The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-04-25
HOW TO PROTECT WOMEN.
Prominent Georgia Men and Women
Express Opinions.

Atlanta, Ca, April 24.-The series of
crimes which began with the burning
of Palmetto by incendaries, the lynch
ing a month later of four negroes by
the whites of that little town in re-
taliation. TO be followed a few days ago
by the murder of Alfred Crawford and
the ravishing of his wife, for which the
negro Sam Hose was burnt at the stake
yesterday, has stirred the people of
Georgia and the south into a frenzied
discussion of the social problem re-
vealed.
The question of protection for the
white women iii the sparsely settled
farming districts is the topic of the
day. The Atlanta Constitution today
deVotes a page to d collection Of
opinions on how proper protection can
be afforded to the women of the coun-
Try Governor Gambler says:
Il think the wisest plan for protec-
ton viii be for the legislature to take
up the matter and provide sufficient
state militia and funds TO be expended
FOR a patrol in the country districts"
Former Governor William j. Northen
expressed himself as follows:
My first suggestion is that all homes
should be made miniature arsenals at
least to the extent of one good VIM
chester and one good pistol; that wom-
en- be allowed to carry weapons and
taught the use and handling of fire
arms so that they may become their
own protectors in the absence of their
husbands or master of the house. An
occasional negro lying dead in the
back ward, shot by a brave woman in
defense of her honor will do more to
stop this awful crime than all the
lynchings that may occur in a year. /
would have every county supplied with
at least half dozen well trained blood
q, as-ef
Of at least twenty men in each county
who should have supervision of all
iawlessness and disorders in the coun-
try"
Mrs. Louie NJ Gordon, prominent
figure in society not only in atlanta.
but throughout the southern cities
fayors the equipment of a company of
militia by each county. She says:
The Mexican government has a kind
of rural militia, having power to hold
a drumhead courtmartial and to
shoot the criminal if found. Tie
percentage of crime is lower in
Mexico than here and trai--
robperies are scarce and yet trains are
loaded with silver and bullion. 1t
seems it would be wise investment
fer our farmers to add a fund to what
would be contributed by the legislature
TO provide a well-equipped sufficient
military force for the counties as well
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. Fenton, who produced a SEN
sation by her assertion at the agricul-
turai convention two years ago, that
1000 negroes should be lynched every
week until the outrages stop. says she
has no reason to change her opinion
Attorney General Terrell favors a
better enforcement of the laws. He
says:
1.-The means of enforcing our crimi-
nal laws would be very materially i'm
proved il a system OF county police
were established in every county in the
state
Hon. s. NJ. Inman. one Of the wealth.
est. citizens of Atlanta thinks the
trouble could be averted if employers
in the country would investigate the
character and antecedents of the peo-
pie they employ. Inspector General
.Omear saws:
-'The sheriff of each county should
OF canize a regular posse of cumDetent
and determined men who would be
ready at a moments notice to respond
TO his call and in addition thereto,
should maintain pack Of trained dogs
to follow the trail when a crime is COM
initted in his county. No expense or
effort should be spared to discover the
criminal and bring him TO justice.
Women may assist in their own pro-
lection by becoming familiar with the
use of firearms and having them at
hand when the occasion demands It
is not the duty Of mlitia to hunt crimes.
but to assist the civil authorities in
protecting them when called upon"