Hide Article Text (OCR)
Notifies Saline County Official He Must Protect Negroes.ADVISES REFUGEES TO RETURNS \ I vtheGovernor Will Personally Invite Men Driven from Eldorado to Again Take Up Quarters There, Promising They Shall Not Be Molested,Gov. Yates is taking an active in- ^ torcst in the race troubles at Eldora- 1 do, in Saline county, and after twice , reprimanding Sheriff Baxter has writ- ] ten to President Alston of the industrial institute advising him to return there and promising him full and ample protection from violence. ,The governor intimates pointedly that he is not satisfied with the excuses offered by the Saline county sheriff and informed him by letter that the assistant adjutant general tells quite another story.There has been considerable correspondence over the troubles at Eldorado. the governor paying particular attention to the case.He received one letter from President Alston of the Industrial Institute at Eldorado confirming the reports of violence against the colored people of Eldorado.Alston writes from Metropolis, 111., and states that there have been acts of violence against the colored people of Eldorado for the last four or five months. He says that, owing to mob violence, the contemplated sale of the property on May 29 was prevented, and that he and his wife are now in Metropolis, where the colored population is strong, because they felt their lives were in danger as long as they remained in Eldorado. IHe also states that it is the intention of the trustees of the school to establish a school elsewhere. IPromises Protection. IGov. Yates replied as follows: 44You say that you are now at Metropolis, because your wife desires to get away from a place that would endanger her or your life, and in which you further state that you owe $500 upon El-I dorado property, which could have been paid if you had been allowed to close the schools; and at the close of which you state that the trustees have agreed to re-establish a school olsewhero, and inquire if I have any suggestions to make. I“In reply I will say that I suggest that you return to Eldorado and open your school at the proper time, exactly as if 110 disturbance had occurred, with assurance from me that I will furnish you by telegraph all | such force as may he necessary to protect you and all inmates of the | school from any disturbance of any j kind whatever.“I note your statement that inmates of your school lived in this state, being for the most part old residents, and that they were not students from Kentucky. RICHARD YATES.”Baxter Explains.The second letter the governor received from Sam Baxter of Harrisburg, sheriff of Saline county, in answer to Yates’ recent letter in which he reprimanded the sheriff for failure to protect negroes connected with the school at Eldorado brought forth some severe comment.Baxter alleges that he did not advice negroes to leave and that he did all in his power to protect them, and also that he had enlisted the aid of the United States deputy marshal. He does not say, however, that he is endeavoring to bring back the negroes who have been driven away with assurances of protection.Gov. Yates replied in part as follows:“I sincerely hope your statements are correct and that the report of the assistant adjutant general was erroneous, but, to put it mildly, there are several things which indicate that you have certainly fallen short of I your full duty in this matter.“My demand upon you in this particular was explicit and I shall not make it again, but proceed to communicate with those parties myself as rapidly as I can locate them.“RICHARD YATES.”
Newspaper Details
Princeton Bureau County Tribune
Princeton, Illinois, US
Fri, Jul 11, 1902
Page 13
Full Page
Clipped by
Harold W.
USA 03 Dec 2022
Other Publications Near Princeton, Illinois
Princeton Bureau County Record
Princeton Bureau County Republican
Princeton Bureau County Fair Daily
Princeton Bureau County Tribune
