The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-08-07
YATES WILL PROBE
RECENT LYNCH|NCS.
Governor Writes to Sheriffs Re-
questing Information Concern
ing Racial Outbreaks.
SAYS MOB RULE IS ANARCHY.
If 1t Is to Prevail, the Illinois Ex-
ecutive Declares, the Efforts of
the Country's Founders
Were in Vain.
SAYS MOB RULE is ANARCHY.
REPUBLIC SPECIAL,

opfiueHeiu, ILL.,, aug. o-JoSeTHof i9sSS
to-day addressed letters to Sheriffs Roche
OF Alexander County. Thompson Of St
Clair and Whitelock of vermilion County.
calling their attention to the lynchinss
which have occurred in their respective
counties in the last six months
In the letters Governor Yates says mob
rule is anarchy and following this state
nent he declares that II mob rule is to
the past who have struggled and fought
and died for liberty have been in vain"
The full text Of the communication is as
follows:
The prevalence OF lynch law and mob
rule in various parts of the United States
has for some time been alarming. but not
untf recently has IT made its appearance in
the State of Illinois. Within the past six
months. in the counties Of Alexander. st.
Clair and vermilion there has been an
outburst Of lawlessness Of this character
in its worst form This lawlessness has
earned and evoked the righteous indignation
and vigorous condemnation Of every citi-
zen possessed of the least sense Of de-
cency.
MOB RULE IS ANARCHY"
There Is only one thing to be done in
this connection by officers Of the law. Such
officers have been intrusted with the con-
ddence, safety, property and lives Of their
fellow-citizens, and they have taken a
solemn oath to enforce and sustain the Con-
stitution and laws Of their country and
their State The obligation resting upon
them is obligatory and imperative.
Mob rule is anarchy. The prevalence OF
lynch law will result in no peace, no safety,
no liberty. II hundred or a thousand men,
Infatuated and infiamed by passion or
prejudice, or intodcation. or any other
cause, shall be allowed to use their power
to say whether you, or l. or any otnet cru
zen. shall live or die then there Is ano e eaa
IN that case, all the efforts OF all the men
of all the past who have struggled ana
fought and died for liberty have been IN
vain
my duty under section s Of article . or the
constitution Of $50. which specihcai!y aa,es
to take care that the laws be faithfuuy e1-
ecuted, to do all within my power to Pre-.
have have occurred IN this State. and 10 punish
reientiessly those which have occurred
WANTS INFORMATION.
'sTo this end now write you in my ca
pacity as CHEF executive Of the State.
bound By my oath. and required by the Con-
stitution to enforce the law, to request that
you forward at once, In writing. brief
statement OF all the facts within your
k , In regard to the recent tb lynch CIV
recommendations you may have to make
which will prevent such occurrence again in
your county. or in any other county in this
State.
You will please DO as specific as you can
In your statements. as 1t Is not intended for
less something in your attitude requires me
in the interest Of the law and its enforce
Eent, to give publicity to the statement.
for Gu my VII infor s I and the other oeers Of
law what means, II any, which were not
adopted. could have been adopted to prevent
COUNTY e You VIII Witt please state what steps
have been taken to detect and punish the
members OF the mob which did the lynching.
L or the other State oticers. can be- OF as.
sistance in bringing about the prompt pros
ecut:on and the rigorous punishment OF the
''RICHARD YATES. Governor"
An additional paragraph was contained in
the letter sent to Sheriff Whitlock Of Yer
pliment for defending his prisoners. This
paragraph Is as follows:
CONGRATULATES wHITLOCK.
Il deem # my duty to add in addition to
the above the statement that In behalf Of
the people Of the State Of Illinois. thank
you for the courage and thoroughrCss- with
which you performed your duty in defending
prisoners in your custody from the mob,
q mob which had lynched one man and
was seeking to lynch your prisonera
adequate force as you did, the county Jail
OF your county and the prisoners confined
therein, you gave the full measure Of brav-
cry and devotion. / hope and believe to-
gether with all good citizens, that your
bravery and devotion will inspire for years
to come like bravery and devotion In other
officers under similar circumstances.
ST feel that your conduct cannot be too
highly praised or too well rewarded.
regret that 1 have not within my power
some other means than this by which can
tender to you a suitable expression Of not
only my personal appreciation, but of the
dsss a. s;ysn ~ fhs ,,nd,ga aev0on 70
this great State"