The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-12-08
TO MUZZLE THE PRESS
The Law!essness Shown in Hanging
One Who Had Done Nothing More
Than Exercise the Right of Freedom
of Speech is Denounced as a Blow
al the Liberty of the Press.

of Speech is Denounced as a Blow
al the Liberty of the Press.
Washington, d. c.. Dee. 3.-Today the
North Carolina Press Association, in SEES
sion in this city. after due elaboration
and with only one dissenting vote, passed
q resolution condemning in the strongest
language the recent display of law~lessness
and mob violence on the part of the stud
cnr~ at Trinity College, Durham, N. c.
Following is the text of the resolution,
which was voted for by every member of
the association present, except H. M.
Blair, editor of the Greensboro Christian
Advocate:
Whereas, the papers of today inform
Us that a brother member Of this associa-
tion has been hanged in effigy by the
Students of Trinity College, one of the
leading educational institutions of our
state, for the apparent reason that he
exercised the right of freedom of speech
in his paper;
Resolved, That this association regret
the said action as an attempt to abridge
the freedom of the press and condemn it
AA NAlC Ill &c dS II ~
he true spirit of our people,
Shortly after the association met this
morning Editor q. w. Whitehead, of the
North Carolina Truckers Journal. offered
a resolution calling for the appointment
OF a committee of three to prepare a
suitable resolution expressing the senti-
ments Of the association regarding the
action of the students and trustees of
Trinity College on the Bassett matter.
He wanted a prompt and decisive con-
demnation of it, as he thought no lam
guage could be too emphatic in deprecat-
ing the refusal of the trustees to accept
Bassett's resignation or too strong in de-
nouncing the outbreak of lawlessness that
his teachings had inspired among the
students, as manifested by their hanging
in ef1igy one who had dared oppose such
dangerous doctrines.
Editor London, of the Pittsboro Record.
deplored greatly so unfortunate a situation
as had developed at Trinity, but he did
not think the action proposed by Mr..
Whitehead wise. He did not think the
association ought to go on record as de-
nOuncing the action of the trustees of a
private Institution, but to condemn the
act of lawlessness on the part Of the
students in attempting to degrade one,
who had done nothing more than exer-
cse the right of freedom of speech and
OF the press, he regarded as properly in
the province Of the Association.
Moderation was urged by Editors Man
mig Of the Henderson Gold Leaf;
Farris, OF the High Point En-
t~erprise; Beasley, of the Monroe
Journal, and perhaps others, but all
Of them took occasion to express emphatic
disagreement with the views of Bassett,
and the strongest condemnation of the
spirit of mob violence displayed by his
students. Mr.. Farriss and Mr.. Beasley
doubted whether it We're not beneath the
dignity of the Association to be condemn
ing the act of a lot of irresponsible boys
IN school. But Mr.. Hardness, of the
Statesville Mascot, pointed out that the
act OF the students was not the act of
boys. but of men. that it was a blow at
the freedom of the press by attempting to
degrade and humiliate one who, in the
exercise of that freedom of speech guar
anteed him by the Constitution, had
dared disagree with them. He considered
1t an act that called for prompt action
and one that could not be passed in
silence by the Association.
Elder p. d. Gold. Editor of lions
Landmark, spoke to much the same effect.
He deprecated the necessity for any dis
'ls~lon Of a matter which related to q
IFtLE Oh Il great decentralization il u
.~so%cTnment of a great educational instltu-
ton of that denomination, but he did
favor The condemnation by the Association
Ut an act of unprecedented indienity
launched by any body of citizens against
q reputable citizen. In the case In hand,
an hOnored. member of the Press AssocIa-
Non Of North Carolina had been attacked,
and he believed that this act should be
condemned IN no uncertain tones by the
Association. He could not see how those
Who had been pleading for tolerance OF
Thought and speech could now object to
TIE strongest condemnation of this dis
graceful spirit which would destroy the
''n-tltutiCnally guaranteed liberty of the
press.
Editor Blair, Of the Greensboro Chris
tam Advocate. said he had condemned
ba~sett and she might do SO again, but he
''lti not C%Onjure this up as an excuse for
Na.1 action BIZ the Association as was
proposed by Mr.. Whitehead. nor even the
more conservative action proposed by Mr..
LONDON.
Earring the views of Mr.. Blair, the only
POINT Of difference seemed to be as to the
-3'in the resolution of condemnation
should take.
-haIly there was a motion to table, Mr..
"iatelead's resolution, on the ground OF
condemnation of the trustees of Trinity
@'i-0Ee. The motion, however, was lost
'- d Standing vote, Mr.. Whitehead having
asked the president to have all members
laFor of tabling the resolution
SAND. so that the other members could
s'. what kind Of men they were.
mayor London then presented his plan
modifying the resolution of Mr.. White
.'"I, which involved the appointment OF
@'mmlttee Of five. which would invest
r and report on the effigy incident only.
NE resolution was put and carried. The
'1hittee was appointed by the chair and
-@ed Major London, Rev. p. r. Law,