Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-10-29
CHECK ON LYNCHING.
Conservative View of Alabama Indict
ments.

Atlanta, Ga, Oct. 2S.-The action of the
Federal grand jury at Huntsville. Ala, in
returning indictments against alleged
lynchers whom the state courts had failed
to punish. has aroused this portion of the
South to fever heat of interest which is
far greater than any interest manifested
in politics, local or national. This practl-
/ cal result of the recent charge of Federal
Judge Jones has been hailed with delight
By the conservative elements. which have
been making an earnest crusade against
| mob law and the lynching evil. while it
| has brought something very like con-
| Sternation to the radicals whose views
| lind most pronounced expression from
the mouths of the Tillmans. Nardamans
and HefinS. From these and their in
Vulnerable satellites from one end of the
South to the other comes a mighty pro-
test against the interference of the
United States courts in the internal af-
fairs of the states. The old and familiar
efforts to stir up the prejudiceS Of the
people against the Federal courts have
hecn brought to the front and the
changes are being rung on the 'infamy''
of interference with the legitimate work
of the state courts without mention, of
course of the notorious failure of these
state courts in bringing to punishment
the men whose participation in the lynch
ing at Huntsville is known. These men
escaped punishment in the state courts
upon some technicality: and it was this
failure which prompted Judge Jones to
duty to perform.
The grounds upon which Judge Jones
placed his charge-the necessity of the
Federal courts coming to the support of
the state authorities when the power of
the state to administer punishment had
been proved inadequate-put a new phase
lawlessness at the South. Coming as this
did from a man who was brave soldier
of the Confederacy and only recently
Democratic governor Of the state, it has
proved a mighty factor in shaping the
better public sentiment in all these states.
The efforts to awaken the old prejudices
against the Federal courts have fallen
pretty fiat in the face of the personality
Of Judge Jones. There is no room in the
discussion for the cry of carpetbagism,
once so potent in arousing prejudices.
While the radicals are crying aloud, the
better element throughout the South has
hailed the action of the Federal grand
jury as a ray of light
Everybody understands that the insur-
mountable difficulty in bringing lynchers
to punishment in the state courts has
prejudces which have influenced the
juries. and too often the Judges and
prosecuting officers. These necessarily
have less weight with the Federal juries
from a wider field And if the example of
Judge Jones is followed by other Federal
judges. there will not only be prosecu-
tons. but, what is more important the
States courts will act as a mighty deter
rent upon lynchngs and mob uprisngs of
every character.
So far this action is the most important
development of the crusade against
lynching which has been waged by press
and pulpit at the South since the Hunts
vile and StateSboro affairs. OF lesser i'm
portance, but not to be overlooked. is the
action of the military courts in Furnishing
the militia. commanders responsible for
the diSgraceful failures of the Alabama
and Georgia troops. At Statesboro the
grand jury of the State Court is in SEES
sion. and, with the mass of testimony
which has been placed in the hands of the
court. ought to bring a lot of indictments.
It is undoubtedly true. however that pub
lie sentiment at Statesboro was so strong
against the victims of the mob's wrath
there. and some of the men implicated
are so strong politically that prosecution
in the state courts will be difficult
Should 1t fail there is every reason to ey-
pect that Judge Emory Speer will follow
the example set by Judge Jones in Ala