Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 266, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 November 1917 — NOTES FROM THE SUNNY SOUTH [ARTICLE]

NOTES FROM THE SUNNY SOUTH

ABSENT EDITOR SENDS SOME INTERESTING NOTES FROM MISSISSIPPI. Leslie Clark, of the Republican, who has been in Mississippi for the past few weeks, sends us the following notes, which we take the liberty of publishing: -—2__.. I have learned much of the history of the South since my arrival in Gloster and some of the practices of the South that we of the North condemn seem justified after one becomes more acquainted with conditions here. At the close of the war, when the negroes were liberated and given the right to vote the whites were «in the minority and had much to contend with. It was unsafe for a white woman to .appear on the streets, as she was subject to insult and may times to assault. The negroes being in the majority filled the offices with what the southerners call carpet baggers (whites from the north) and they were plundered right and left by the grafters-who held the offices. As an outgrowth of this system the whites formed white cap societies and the nep'oes were intimidated and killed until the whites gained control. Later the legislature passed a bill in this., and other states disfranchising the negro. In this state an educational qualification was necessary. It was necessary to understand the constitution of the United States before one could vote. This naturally cut out the negro, but it also cut out the illiterate white. It was not desired to cut out the white, however, so an amendment was offered, “or able to understand the constitution when to him,”, As there was no one to. read the constitution to the negro

he was cut out, while the illiterate white was permitted to vote. In Louisiana the same law was passed with an amendment permitting any “ one whose grandfather had been permitted to vote the right of franchise. As the grandfathers of the negroes had all been slaves this amendment had the desired effect. The result today is that very few negroes vote and then only at a presidential election. In this county only four colored votes are cast. There is but one ticket in the field except in the presidential elections, and the democrats fight their battles in the primaries. At present there is a great fight on against Senator Vardiman, whose course is not supporting President Wilson in the present war, has met with a great deal of condemnation. The primary will not be held until next August but the campaign is already on, and Vardiman is already making speeches over the state. All a republican can do here is to smile and look pleasant. I now understand what is meant by the solid south. But there are many nice people here, and a Northerner will be welcomed with open arms, as they realize that Northerners are needed to deWope the country. -4 < O—O Mr. Avery, of near/Lafayette, has arrived with his family to move on a farm he recently purchased near here. Mr. Avery has a wife and eight children, six boys and two girls, their ages ranging from two years to fourteen. The most of the children wil make good cotton pickers and he should make money down here. He arrived here last evening and when his family was loaded into a Ford this morning to go to their new home, they attracted much attention.

O"—“O W. G. Caldwell, of Rensselaer, has purchased'a plantation of 636 acres one mile from town and a smaller tract of, 200 acres of unimproved land in an adjoining county. The plantation is located on the Prentice highway, and the highway is being constructed along his plantation at the present time- Convict labor is being employed on a part of the work. The convicts are housed at night in tenant houses on his place. The convicts, who are all negroes, are chained together at night to prevent their escape. Mr. Caldwell has secured one of the best plantations in this section, and we feel sure he will be well pleased with it. O—O Today we met the two little sons of Mr. Terwilliger, an employe of Marshall Field & Co., of Chicago. He recently purchased a tract of land near here and has’ just completed a neat bungalow thereon. He has not yet yoined his family here but is intending to the first of the year. His twd sons are as happy as they can be and have no desire to move back to the city. . <

Another family from Indiana that we have run across is Mrs. Johnson, of near Lafayette. They bought a plantation near* here last March and are making, good, having made four bales of cotton and 400 barrels of corn this year,— notat all a bad showing the first year for an inexperienced woman. The daughter is teaching a country school and says she has no desire to go back North. Mrs. Johnson has a relative in Rensselaer. O’ ■ o Edward W. Felt and Milton B. Hottel, of Indianapolis, judges of the Indiana Appellate Court, arrived here today. Judge Fei£ has purchased two plantations adjoining

mine and is here to make arrangements to take possession and to build a new residence. His plantations consist of 445 acres. They are also located on the Prentice ~ highway, He is expecting to move here upon the expiration of his term as judge. Judge Hottel is- also thinking of investing here in the same neighborhood, so there will be quite an Indiana colony .near my plantationThere is- still a few good places yet for sale in this neighborhood which are being reserved for some of our people in Jasper county. o—o

William Porter, Who is soon to move on to my place, is very contented here, as is his family. He has rented rooms on the adjoining plantation, where they are keeping louse. He will get possession of my place about December 15. “Bill” put in a few acres of wheat and oats and is very proud of the prospects of a good crop. It has been very dry and some of the neighbors put in a crop. But “Bill’ was not afraid to take a chance. The oats and wheat came up and Sunday night there was a nice rain and the fields now look fine. He is expecting to sow some more oats and rye as soon as he can secure the seed, which is very scarce here. I spent Sunday with he and his family. He came over here for a team of mules Saturday which we purchased here. His “Nigger” took the mules back and we made the trip in his auto. Sunday night we put the mules in the pasture and the next morning one of them had disappeared. Rain fell that night and we tracked the mule in the mud, but was unable to find him. “Bill” put the negro on the other mule and started him in search of the missing one. Tuesday morning the man from whom we purchased the mules came to the office hefe and informed me that the mule had returned, here, a distance of twenty miles, so I am expecting “Bill” over one day this week to get the missing animal. When “Bill” is not busy farming he spends the time hunting and their table is generally supplied with squirrels, rabbits and quail. He has two dogs of lis own, a squirrel dog and a bird dog, and when he goes hunting he has in addition to his own dogs, four or five of his neighbors, so the game has little chance of getting away.

Oh, yes, B. S. Fendig is another Jasperite that owns a farm in this county. He has-forty acres out in Walker township that he had never seen. He traded it sight un seen for forty acres down here. I was out to look at his farm the other Sunday and was agreeably surprised. Ben has a very good place. It is occupied by a negro family, who live in a og cabin on the place. While there ■ found a quince tree full of fruit. '[ picked some of it and sent it home. The fruit it the finest I ever saw. The place is plently large enough for Ben to farm should he decide to come down here.

o o The more I see of this country the better I like it. The good crops this-year is making it more difficult to get places and prices are constantly advancing.. The natives here are now buying of one another, and not a day passes but what a sale is made. However, there are still some great bargains' here for those who come now prepared to buy. If the people of the north would, just come anc see for themselves it would be no trouble to sell to them. The weather is t magnificent and cold is unknown so far. O"—’O I am expecting a bunch down here from the north this evening and will be very much disappointec if they do not show up. It gets mighty lonesome here waiting for the boys form home. They are always welcome and I will guarantee all who come a good time and a fine vacation and will also guarantee to find them a farm at a price that will pleasethem. ‘