Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1899-04-26
THE SOUTH is AROUSED,
Well-Known Newspaper Takes Up
Subject Of Race Problem.
Would Have Every Household an
Arsenal-One Woman's Forcib1e
Opinion.

Palmetto by incendiaries. the lynching q
month later Of four negroes by the whites
of that little town in retaliation, to be
followed ten days ago by the murder of
Alfred Crawford and the ravishing of his
wife, for which the negro, Sam Hose,
was burned at the stake yesterday, has
stirred the people of Georgia and the
South into frenzied discussion of the
social problem.
Protection of White Women.
The question of the protection for the
white women in their sparsel settled
farming districts is the topic of the day.
The Atlanta Constitution today devotes
a page to a collection of opinions on how
proper protection can be afforded to the
women of the country.
OF the matter, Gov. Gambler has this to
say:
THE question of protection for wom-
en- having homes in the country is one of
deep interest, and which weighs upon my
heart | think the wisest plan for pro-
lection will be for the Legislature to take
up the matter and provide a sufficient
state militia and funds to be expended
for a patrol in the country DISTRICTS
Former Gov. William j. Northen eX-
pressed himself as follows
My first suggestion is that all homes
should be made miniature arsenals, at
least to the extent of one good Winches
ter and one good pistol; that women be
allowed to carry weapons upon their per-
sons, concealed, if so desired, and that
they be taught the use and handling of
firearms, SO that they may become their
own protectors in the absence of the
husband or master of the house. An oc
caslOnal negro lying dead in the back
yard, shot by brave woma Il in defense
of her honor, will do more to stop this
a.. l,
may occur in a year. | would have every
county supplied with at least half doz-
en- well-trained bloodhounds. | would
have an organization of at least twenty
men in each county who should have SUI
pervision of all lawlessness and disor-
ders in the county"
"A Well known Woman's Opinion.
Mrs. Louie NJ. Gordon, a prominent fig
ure III society, not only in Atlanta, but
throughout the Southern cities. favors
the equipment OF company of militia
by each county. She says:
The Mexican government has a kind
of rural Soldiery, having the power to
hold drum-head courtmartial and to
shoot the criminal caught if he is found
guilty. The per cent. of crime is lower
in Mexico than III this country and train
robberleS are scarce, and yet trains are
Loaded with silver and bullion. 1t seems
it would be a wise investment for our
farmers to add Il fund to what would be
contributed by the Legislature to provide
an up-to-date, well-equipped and efficient
military force for the counties as we'll as
cities and towns which with the good
moral effect it would surely bring would
produce a sense of safety which would
drive fear away from shrinking hearts"
Mrs. II. FELTON,, who produced a sensa-
ton by her assertion at an agricultural
convention years ago that a thousand ne
Shn hn
til the outrages stopped, says she has no
reason to change her opinion.
Acknowledgement Terrell fayors bet
ter enforcement of the laws. He says:
The means of enforcing our criminal
laws would be very materially improved
If a system of county police were estab-
lished in every county in the state
). Nj. Inman, one of the wealthicst
citizens of Atlanta, thinks the trouble
could be averted if employers in the coum-
try would investigate the character and
antecedents of the people they employ.
InspectorGeneral Obear: THE sheriff
of each county should organize a regular
posse of competent and determined men
who should be ready at a moments no.
tice TO respond to his call, and, in addi-
ton thereto, should maintain pack OF
trained dogs to follow the trail when Il
crime is committed in his county. No
expense or effort should be spared to dis
cover the criminal and bring him to JUS
tce
Women may assist in their own pro-
lection by becoming familiar with the use
of firearms and having them at hand
when the location demands. 1t is not the
duty of the military to hunt criminals but
to assist the civil authorities in protect
ing them when called upon''
Accomp1ice Lynched, Too.
Palmetto, Ga, April 24-The body of
Lige Strickland, the negro implicated by
Sam Hose in the killing of Alfred Gran
ford, was found swinging to the limb OF
q tree about one mile from town this
morning. The ears and fingers were cut
Oft and on the body was pinned placard
bearing these words:
we must protect our Southern vom-
en-
Strickland was a negro minister 60
years of age. Sam Hose, just as the
torch was about to be applied to the pile
OF wood under him, near Newman, yes
terday, admitted killing Alfred Crawford,
but said that Strickland mao given him
ST. to do the deed.
The confession of Hose caused GREAT
excitement here and a crowd of men left
for the home of Maj. Thomas. where
Strickland works, and at dusk last night
took the negro from the place and
brought him into the town.
Mag. thomas made a speech to the
mob while they We're on his farm, urg-
ing them not to take the negro and say
ing he believed the fellow was innocent
The men would not listen to him, how
ever, and took Strickland with them He
was brought into town and taken to the
public square where an impromptu trial
was had. Every body who knew Strick-
land was called upon to give testimony
as to his character.
Several negroes employed by Col
Thomas said the negro was a law-abiding
citizen and was not implicated in the
Crawford affair. Other people living
near the Thomas place gave Strickland
a bad name There were several peo-
pie in the crowd who favored letting the
law take its course and suggested that
the court adjourn to another place one
mile from town. where several people
lived who knew Strickland.
Strung Up Two or Three Times.
This met with approval and the court"
moved out into the woods one mile away.
Here the colored preacher was strung I'D
two or three times in an effort to get IL
confession from him. but each time he
refused to say that he had any connec-
ton with Hoses crime and denied that
he had paid Hose to murder Crawford
The crowd seemed to be evenly divided