The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1903-08-10

Nor were these crimes chargeable to the
great body of the negro. They were US
ually committed by tramp negroes, VINO
lived lives Of the most loathsome and
degraded character. almost Invariably
men OF one type, the descendants or the
vilest Of the African tribes. In many
respects We were in a more unfortunate
condition than were our fOrefathers, when
on the frontiers of civilization they were
confronting tho ferocious savages They
could tell that the Indian was an enemy,
but among multitudes of respecting
and kindly negroes. the beastly and des-
perate savage could not be identified In
J advance.
/ Delays in the administration of justice
in the trial Of such cases were the GER
tain precursors of mob law, and yet our
system Of judicial trials seems 10 be
carefully designed to occasion delay and
new trials. The dumb act which makes
1t error for judge to intimate what has
or has not been proven was the most
fruitful cause for new trials, mistrials
and the delay Of final sentence. Only
day or two ago learned judge In Sa-
vannah had felt obliged to order a mis-
trial in an important criminal case be-
cause he had, as he thought, mcautlous-
ly said in the presence of the jury that
a receipt for money paid was high eVl-
dence of payment and, said Judge Speer,
IF 1 should draw a pistol from my pocket
now and shoot the president or this So
clety where he sits and the judge OF your
superior court should say on the trial the
shot was fired III the chapel, In TINS
county, 1t would be under the law re-
versatile error, which would cause
new trial The judges of the superior
courts should be given the power to sum
up the evidence to aid, but not to con-
troll the jury, as was the practice at
common law, and is now the practice in
the courts of the United States. II this
were done it is probable that nine-tenths
of the new trials in criminal cases would
ia subject
vital to our civilization, and II the wives
and daughters of our farming population
can receive the protection of rigorous
and effective enforcement Of law, the
waste places of our fertile and prolific
soil will soon be populated, the resources
of the state UNNECESSARILY Increased,
and happiness and cont entment come 10
thousands of homes which now the
scenes of constant apprehension ana Ter
ror.'
At the conclusion Of Judge Speers
speech there was vigorous applause, ana
then Mrs. W. Ii. FELTON, arose and said
that while she agreed with the distin-
guished jurist in what he had said, there
was one question that she desired to ask
him. She asked if there could be any
way devised whereby in the trials of
such cases the unfortunate victim of the
violence of the ravisher could be spared
the double humiliation of appearing in
court and going through the ordeal OF
testifying. She declared that this fore
ing OF t0e woman 10 ttStily WIS oilo
thing that had a great deal to do with
lynchingS, and that Whiie she was an
advocate of law and order, still this ques-
ton was one that cried out for solution
and that must be solved.
Judge Speer In reply, sd id that the re-
marks OF Mrs. FELTON, emphasized the
urgency of action along the lines he had
suggested and that 1t called for the best
intelligence of Georgia to solve 1t cor
rectly AS a mere off-hand opinion he
thought 1t could be arranged so that tho
court room could be cleared of all per-
sons except those absolutely necessary 10
the trial
Speech Of Hon. Harvey Jordan.
The last speech of the morning session
was delivered by Hon. Harvie Jordan.
of Monticello, who spoke upon the sub
| ject of agricultural Education" Mr.,
Jordan was especially forceful in his re-
marks. and among other things urged the
| teaching of agriculture In the proper
manner In all the schools of the state.
In speaking OF the work of establishing
| farmers institutes In Georgia, which
| work was recently inaugurated by the
| University of Georgia. said that thers
| had already been established fifteen instl-
tutes. that the meetings were attended
| by over 1000 farmers, that over seventy
| five lectures had been delivered at these
| meetings on various topics and that great
interest was being manifested In the
| movement.
Other Addresses.
! DR. w A. Henry Of Wisconsin, deliy-
| cred a strong address on the methods Of
| the northern farmers and gave the dele
gates number of things to think about
! in their work the farm
| Mrs w II. FELTON, was accorded an
ovation when she delivered her address
on THE Georgia Woman on the Farm"
| The main idea of her address was an
| appeal for the better protection of wOm-
| en- on the farm and for the enactment
of laws that would secure her right to d
! share in the crops that she helps her hus
! band to make
Tonight at the chapel Major ]. + Han
| son, of Macon, spoke Of The Industrial
| Development of Georgia." 1t was Il
strong speech and vigorously APP
| plauded
The society will hold two interesting
sessions tomorrow before adjournment
Dairymen Adjourn.
The State Dairymen's Association adj
iourned here this morning. The next ses-
sion will be held in Talulah Falls next
! summer.
The following officers were elected for
the next year: President. w. t. VIII
hanson, of Harmony Grove; vice presi-
dent, Or. J. y. Hunnicutt Atlanta; sec
| tary. NJ. l.. Duggan. Sparta; treasurer,
| r. W. McAllister. Lavonia
Addresses were made by Dr.. w. A.
Henry. Colonel l. c. Wade, Colonel r. J.
| BEDDING and Professor T.. l.. W illOug hby,