people were in at
tendance. II was held at the new
Masonic temple. 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-
tablish a series of instructions
throughout the state encouraging
all qualified Negroes to register
and vote.
We held a conference with the
following: James f. Gillian Of
Clarksdale. grand master OF Ma
sons: DR.. Lee Owens OF Vicksburg,
Deputy Grand Master OF Masons
Edward N. Lee, Sr, OF Jackson.
Deputy Exalted Ruler OF Elks and
Atty. Jack III. Young, Legal Ad-
visor of Elks, .... ...
This committee held it's first
session on Monday, Dec. 8. The
matter of how best to operate was
gone into and Atty. Jack II.
Young. a militant worker for hui
man rights was appointed chair
man This committee is 10 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 Or, A. r. 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 IL to
get Negroes to register and vote
DR. Mccoy has proven 10 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 10 continue their fight.
The next day We visited the
rural districts and interviewed
several sharccroppsrs. This u the
section that Is really suffering.
We found most OF the sharecrop-
pers in virtual servitude I can
not disclose the names because
they viii suffer IL exposed. But
the sharecroppcrs were willing
and anxious 10 tell their story 10
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 10
town and sold H. And the boss
kept all the records % their ac-
counts and would simply come u
him at the end Of the year and
tell him that he owed him 80 much
money 10 begin with When asked
why he did not ask for an account
ing ne said he was afraid because
he Nigh, be driven or the pisnta-
ton.
school facilities In the rural
districts arr most inadequate,
and the childrrn can only 70 to
<cbooi when the landlord gives
his permission for th@m 10 i~ay.
the farm The Sam condition
maintained In nearly every In
stApce.
one % the banks, The DEPOSIT
Guaranty Bank % Jackson. Misa
hAd pledged 20 the Negroes
through W n Williams Negro
president Of the Security life In
EGrancs Company tina, they
would continue their loans 10 Ne
gru~s as heretofore However
they I'd no; wan; this fact dis