Atlanta Daily World

Suspect Arson As Fire Destroys St. Louis Hall
By R. C. FISHER
ST. LOUIS—(ANP)—The Pacific Movement hall, a building on the Eastside, which independent candidates had been barred from using for a political rally, but which they planned to "take by storm" and use anyway, was destroyed by fire Saturday afternoon.

The Eastside Fire Chief said "undoubtedly arson" was the cause of the fire.

Theodore Gaton, coal dealer and anti-City Hall machine political leader among Negroes, said he rented the hall for an independent rally for last Sunday, but later found the building padlocked and was told "a mistake" had been made. The City Hall machine had earlier paid a month's rent for its use, he was informed.

Gaton said he had rescheduled the rally at another address, but other political leaders said it had been decided to hold the meeting in the Pacific Movement hall in order to "show" the machine crowd they weren't taking orders. Location of the rally was considered of importance because of the necessity of bringing the Independent's message to Denverside, a Negro section, which previously had been machine voted.

Fire Chief Wright said he was convinced the fire was set because it started outside the building, away from either stove or electric wire connections, and burned with great rapidity.

Damage was estimated by the fire chief at $2,500. It was a one-story frame structure, used early in the war by a pacifist group, the Pacific Movement, and of late had been the scene of political meetings. The City Hall machine slate held a rally there last week.

An occupant of quarters in the rear, Mrs. Dolly McNutt, was asleep when fire broke out but was awakened by neighbors and escaped.

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