The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1906-10-05
Great Mass Meeting
EKS MAKES GREAT SPEECH
Action Against Mobbism Was
Taken After Struggle.
Rapists Will BE Brought Back to the
Gulf City and Will BE
Given Trial by
ElKS MAKES GREAT SPEECH
ny FRANK G. BURROWS.

BY FRANK G. BURROWS.
Mobile, Oct 4.-(Special. )-Repre'
sentative Mobile tonight declared fo'
law and order. Representative Mobilt
will have law and order II SUCH '"'"e
Is possible.(
Notwithstanding that many OF the
best citizens Of the Gulf CITY curing
the last few days have been clamor'
ing for mob vengeance upon Jim Rod
inson and Will Thompson. the two &C.
cused negro rapists now IN the birm'
ingham Jail for their alleged crimes
the leading men OF the city tonight
declared for the enforcement Of the
laws, and set on foot organisation &c
see that these laws are carried out
The people Of Mobile in mass meeting
in German Relief Hall tonight passed
two resolutions. one introduced by
copal Church. declared in favor OF let
ting the law take its course In the
trial of the negroes. Robinson and
Thompson. 1t was passed. The other
which was presented to the assemblage
by DR.. Henry Goldthwaite, had larger
scope in view. 1t denounced the non
enforcement of the laws Of Mobile
County, and provided for the organi-
cation of a body Of men who will see
that all laws are enforced.
1T is to the laxity of the laws. OF
to the lack OF their enforcement" he
said. that we owe the conditions which
exist in our city"
In accordance with these resolutions
two meetings of citizens will be held
tomorrow, one at noon in the German
Relief Hall, will organize Good Or
der Club" for the object of which II
is understood will be to endeavor to
insure the legal trial Of the accused
rapists
At the other meeting a committee OF
twenty-five citizens will gather to dis
cuss means of enforcing laws which
will tend to prevent the breeding of
the spirit of lawlessness and a rever-
ence for the authority Of the articles
on the statute hooks.
Action After Struggle.
1t was not without struggle thai
the representative men of Mobile to-
night took their stand for the preser.
walton of the laws integrity. On tn,
contrary the conflict of emotion and tn,
sense of duty was apparent through
out the two hours of speaking. In thu
action taken representative Mobile no.
only declared against the violence Of
the mob, its step was stronger thar
thought
1t was declaration that it has over.
come its own feeling that 1t would put
itself out of the question, and would
yield its tendencies to the course which
1t realized even in the madness of the
present. made for the larger and great.
err good.
Never has there been a more momen'
tous meeting in the history of the ole
city of the gulf, than that which was
held in German Relief Hall tonight. II
was meeting of turbulent feelings.
Throughout its coure two conflicting
emotions could be seen, each striving
for the mastery and II was not unit
near its close that it became evident
the accepted rule of right would triumph
over the rule so generally recognized
as wrong. Then the representative
men of Mobile rose in the cause of Law
and order. rose against every natura
inclination. and declared they woult
hely to Sc the law obeyed and II was
not until they had pledged themselves
to this stand that the session adjourned
Rape Must Cease.
But even acting as they did, the,
made a reservation. The mind of every
Mobilian is made up to one thing. Thu
rape of women must cease and cease a
once, and for all time. Negroes Robin
son and Thompson will have their tria
and they will have that with reserva
ton. The law must take its course
Mobilians have said it should Blu
that course must have but one ending
1t must lead TO tne
70 the speedy execution of the negroes
under Indictment Every man who
spoke in favor of the enforcement Of
the law tonight. spoke with this I'M
Outstanding Governor Jelks begged the
people to wait the action OF the law.
to wait seven days until the men
could be legally convicted.
Solicitor Webb of Mobile county.
asked that the law be permitted
to take its course with the
assurance he would secure their
conviction. Judge Terry Richardson
pleaded for the law. but he pleaded for
the law only to convict. Robinson
and Thompson must hang. That is the
sentiment of Mobile. Mobile will let
insists that that course must lead to
the gallows.
That the people who attended the
meeting tonight are sincere. there is
little doubt. The struggle cost toe
much, once mad efor them to lose what
ed they would do what they have. saic
and do it of their own free will. was
shown early in the evening, when Gov
ernor Jelks announced that the troops
from other sections of the State, which
had been brought here, would leave
with him on the midnight train fol
their homes.
When he made this statement, a chez,
rose from the crowd 1t was the first
Intimation that the people might in
cline toward the course which the Gov
ernor has been endeavoring to persuade
them to follow.
From the meeting tonight then, 1,
would appear that Mobile may pass
through the ordeal without further VIC.
lation of the law. If the influence OF
the representative men OF the city
stands for the whole city or a majo-
ritz of the people of the city. Sheriff
Powers may bring his prisoners back
10 Mobile unscratched. He may take
them to the room in the historic old
court building and give them the bene-
fit of a trial by jury. That is the SEN
timent which the people expressed to-
night. and that it is believed is the
sentiment which will win out in the
final struggle.
Must Have Second Ordeal.
BEFORE this end can be accomplish.
Cd however. the city must pass
through another ordeal. 1t must re-
strain itself for at least twenty-foui
hours required by process Of law be-
=. .ha priaoner can be placed upOr