The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1899-05-04
THE PRO rEOrION OF WOMEN.
"A Remedy Suggcstcd for the Defence
OF tho Women anu the Girls in
Country Districts.

N ltcInCuy SuRRcsfcu Tor tho DCfOnC,
OF tho Women anu the Girls II
Country Districts.
Mrs. L0ulio Nj. Gordon, OF Atlanta
has invited an expression OF view,
| from prominent men and women il
Georgia a. to tho best means for tn,
protection OF females in country dis
tricts, and among other responses that
wore made is tho following from OK
Governor w. j. Northcn, which will be
found suggestive and interesting
:" My Dear Mrs. Gordon--l am just
In receipt OF your message, asking me
to say, for publication, what In my
| Judgment is best to be donc to secure
assault upon women who havo their
homes in tho isolated rural dist lets OF
the State.
i trust that you will bo able, from
tho multitude Of counsel you arc sock
ing, ITO determine upon sOmC satisfuc
tory remedy that will mcct the de-
m"nds OF your inquiry. This is al grave
problem, and 1t should not 20 longer
without solution. Wo have borne its
Ills already too iorE, and | am more
than glad to render what help | NAV
hr nblo TO stop this diabulism
What shall say may seem radical
como for heroic action, and wo dare
not hesitate at any demands that pro.
misc security.
My first suggestion Is that all such
homes as yOl namO shall bc made
miniature arsrnals, at least tn the px.
tcnt Of ono good winchester and ont,
good pistol that women be allowed TO
| carry weapons upon tnCir persons,
concealed, If SO Desired, and that thoy
.l,t u. 4
arms, SO thnt thcy may become their
own protectors in tho absence OF tho
| husband or mastcr OF the house. An
occasional negro lying dead In the back
yard, shot by II brave woman in defense
| OF her honor, will do moro TO stop thi,
| awful CrimC than all tho lyuchinE tha,
may occur in ycar.
"Sccond. | would have every coun
ty supplied with at least half dozcr
well trained blO0dhounds aud easily nc
ccssiblc in case tho worst should vt any
time happen, SoHs to be put In hot pur
suit and to mako tho capture in Lb,
shortest time possible.
"Third. would have an organizu
tiOn OF at least twcnty mon in Oacl
county appointed by some suitable au
thority and then mndc soli-pcrpctuat
ing, and consisting OF the best mon OF
tho COmmumty--bus men or mcn
OF uruirs-who should have supervision
Of all lawlosSncss and disorders in the
county.
"Thc business OF this organization
would be TO 500 that homes are supplied
with suitable firearms for defense : to
| obtain and give proper care and train
| ing to the trail dogs suggested; to hold
| under proper guard the criminal
when npprchcndcd to tako tho nc.
cuscd into tho presence Of his vicLim
30 as TO have her pronounce, in their
ccnCu to then demand IL special ana
Immediate session OF the court for
trial to give, themselves, the tcsLi.
mOny OF the In urcd woman, without
her presence I'm court, and If the nc
CusCd Is pronounced guilty, to sec that
ho 10 executed under due process Of
law, at tho earliest moment possible.
There has boon complaint about
the laxiLy Of law; tho incillcicncy OF
the courts, and tho escape OF criminals
upon bare tCChnicalitica. | would
make 1t tho further duty OF tho orgnni,
Hation, herein provided for, to look in
TO and settle all these complaints, il
they are just. llnvo them study The
law and make it complete and perfect,
through proper legislation. II it is
found difficult 10 enact sunicirnt law,
because Of tlmiGity Of legislators, who
fear the loss OF votes from any class Of
our citlzcnn, let the committee remand
TO Obloquy nndj oblivion such law
makers, and put in their stead men
who will preserve the honor OF the
State and defend tho sunctity Of our
homes. llavc the committee OF Citi-
Hcns inquire into and keep up with the
practice and policy OF tie courts, and
il the officers tolerate or allow the
evils complained Of, let their rosignu-
tiOns bo demanded and occurred nL
once, and better men put in their
places.
"If lawyers arc found sock ing the
protection OF criminals In shielding
them from Just punishment through
bare tcChnicnlitlcs and unwnrrnntud
delays, have thCm forever barred from
practice and then we will have no
more complaints along this line. All
criminal assaults will b." stopped law
lcs5ncss OF the kind wr are discussing
will, In my opinion, be at an end ;
there will be no longer excuse for
lynching our people will have peace
under the strong, conservative and
pronounced public opinion, created by
the wise supervision Of the 0rguniXn-
tlOn OF good men have sugEcstrd
THESE opinions arc given to you
Tor what they may bo worth, and
shall nc glad to have them give place
| to anything that may be found better
and more efficient to restore order 10
tha State ana bring security to her
people. Yours very truly,
W. j. NOETIirN."
| - <gDs.--------------
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