Evening Star Newspaper, September 16, 1935, Page 30

B—12 Duce Faces Job of Persuading Ethiopian Slaves to Go Free A . ! tion in Bondage * BY WILLIAM H. STONEMAN. $ Radio to The Star. ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, August 22 (By Mail to Paris, via Cairo).—One of the greatest problems to confront guch an emancipator as Premier Benito Mussolini, were he to gain control of Ethiopia, would probably be that of persuading the slave population of this country to accept his “emancipation Proclamation.” ¢ On our short ride to the local court ¢his afternoon we passed three good gentlemen rocking along on muleback, each with a group of four or five slaves $addling along behind him. Yet when ave finally arrived at the slave court #ve found no more clamor for freedom ghan that provided by a trio of sober | Judges, a gathering of some 15 gentle- | men of leisure and two lone folk from | dhe distant cocuntryside, who were $here to secure their certificates of #nanumission. ¢ There was Desta, a coal-black Gul- Jah girl of 25, who had come all the | may from Harrar to complain that her master, Capt. Gabres Adek, had | Deen beating her. Born a slave, she | had served the good captain until he | Ahit her. Then she had decided to o free. i RIS iude Demand Heard Among Popula- to Have Liberty. ¢ Laws Enforced Strictly. The case was considered by three judges: Ate Tafera Lawiti, a mighty man with the head of a Greek god; Fitauri Mashesha, a pleasant big gen- tleman with the countenance of an African Negro, and Kanyasmach Abbebe, a tall, quiet man with thoughtful eyes. There seemed to be no question as to wether she could be given her free- dom; it was only a matter of waiting eight days and hauling Capt. Gabres into court to answer for his cruelty. If he Tailed to appear in that time, she would automatically go free. If he did appear and the charges were proved, she would probably go free and he to jail. 4 Alsoc among those present was Zeleka from Sodu Garienu, a skinny little black, aged 50, who had just secured freedom for himself, his wife and his son. His young master, Idetti, had refused him permission to | keep the house and the land which his old master, Idetti's father, had given him. Idetti had set him free to be rid of him and now he was seeking to regain the land which he had received as a slave. So far as he was concerned, it was purely a matter of business quarreling THE EVENING and had nothing to do with any gnawing desire for freedom as such. Slaves Can’t Be Sold. Judge Ate Tafera explained the sit- uation: . “Under the law of March 31, 1934, every slave automatically becomes free on the death of his master and no slave can be deeded, willed or sold. But in 1933, only 1427 slaves were freed, in the following year only 3,647, and so far this year cnly 2,987 have received official manumission certi- ficates. . slaves have land and animals and it makes little difference to them whether they are slaves or free men. In the city likewise they are fed and clothed by their masters and at the same time are protected from mal- treatment by law. “Many slaves who were freed by the deaths of their masters refuse to leave their established homes and continue to serve the heirs of their former owners. They are legally free, but they do not bother about certifi- cates and consequently they do not show in the statistics. Children Born Free, “All the children of slaves are born free, but they naturally remain with their parents until school age. Then they are sent to school, often at the expense of their parents’ master— otherwise by the state.” Since the subject of slavery in Ethiopia became a world issue, the authorities have been particularly se- | vere in punishing those caught deal- ing ir slaves, the first offense being punished by a 10-year prison sentence and a fine of 500 thalers, while the second offense brings a life sentence. ‘We were taken to a section in back of the wooden court building to view lor less commonly “The answer is that many of the | STAR, WASHINGTON, two dozen courtly looking Ethioplan gentlemen with the fine features of pure Amharans, chained together in pairs, who were descrived as the latest victims of the anti-slavery dragnet. Another dozen such sinners were lodged in & wooden shed flank- ing the muddy courtyard waiting for a hearing. They bowed low to clank their leg fetters as we marched in to review them. Ate Tafera’s explanation of the slow disappearance of slavery is more accepted. The Ethiopian of the slave class appears to be principally interested in food and a place to sleep, both of which he receives from his master, and pre- fers the security of servitude to in- secure freedom. : Slaves Don't Slave. Another thing to be said for slavery in Ethiopia is that slaves often do not “slave,” thanks to the fact that every rich man has more than enough retainers for the work available. There are undoubtedly cases of hu- man bondage at its worst in the prov- inces, but under present conditions Emperor Haile Selassie can do little more to correct the situation. The law at least is there and the good work has begun. Sudden forced emancipation of all the country’s slaves could not be effected immediately in the remoter sections of the country, and even though it could be carried out it would have the unfortunate effect of causing a social earthquake. The Emperor has the American post- Civil War experience to justify him o his cauticus policy. (Copyright. 1035.) D. C, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER._ 16, 1935. TWO SHOT, ONE KNIFED IN SUNDAY QUARRELS Woman Detained in Shooting of Bystander in Alleged Dispute With Husband. ‘Three colored persons were seri- ously injured yesterday in three sep- arate altercations. Two suffered bule let wounds; the third wes stabbed. In a dispute over a hair brush, Clifton Hurley, 1200 block of Third street, was shot by his brother James, according to police. The bul- let struck Hurley in the left side. The brother is being held pending the outcome of the injury. Henry Warfleld was wounded in the side by a bullet intended for an- other after Sarah Vass was reported to have opened fire on her husband following an argument in front of their home in the 300 block of V street. Both were held for investi- gation. James Greep, 31, was reported in & serious condition in Gallinger Hos- pital from stab wounds allegedly in- | flicted by Brice Cobb, also colored, in block of L street last night. Cobb was arrested. Christmas Date Held in Error. KINSTON, N. C. (#).—The jingle bells of Christmas will jingle on Sep- tember 25 in the three congregations of Rev. Jim Tom Buck, colored. Rev. Mr. Buck says his own close study of the Bible has shown the calendar to be in error. 300 Beautifully Fur-Trimmed INTER COALS Including 50 Higher-Priced Here's a sale of coats that not only brings you the best values obtainable at the price, but presents a complete pic- ture of the Winter coat styles . .. the graceful silhouette of the Renaissance . .. the gentle flares .. the deeper arm holes . . . the dramatic collars and last but not least, the fine quality furs which trim them! You who have worn more expen- sive coats will readily appreciate what "value" these coats represent. It is our belief that you will not find better coats at $25.00 if you wait all Winter! So drop everything and be here for early choosing tomorrow! o Exquisite Frieze and Jacquard Woolens o Silk and Satin Lined—Warmly Interlined o Lavishly Trimmed with These Furs— Natural Fitch Kit Fox Caracul Skunk SIZES: Jap Weasel Wolf Squirrel G Persian Lamb enuine Beaver Kolirgky Badger Junior Misses 11 to 17; Misses 12 to 20; Women’'s 38 to 48; Shorter Women's = 35 15 to 47Y. BLACK, BROWN, GREEN, WINE, RUST Avenue==Tth, Bth and 0 Sta SECOND FLOOR front of Green's home in the 600 | SALE at anni “The Avenue"=T7th. Sth and O Sta ~ $4.95 Celanese *3.95 . —Lovely, practical and in- expensive to make them easy to have. Single and double bed size spreads of a good quality celanese in plain rose, green, blue, gold and orchid. Seamless Axminster RUGS, $24.95 9x12 and 8.3x10.6-ft. Sizes —They're firm, heavy, durable rugs that will stand up under hard usage and add a bright note of beauty to any room. Every one per- fect and an exceptional value at the price. Kann's—Third Floor Kann's Street Floor. Average Size 2-Pc. Living Room Suites REUPHOLSTERED "Wear-Ever 3-WAY Cooker A Shining Metal Boat On a Blue Mirror Sea *1.00 —As tricky and ship- shape a little ornament as you'll find for a table, mantle or radiol A bright metal boat 6 inches high on a 4%x7%-in. oval blue mirror. Even more attractive in peirs! China—Kann’s Third Floor —Three utensils in one—3-qt. Covered saucepan; 2-qt. double boiler; 2- qt. baking dish or casserole—A set for which you'll find many uses, every day! Now at a special price. Kann's—Third Floor. ses of wash- able per- cales and plaid rayons in bright warm colors. Sizes 7 to 10, 10 to 16. Men's "Holeproof"” SOCKS Discontinued Patterns, 50c and 75¢ Grades 39cs 3 Prs. $1.10 ~—Here's a chance to save colors . . on your sock supply for falll Lisles, silk mix- tures and rayon mixtures in stripes, figures and clocks and an unususlly smart assortment of col« ors. Sizes 10 to 12. XKann's Men's Store— ish collars | Stzesstols green, wine and brown. Sizes 8 to 14. Crew necks or little boy- . i sizes 7 to 14, L 10 to 16, @ Brald trimmed wool flannel Ropes in blue, Kann's Fourth Floor. —Everything Included: new webbing, springs, filling, regluing, repaira- ing where necessary, the material, workmanship, calling for and delivering the suite. Choice of sev- eral materials — Frizette, tapestry, linen cretonne, denim, rayon damask—in the fashionable colors. ... 3-Pe. Living Room Suite $56.75 Kann's Third Floor, ! DOLLAR SALE Girls' School Apparel --Regulation style, belted suedene Jackets with plaid linings. Strapped at wrist. Col- ors green, brown and blue, Sizes 8 to 14. -—S1ip-on sweaters in smart novelty weaves and rich Fall bodice skirts of wool flan- nels, {weeds, checks and plaids— . 74 Smartly tajlored styles in Warm and comfy— d