The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-03-28
WEDNESDAY. MARCH IS. 1900.
THE DUTY OF THE STATE IixECC-
TIVE.


We have no idea of allowing the dis
cussion of a great principle in our civil
government to degenerate into mere
criticism Of an individual.
A crisis arose in the administration Of
the government of the State at Emporia on
last Friday and Saturday, when mob
assembled there and We're about to take
the law into their own hands The rep
resentatives Of the State opposing tn
mob, and sworn to uphold her peace ana
dignity, were the judge of the County
Court, the sheriff of the county. and the
Governor.
The mob had its way and two mon
were hung. The. question has been raised
from the reported facts, whether the
Governor exercised the powers he has
lence or not.
The Governor says he did oil he could.
We say ne did not. There is no personal
attack on the Governor, because we have
high personal regard for him, and
would under no circumstances do him
an Injustice or wound his feelings; but
he occupies a very high and important
official position, and his acts are the sub
ject of fair criticism. The case should
he fully reviewed for the sake of public
Interests, and we should know what we
have to rely upon in the event of an out
burst of popular frenzy and ferocity like
that at Emporia.
Governor Tyler pleads that he did not
know the true condition of affairs at Empo-
ria. We reply to that that it was his busi-
ness to know. The judge of the County
Court had photographed him that the pres
ence Of troops was necessary to prevent
the mob from lynchinE Il prisoner con-
fined in the Jail. The. troops were sent,
and We do the Governor the justice TO
say that he responded with commenda-
BILE promptness to Judge Goodwyn's re-
quest Tor soldiers. The situation was SO
serious that the Governor at first deter
mined himself 10 accompany the troops,
but for some reason changed his mind
and remained at. home. He knew, We
say, that the situation was Very grave,
that there was danger Of mob violence.
Ie had even been informed that threats
were made against the life of Judge
Goodwin. Therefore. we say, 1t was the
Governors duty to satisfy himself beyond
peradrenture that there would be no
breach Of the law before he consented to
withdraw tie troops.
But, with all due respect to the Cover
nor, we insist that he did know that if
the troops should be withdrawn there
would be !ynching at Emporia. Major
Cutchins. the officer in command OF the
troops. telcgraphed him in plain language:
Without protection the prisoner will be
lynched tonight. Shall obey the sher-
ms orders and leare?'' He did not say
there might be, or there would probably
be. There were no Ifs. or ..ands' about
It, He said as plainly as he could that
the prisoner would be lynched If the
troops should be withdrawn at the d!c1a-
ton OF the sheriff 1t was right here
that the Governor made his fatal mis-
take. What did the Cutchins telegram
mean? II meant, and the Governor ought
10 have understood DIT, that the sheriff
was either unwilling or unable to defend
the jail against the mob and uphold the
lam, and in either event 1t was The L ov.
ernor's duty to take matters into his
own hands. The Governor says that he
had been given TO understand that pro
lection would be given the prisoners
But Major cutchins said: Without pro
lection imilitary protection) the prisoner:
will be iynched tonight: Shall ODE,
the sherifr's orders and leave:?" In othe1
words, no matter what the sheriff tells
p you. II ! obey his order and xithdran
my troops the prisoners viii beiynches
te-night and the sheriff knows st.
There Is also this significant adnoni'
I tion IN the same message TO the Cover
4N1ga1A 81 rovr,Ne !, !, ~ - fkA ArHoFy.s