The Scranton chronicle. (Scranton, Miss.) 1897-19??, 1904-01-16
s47,oee,2Oo
Total
Lynehina Suggestion.

Referring 10 the enforcement Of the
criminal laws of the State. tho governor
writes at some length concerning his ef
forts In that direction. and says, In part
after referring to recommt tndatlons In
previous message
"Believlng that lawlesBness In the main
the above named species OF crime 10 be on
the Increase, furnishing encouragement aud
excuse for other breaches OF the law
against which the courts and ordinary le-
gal remedies were inadequate. without ;hs
stimulus Of energetic and courageous ac-
tion on the part Of the people, who 70 some
extent seemed intimidated and unwilling TO
act In the premises through mere eonsldera.
tlon for good government. | recommended
the adoption OF strong and radical laws
along that line for the awakening OF the
officials and the people 20 more strenuous
efforts In the enforcement Of the laws, as
means for the prevention Of crime rather
than a. a reward TO the families OF the
victims, as some have seen proper 10 mis-
construe perhaps for political purposes.
The legislature took no action In refer
ence to the subject matter, and feel much
regret at having to report that the law
breakers appear TO have taken fresh cour-
age since that time, as is evidenced by the
fact that forty nine lynchings for alleged
offenses running from larceny and slander
TO rApe and murder have occurred In the
State since the adjournment OF the Iegisla.
ture IN 1900. In addition to this startling
record, other outbursts OF lawlessness
known as 'whifeeapplng' have occurred In
several csuDties Of the State houses have
been shot into at night and seyeral negroes
thus sssasslnated by unknown parties,
which homicides are not Included In the
number Of lynchings above. These latter
instances Of vengeance and assassination
can find no excuse. justification or pallIa
tion and augur much Increasing danger 10
the future success OF the state and happi
ness OF the people. Be Il said 10 the credit
Of the Judges and district attorneys they
have In every instance measured fully up to
the duty of their positions, holding special
terms OF court when IL seemed necessary
and showing a readiness at all times 10
meet any and every emergency which con
fronted them. II further proof OF this fact
be demanded. ] offer the court records.
which show larger increase Of convictions
for ali manner of orerses-,i -,includlng forty.
Eve persons convicted and hanged on the
gallows eight Of whom were white men.
This four years record Of legal hangings,
exceeding perhaps the records of any two
decades, gives ample guarantees Of the en-
cheney and certainty Of the courts to pun
ish the guilty II given an opportunity. and
diyIduals
This condition Of affairs calls loudly
upon the legislature for courageous action,
unin6uenced by considerations other than
for the public good. need not remind
you that governments become impOtent and
society degraded when principles and jus
poses OF partisan policies so often agitated
BY selfish men who would poison the body
polite with prejudice and destroy ifs busi.
ness II necessary to accomplish their own
II submit the wisdom Of a serious inves-
tigation into the violent outbreaks Of law
lessness In the State, Including whitecap-
ping in some Of the counties. particularly
In portions OF Lincoln, Franklin and Amite.
and recommend the passage OF such laws as
your Judgment approves for the proteetlon
Of the labor OF the country. and the lives
and property Of the people"
And in conclusion, he says In closing
this, my last public communication as gov
ernOr. / desire 10 tender 70 the people o.
Mississippi my earnest thanks Tor their
Kindness to me In the past aud the sEpport
which they have accorded me N me .as als
fa which their Eufrages elected me. z Ge-
sire also 70 make public aeknowledgnent 70
the legislature, the stste oineers. tnelr ~
eoclafes and employees. and 20 the judges
of the Supreme Court for the very vsiu-
able assistance which they have rendered
ma Confidently believing that your de-
iIberaficns will be Characterized by that
wisdom. justice and conservatism which
will rebound TO the success Of the people
and the fair name and progress OF AIsstS
slppi. have the honor to be.