The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1901-07-26
ANTI-LYNCHING LAWS.
san Francisco Chronicle.

an hANANA1Nt C4AAeatA~
Cons;itution-makers in Alabama and
Virginia are not giving their attention
wholly TO plans for so ievising res,ric-
tions upon universal suffrage as 10 ad-
mir miterate whites to vote while sx-
Guiding inlterate negroes. They nave
many other problems to deal with. not
the least Of which is that OF providing
some method for putting stop TO the
outrageous crimes committed ia the
name OF lynch law. In both conventions
propositions have been submitted look
ing TO that end, and it is probable the
results may prove highly beneficial.
The Alabama plan, to which attention
was directed some days ago, provides
that any officer OF the state who fails to
protect a prisoner from a mob shall be
liable to summary removal from office.
and heavy penalties are imposed upon
all who take par, in lynching, The plan
submitted in Virginia is NOT so drastic
in dealing with unfalthtul officials, but
II has none the less iJs good features.
According to the summary reported in
the dispatches the plan provides that
the governor shall offer a reward for
the detection and conviction OF persons
aiding a mob by which the lite OF any
person is taken; any one found engaged
in such mob shall be deemed guilty Of
murder in the first degree When muir
Ser is not committed, bu. great bodily /.
injury is inflicted. persons aiding the
mob shall be deemed guilty of rio;. The |
governor is authorized % pay a certain /
sum out Of the state treasury 70 the |
heirs Of any person murdered by a mob |
and to charge the amour, % tn county /
in which the lynch!ng was perperated.
OF course neither Of the plans pr
u1sed can effect much unless supported .
by a resolute public opinion. bu, t7rtu-
nately there is hope tha, such a sand-
msnt Will be found. Tha very consider
alton given 10 the subject by The two
conventions is itself an eviisnc: iha:
the controlling element OF -he South has
become aroused TO the dangr hat
threatens their communities by the tol-
Grafton OF such barbaric outbreaks as
have 100 frequently happened. Thus
should The proposed provisions agains,
lynching be put into the constitutions .
there would be a fair expectation Of
their enforcement.
In addition TO the evidence Of a
change in public sentimen, in the South.
" hich is afforded by the efforts Of the
two conventions 10 suppress the prac-
ice, there exists another in the limin-
ishei number Of .lyachings. The Chi
cag9 Tribune, which for a long series Of
years has carefully kept a record Of all
oTenses Of the kind recently pointed ou;
thar while in 1892 there was 235 lynch
Ings in the United States up 20 Noyem-
ber 10, the lynching record for the en-
tire year Of 1900 numbered but 1O1. The d,
record as It stands ls bad enough 10 con-
.,itute a national .isgrace, but in com-
1arison 70 what it was in 1892 there IS
widen. a gratifying dlminu;ion IN the
frequency Of the outrages.
The plans proposed in Alabama and
Virginia may Of course be modified be- Z
tore adopted, 50 It is possible thai even !
better remedial measures may be pro-
,iIed than :hose now submitted. But
If the changes in their constitutions,
therefore,, the ;wo states may gain
.omething better than restricted suf- 9
rage, and the iliterate negro deprived
4 his vote may at least obtain a sLrer
rejection for his life and person agains a
he assaults Of mobs. a