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Information on D. Hamilton Jackson: This site is not in English but if you can get it translated - also it has pictures http://hamiltonjackson.adr.dk/start.html

Part of an Essay by David Hamilton Anderson

David H. Jackson was born in Estate East Hill, St.Croix on September, 28 1884. He was an educator and later became a bookkeeper at a business owned by James C. Canegata, but he was only there for a few months before he began his work for the Danish owned territory of the Virgin Islands.

Since 1779 the Danes had pressed strict censorship on all publications in the territory. That same year an ordinance was authorized providing that only government subsidized newspapers could be published under strict government censorship. Jackson traveled to Denmark & successfully petitioned the King of Denmark for removal of this law. When Jackson returned home he organized the first free newspaper, the Herald. Liberty day is now holiday celebration of the this event.

The Herald Newspaper was just the beginning of Jackson's efforts for his people. Ralph Bough helped Jackson organize the first labor union in the Danish West Indies during 1913. With this union the people were able to abandon physical uprisings and begin discussing the problems with organized protests.

The labor movement later included St. Thomas, where the majority of the laborers were coal workers at the West India company wharf . They earned $1 or more a day. Only a small amount of St. Thomians were farmers, earning less. On Sept. 1, 1892 the women (the majority of the coal workers were women) coal workers got frantic and demanded a wage increase and a payment in gold or its equivalent. Gathering at Market Square and wielding sticks and other weapons to make their point. Even though surrounded by 40 soldiers armed and prepared to take shots at the packed group, it was hard to keep the people in control. Captain Pauludan of the military force was ready to give orders to shoot but Judge Fischer restrained him. Luckily it rained and the crowd dispersed.

The next St. Thomas labor protest of the workers was in 1916. By this time they had organized the St. Thomas labor union with the help of George A. Moorehead, with a membership of about 2,700. The coal carriers and other laborers were on strike in Oct. 1916 causing 3 ships go elsewhere for coal. The West India Company then entered into an agreement with the St. Thomas labor union, and began paying higher wages for the newly unionized workers.

After the labor movement the Danish government sent down a commission to study what was happening in the Danish Virgin Islands. They came to the conclusion that Denmark was too far away and was not knowledgeable enough of the problems in the Danish West Indies, they'ld save money if they transferred the Virgin Islands to the United States rather than invest lots of money to spend improving the poor conditions. With entry into the American market, the commission believed that the islands economy would be improved. Fed up with the promises of reform that the Danish government had given in the past, Jackson led the way in gaining support for the transfer of the Virgin Islands. And even after the transfer Jackson had to fight for the citizenship of the residents of the new U.S. territory.

David Hamilton Jackson died in 1946. After serving his people as an educator, editor, labor leader, lawyer, judge, and legislator. A housing project in Christiansted has been named in his honor. And his birthday is a U.S. Virgin Island Holiday."""

Try this site too http://www.homelandcollections.com/Liberty_Day.htm

Also try UVI web site information at (cut and paste this link)

http://webpac.uvi.edu/imls/pi_uvi/profiles1972/Judges_Attorneys/Jackson_DH/index.shtml

From Profiles of Virgin Islander Web site

JACKSON, DAVID HAMILTON
Journalist, Labor Leader, Attorney, Judge
St. Croix
1884 - 1946

A Virgin Islander whose achievements have significantly improved the way of life for his people, David Hamilton Jackson played a prominent role in the social, economic, and political development of the territory, particularly during the later period of Danish colonization when he was most active as a social crusader. His commitment to the local freedom movement has immortalized him as the "Black Moses" of his people. His contributions include organizing the first labor union on St. Croix; acquiring permission to print the first newspaper for the masses; educating the masses on the privileges of freedom of the press; and serving as educator, editor, labor leader, attorney, councilman, and judge.

Born in Christiansted, St. Croix on September 28,1884, he was the son of Wilfred and Eliza Jackson. His early education, which began at home, was influenced by his father, a teacher. He later attended the local public school and subsequently earned a bachelor's degree and a law degree.

Growing up on St. Croix during Danish occupation, Jackson witnessed many negative elements to which his people were exposed: almost no opportunity for native leadership, deplorable living conditions, low wages and limited job opportunities. Even though slavery was abolished, workers were still controlled by a handful of large landowners. Added to this depressing situation, the effects of World War I caused high food prices, depressed wages, and unemployment. In addition, newspapers of that era were government-controlled and denied laborers a medium of expression.

It was from this state of depression that the masses decided to seek assistance from the Danish king. At age thirty-one, Jackson was already recognized by his people as a fearless leader and an eloquent speaker. They requested that he travel to Denmark to intercede on their behalf by informing King Christian X and the Danish Parliament of the negative conditions to which they were subjected. Workers made donations to defray his expenses. Before he arrived in Denmark, however, the business sector of St. Croix cabled Denmark branding Jackson a "trouble maker" and asking that his testimony be considered a distortion of facts.

Nevertheless, Jackson was well received in Denmark and was granted permission to print a newspaper. In addition, the social and economic situation of the laborers was gradually improved. On November 1,1915, the first issue of the Herald, as the paper was called, appeared on the streets. Serving as its editor, Jackson used the Herald as the voice of workers, exposed corruption in government, and urged the masses to utilize the privileges of freedom of expression.

With this mission underway, Jackson's next task was to unionize workers. Labor unions at this period were nonexistent and laborers suffered from low wages, long hours, and poor working conditions. Jackson established the first labor union on St. Croix in 1915. It later had a membership of approximately 6,000. Serving as its president, Jackson called a strike with the goal of gaining higher wages. As a result of this action, wages were improved and subsequently laws beneficial to all workers were enacted.

Jackson's crusade for his people continued in his later life. He was elected to the Colonial Council of St. Croix, 1923-1927, the Municipal Council of St. Croix in 1941 and 1945, and was chosen vice chairman of the Council. During these terms he often served as spokesman, traveling to the nation's capital to testify in behalf of the masses on pertinent issues such as U.S. citizenship and voting rights.

As judge of the Municipal Court of St. Croix, 1931-1941, he was privileged also to play a prominent role in the formulation of the 1936 Organic Act, the body of laws which replaced the Colonial Law of 1906. Serving as vice chairman of the Organic Act Commission, he was influential in recommending many pertinent revisions to the laws, including repeal of the former voting restrictions.

Jackson's zeal to improve the lives of his people never faded and his influence was also felt in the other islands--for example, when he testified in Denmark in 1915, his requests also included a successful plea for St. Thomas to be granted the privilege of public assembly in political gatherings. After gaining his law degree from the University of Indiana at Indianapolis, he provided legal services, often without charge, to his people. He was also a member of the St. Croix School Board.

In appreciation of his services, the local government has designated November 1 as Liberty Day, a local holiday in observance of Jackson's efforts in Denmark. A park in Christiansted's historic district has been officially named D. Hamilton Jackson Park, and a housing project on St. Croix is also dedicated to his honor.

Jackson was married to the former Theolinda Joseph of St. Croix on June 14, 1916. There were no children from this union. He died on May 30, 1946, in Christiansted, St. Croix.

(Information is for educaitonal purposes, copywrited by various writers.)

Hope that helps you out.

--Islander

thanks