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THE GAINESVILLE EAGLE
iiy the Eagle Publishing Company.
VOLUME LIII.
OUSE
Blue Death
|| As a Preventive for BED BUGS; it not only
11 kills the insects but destroys their eggs.
II Large Bottle - . -25 C
11 Cedar Flakes gives positive protection
II to your winter clothing against moths.
II Large Package _ - - IOC
Il Camphor Balls, per Package - IOC
Reflecto Furniture Polish, large bottle
y price - - - -25 C
Piedmont Drug Company
If it’s from the Piedmont, it’s the best.
We send for and deliver your prescriptions free.
THE EAGLE WISHES TO MAKE
SUGGESTION TO CITY FATHERS.
A Suggestion that Ought to be Taken up—a
Suggestion that Will Cost Very Little Money
—a Good Suggestion.
Gentlemen, please allow us to
make the following suggestion:
We have looked at the square un
til we are ashamed to look at it any
longer in the condition it is in.
Away last summer the city fathers
had grass planted on the square and
the trees trimmed up, and really we
thought we were going to have a
beautiful square, and we would have
had such, had not the good work
stopped when it did.
We have just been thinking how
nice it would be to have these walks
laid with concrete. The walks are
and the expenditure would
be very little on the part of the
city. Mayor Robertson could pay
for it with three fines from blind
tigers, and two from speed law vio
lators. This would add to the ap
pearance of the square about half.
Then in the summer when the
watermelons are in season, make it
a fine to eat watermelons on the
lawn and leave the rinds. This has
been done from ‘he time we could
remember. People eat watermelons
on the square and leave the rinds
where they had the feast, to draw
Hies, yellowjackets, and hornets by
the scor° —this is neither beauty
fying nor sanitary.
If that suggestion is a litttle too
stout, how about packing those rock
down, and hauling a few loads of
sand, and putting on thejwalks?
Really it is a shame for it to re
main in the comdition it is in. Pe
cestrains are now walking on the
grass to keep from hurting their
feet on the stones that are on the
walks.
Let’s get this fixed, brethren, be
fore the summer guests begin to
cojne in to our city. It will cost
very little, and then it will look so
nice.
Planing Mill Sold.
Trustee W. C. Thomas knocked
off to Mr. J. H. Hunt the plant of
the Gainesville Lumber Co., bank
rupt, for $2,005. Three lots were
sold to Mr. Hunt for $477, and
three lots were sold to Mr. A J.
Munday for $7 37, aggregating a to
tal sale of the plant for $3,21t, pro
vided the sale is confirmed by W.
B. Sloan, referee.
It is not known whether Mr. Hunt
will run the planing mill m connect
ion with his present mill’ or will
run the two separately.
HALL COUNTY’S VOTERS—
REGISTRATION FOR 1912.
Books Closed by Collector Hudgins with an
Excellent Showing.
Tax Collector J. J. Hudgins closed the
registration book Monday, with a total
of 4,481 legal voters on the list. By
precincts the registration is as follows:
Wilsons 93
Oakwohd 138
Flowery Branch 239
Roberts 109
Friendship 85
Clinchem 125
Morgan' 148
Candler 160
Tadmore 283
Gillsville 150
Glade 105
Lula 138
Narramore 111
Polksville 168
Quillians 295
Tom Bell 78
Big Hickory 91
Bark Camp 215
Whelchels 98
Fork 141
Gainesville 1511
4481
Longstreet Chapter U. D. C.
Enjoyed a most delightful meeting last
Friday at the home of Mrs. J. R.
Boone
Many items of business were trans
acted. Program for Memorial Day was
discussed and arranged. Prof. Mat
thews lias kindly consented to be the
speaker of the day.
Especially interesting aud entertain
ing wa« the social hour. A guessing
contest was enjoyed and a prize award
ed to Mrs. Bob Sanders as the success
ful contestant.
Delightful refreshments were served,
and Mrs. Boone was, as usual, a charm
ing hostess.
The May meeting will be he-d with
Mrs. R. G. Harper on Brenau avenue.
Rev. W. H. Bridges'Dead.
As we go to press we learn of the
death of Rev. W. H. Bridges, perhaps
one of the best known ministers in
North Georgia.
Rev. Fridges died at his home. No 8
Sycamore street,last evening from pella
gra, at the age of 72 years. He was a
Baptist minister, and came to Gaines
ville about five years ago from Jackson
county, but has not been actively en
gaged in ministerial work for some
time.
Mr. Bridges served through the late
war and was a brave soldier.
He is survived by several children;
his wife preceded him to the grave by
two years.
The remains will be carried to Pen
dergrass, his former home, for interment
tomorrow, the Masons having charge
of the burial rites.
Mr. Turner to Leave.
The people of Gainesville will re-
Jgret very much to know that Mr.
G. F. Turner and his excellent fam
ily will move to Atlanta about May
Ist. Mr. Turner contemplates go
ing into the real estate business in
the Gate City. He is a good busi
ness man and wiil succeed in any
etiterprize he undertakes.
GAINESVILLE. GEORGIA, THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 1912.
MIV AND ORDER LEAGUE
ORGANIZED FOR THE
COLORED PEOPLE.
A Branch Office of this Most Excellent Order
Organized in Gainesville—Let the
Good Work Go On.
Prof. I. N. Fitzpatrick, whose
home is in Madison, Ga., was in
Gainesville several days last week
organizing a branch of the Law and
Order League, an institution des
tined for the betterment of the ne
groes and to cultivate friendly and
peaceful relations between the races.,
He is a man of exceptional intelli*
gence, well educated, and has trav
eled in many lands in the old world,
including many parts of Africa.
As to the objects of this organ
ization, the following is taken from
the Constitution of the order:
“The object of this organization is
aid and encourage its members in liv'uijp
purer lives morally and religiously and,
to incite loftier ideals of true citizen-’
ship; and to aid the strong arm of thet
law in putting down and suppressing
crime, preserving peace and order in the
bounds of the organization, and else
where when necessary.’’
“To cultivate friendly and peaceful
relationship between the white and
colored races; and encourage its mem
bers to buy homes and improve them;
and to be honest, economical, industri-;
ous, and law-abiding citizens.”
The following.is a part of the ob
ligation each member must take:
“I firmly believe in the Holy Trinity,
God the Father, God the Son, and God
the Holy Ghost, and I do solemnly
promise in the presence of God, and
these witnessess, that I will keep invio
late the Sacred obligation of the Peo
ple’s Benovlent, Business, Law and Or
der League.”
Four of the Cardinal Principles:
“I do furthermore promise that I will
do all in my power to cultivate friendly
relationship between the white and
colored races, and will do all in my
power to live an honest, upright, in
dustrious, law-abiding citizen, and in
peace and good will with all. I do
furthermore, promise tn do all in my
power to prevent crime, and I will at
all times aid in upholding the strong
arm of the laws of our State and gen
eral government. I do furthermore
promise that I will not knowingly
shield, aid or hide in my house any
criminal. I do furthermore promise
that I will obey the laws and keep sa
cred the rules of this and any other
League of which I may hereatter be
come a member.”
While here Prof. Fitzpatrick told
the Eagle that he was grateful to
Judge Brand for giving him an
opportunity to address the people
at the term of court at Jefferson
last summer, on which occasion
Judge Brand spoke in highest terms
of the league work and encouraged
all the colored people that could
get in to join the order, as it was
one of the best institutions to solve
the race problem, and would prove
of mutual benefit to both races.
“I am glad to say,” said he, “that
I am encouraged in this work by
the best elements of both races, ex
cept a few of my own race. I had
one man in your city to tell me that
he would not endorse anything that
Judge Brand endorsed, as he bad
no respect for him. 1 undestand
he is opposing our work in Gaines
ville.”
The following leading members
of the colored race have joined the
League: Prof. C. E. Williams, Dr.
N. A. Doyle, R. A. Chamblee,
John Reed, Sam Ashe, Fred Mat
thews, Len Reed, G. S. McCrary,
Jennie E. McCrary, Aaron Wyatt,
A. P. Butler.
Prof. Fitzpatrick will speak at
the court house on Sunday, April
14, at 3 o’clock p. m., and wishes
the city and county officials and the
white and colored citizens to be
present.
This is a movement that should
be given the hearty and constant
encouragement of everybody, white
and colored. It is not only to the
interest of the negro race to make
good citizens, but is also to the vital
interest of the white race.
Established in 1860.
SOUTH CAROLINA’S FIRST
KLANSMAN TELLS TALES OF
THE WORKINGS OF KU KLUX.
Capt. B. H. Bates, the Original Ben Cameron
of Tom Dixon’s “Klansman”, Talks Long
and Interestingly of Ku Klux Klan.
By Stickem.
In the past weeks we have given our
readers stories concerning the Georgia
Ku Klux Klan, and another one from a
South Carolinian, but now comes one
from the Chief of the South Carolina
Klan, the first one that was organized
in the State.
We had heard that Capt. B. H. Bates
of this city was the original “Ben Cam
heron ” of Thomas Dixon’s famous ‘Klans
man” and under this impression we
went to see Capt. Bates, and are thor
oughly satisfied with our call—the only
regret being that we couldn’t spend the
day with him—for he can tell tales that
will pay you for your time.
| We are under the impression that
everybody from Dan to Beersheba knows
’Capt. Bates, but peradventure there are
,feome of the younger generation who
may not have the pleasure of knowing
the Captain, it might be well to make
an informal introduction.
Capt. Bates is a South Carolinian by
birth, but a Georgian by adoption, hav
ing come to this State immediately after
the disbanding of his Klan. He is a
man that is blessed with as many friends
In Hall county as any private citizen
can boast of. He lived for a number of
years at Pendergrass, where his friends
are the entire inhabitants.
L When we called to see him we made
.known our business, and when the
Captain found that we were represent
ing a newspaper, he was loth to talk on
the subject, for Caotain Bates, may it
be said to his credit, is not a man that
appreciates newspaper notoriety, and in
very few words he made it plain to us
that we could not get any information
ont of him for public print, so we
promised that we would not make his
Statement public; but when he had
talked to us for some time we felt our
selves slipping from the promise, and
when he had finished we were dead cer
taip that the promise would have to be
*Brbken. Anyway, if a man in the news
paper world told the truth on every oc
casion he would be laid up in a hospital
for about six months out of the year.
Now to our story:
“Yes,” said Mr. Bates, satisfied now
that he would not De quoted in the
newspapers, “I suppose I am the origi
nal “Ben Cameron”—everybody seems
to think so, and the very idee tical things
that happened to the “Ben Cameron”
of Thomas Dixon’s “Klansman” hap
pened to me.
“I was arrested by a negro bailiff and
tried before a negro justice of the peace,
but I was turned loose.as nothing could
be proven on me, and sometimes now,
in reverie, I think that some of the Klan
must have notified the negro justice
that it would be better if I were found
not guilty. I was doing some little
chores around the house one morning
when the negro bailiff came for me.
He said, ‘Mr. Ben, dey tole me sorter
fotch you up to de court house.’ I said
‘I won’t go with you anywhere; you
go back and tell them I will be up there
presently.’ But he protested that they
had told him ‘ter fotch me.’ I told him
that 'would be all right—l would come
up pretty soon,’ which I did, and was
carried through a form of trial, but there
was nothing to it, and 1 went home.
This incident was especially mentioned
in Tom Dixon’s Klansman, with many
others where they tried to get me in
close quarters.
With this Capt. Bates spoke of the
organization of the Klan.
“My Klan was organized in March,
1870, by me, which was the first Klan
organized in South Carolina, being the
second Klan organized in the South.
The first Klan of Ku Klux organized
in the South, was the one organized at
Shelby, North Carolina of the same
year, and the Chief of this Klan came
to Spartanburg and gave me the oath,
with all the by-laws, which were verbal
—no writing, or trace of writing,can be
found that ever belonged to the Klan.
After I had taken the oath I then or
ganized a Klan in Spartanburg, and
other Klans all over the State.
“In each territory where a Klan was
organized, we had an Advisory Board
to which all cases called to the atten
tion of the Klan were sent, and this
Board after due consideration of the
facts of the case, either advised that the
case be attended to or that it be dropped.
This board consisted of six of the
best men that could be found in the
county, and when they recommended
that a case be adjusted, it was a fact
that it needed attention.”
Here we asked regarding the oath
taken by a member of the Klan.
“Why, when an application was made
to become a member, we blindfolded
the applicant, administered the oath,
and when this was done the blindfold
was removed and he was shown what
the end would be if he should give away
the Klan —he looked into the muzzle of
two big revolvers.”
We thought this sufficient persuasion
for a man to keep a secret.
With this Captain Bates lapsed into
the facts that led up to the organization
of the Klan and some of the workings.
“After the surrender, the entire
country was full of carpet-baggers, and
scallawags that didn’t do a thing but
pilfer and steal. They also put it into
the heads of the negroes that everything
should belong to them—that they had
worked for the Southern planters and
made it, and it was justly theirs, and all
they had to do was to seize it; and un
der these conditions, it behooved us to
do something, and do it at once, for the
negroes would go to the white people’s
houses and help themselves to such
things as they saw fit, and there was no
way of the whitefolks helping them
selves. There was no law, and what
were we to do but but make law our
selves? There was no alternative, and
we got about taking the law in our
own hands and straightening things out.
“Some of the negroes would even
push white women out into the streets
from the side-walks. These were our
reasons for organization. We were not
a lawless set of men, as pictured by
some writers; we were the very men
that stood for law and order. It #ras
not our intention to break the laws,
but to enforce a moral law, as the facts
will show.”
We then asked the Captain to tell us
of the workings of the Klan.
“Well, we dressed in Jong white robes
with cornucopia shaped caps that fitted
closely about the head, with holes cut
for the eyes and nose, with a string
tied under the neck to hold them cn.
We always rode horseback when on a
raid, and the horses were covered with
white sheets, while on their feet were
worn foot pads made tor the purpose
that kept the horses’ feet from sounding
on the hard road as we traveled. With
our tall caps, and mounted on horses,
we looked very tall and spooky,and many
are the times that I have heard both
white and colored people running
through the woods when they would see
a delegation of Ku Klux approaching.
We always rode about five paces
apart when out on a call,with the Chief
in front, designated by a big ‘O’ with
three ‘K’s’ under it in line on his breast,
while the next highest officer rode at
the rear.
“We never worked in our immediate
settlement. For instance, there was a
case that had been recommended by the
Advisory Board in our territory—this
case was referred to the Klan perhaps
twenty miles away, and this Klan
would come to our settlement and do ,
our work, and, vice versa, we would!
go to their settlement and fix up their!
cases; in this manner when a raid was j
near our home we could always l
prove an alibi —the other Klan did the :
work. Many are the times that my I
Klan rode fifty miles m one night to
adjust some crime that had been com
mitted in some other settlement. My
horse one time stood in the stable two |
weeks with the saddle on—we were out
every night during this time. I now
begin to feel the exposure that I suf -I
sered during the war and the strenuous
years immediately thereafter.
“As to some of the calls we made and
the whyfores. I will tell you one inci
dent that caused considerable laughing
among the Klan after it was all over.
“There was a negro who lived on a
widow woman’s farm in the adjoining
territory, who would go to his former
mistress’barn, potato bans, and smoke
house and help himself to everything he
wanted at any time. The case was set
for our Klan. We called on him about
2 o’clock in the night and pulled him
out of bed. He only had on his shirt
when we earned him out into the open
field and gave him a good chastisement.
You, no doubt, have often heard about
people ‘running some,’ and ‘it will take
three to see ’em run’—well, those are all
mild expressions. When we turned
that negro loose and he started for the
house, you could have played marbles
on his shirt-tail —it was as straight out
as a sign on a guide-post. He ran into
a ditch in his flight and got the hardest
fall I ever saw a mortal get—it knocked
the breath out of him, but it didn’t
slacken his pace—he was np almost as
soon as he waa down and still running.
“Well, this negro got very highly in
sulted that the Ku Klux should bother
him—‘a respected citizen of South Car
olina,’ and he immediately began mak
ing assertions in regard to his privileges
and fell right back into the same old
way of doing business. We were called
out again on his case, and after the sec
ond call there was not a better negro to
be found in South Carolina.
I “There was another case of a negro—
SI.OO a Year in Advance
NUMBER 15
I where I defended the negro She waa
the former slave of the man she waa
then working for, and this man didn’t
wan’t to pay her for her work; and be
cause she had refused to work for him
longer without compensation, he had re
ported her to the Klan. I was familiar
with the circumstances, and went out
on her case. We carried her several
paces out and turned her loose telling
her to get a job where she would be
paid for her work, which she did; and
we then told her former owner that we
didn’t want to hear any more from him;
and we didn’t—he never reported anv
more cases to the Ku Klux.
“I remember one case of a white man
that I likewise befriended, and it hap
pened this way: He had been guilty
of several misdemeanors, and I knew
it, but he had been punished on one oc
casion, and he was almost scared to
death. He was in a store one evening
when our Klan happened to come up.
If you have ever seen ‘a reed shaken by
the wind’, that is not a circumstance.
When we went in he was shaking from
head to foot—thought we had come for
him—and I spoke to him, and he told
me the full details of the case, and
stated that the Klan was coming for him
again. I felt sorry for the poor fellow,
and told him I would arrange it so that
the Klan wouldn’t bother him when
they called again if he would follow in
structions. This he readily promised
to do. I then told him when the Klan
called, to place his right hand over his
heart and repeat the words, ‘I am at
home,’ and this he did and the Klan
never bothered him again.”
Capt. Bates theu told us how one
carpet bagger skinned the ignorant ne
groes for their money.
“There was a carpet-bagger in the
neighborhood that would stake off sev
eral acres of land and sell it to any of
the negroes who could raise any small
amount of money, and it mattered not
who the land belonged to. He gave the
deed with this inscription: ‘As Moses
lifted up the serpent in the wilderness,
so have I lifted this negro out of his
money.’
“Those things all had to be adjusted,
and the Ku Klux organized to adjust
them, and were truly paid for their
trouble. Any old person of the war
times can tell you of the good derived
from the Ku Klux Klan."
TIVO GAINESVILLE GIRLS
MA Y LIVE IN WHITE HOUSE.
Two of Woodrow Wilson’s Daughters were
Born in the Queen City of the
Mountains.
Who is there among us that would not
feel proud to see a Georgia woman mis
tress of the White House—the first lady
in the land?
A Georgia woman is now mistress of
the Executive Mansion of New Jersey,
and her husband is a candidate for the
Democratic nomination for the Presi
dency.
And two Gainesville girls live with
their mother in the Executive Mansion
of New Jersey—the daughters of Mrs.
Woodrow Wilson.
Two weeks ago the following telegram
was recieved by Hon. J. O. Adams in
response to an inquiry:
“Margaret Woodrow Wilson, eldest
daughter of Woodrow Wilson, was born
in Gainesville, at the home of her
mother’s aunt, Mrs. Warren A. Brown;
Jessie Woodrow Wilson, second daugh
ter, was born at the Piedmont Hotel,
then owned by the family of General
Longstreet, her mother’s cousin.
Mrs. Woodrow Wilson.”
Mrs. Woodrow Wilson was born
in Georgia, in Chatham county.
She was known in ber girlhood air
Miss Ella Axson, “the beautiful
and accomplished Miss Axson.”
Her father was the Rev. Edward
Axson of Rome, a minister of the
Presbyterian church, and it was in
that city that she spent her early
girlhood.
Her mother was Miss Margaret
Hoyt, daughter of Rev. Nathan
Hoyt,who was a minister in Athens
fur thirty years.
Mrs. Wilson is a niece of Mrs.
Warren A. Brown and Dr. H. F.
Hoyt of Commerce.
Mrs. Mary Davis,
Aged 52 years, died at the residence
of her sister in Buford Tuesday,
from dropsy. She had lived in
Gainesville sot a number of yeara r
where she was a consistent member
of the First Methodist church.
The remains were brought heie
and interred at Alta Vista, Wednes
day, Rev. Frank Siler performing
burial rites.