The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1906-12-06
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE

President Roosevelt in his annual
message again urges the enactment of
a law prohibiting corporations from
contributing To campaign funds. lie
also urges the passage of the measure
comforting upon the government the
right of appeal in criminal cases on
questions OF law Continuing, the
president says:
| cannot too strongly urge the pas
sage of the bill in question. \ failure
to pass it will result i'm seriously ham
pering the government in its effort TO
obtain Justice. especially against
wealthy individuals or corporations
who do wrong. and may also prevent
the government from obtaining Justice
for wageWorkcrS who are not them
selves able effectively to contest case
where the Judgment of an inferior
court has been against them. ] have
specifically i'm view Il recent decision
by district judge leaving railway
EMPLOYEES without remedy for viola
The importance of cuactiug into law
the particular hill in question is fur
Their increased 10y the fact that the GOV
eminent has now definitely begun
policy of rcsorting to the criminal law
i'm those trust and interstate commerce
eases where such a course offers rea-
souuble chance Of success.
Against Lynching.
l call your attention and the atlen-
ton of the nation 10 the prevalence OF
crime among Us and above all. 10 the
epidemic of lynching and mob violence
that springs mp NOW In one part oi our
country. now i'm another. Each Sec
ton. north south. east or west. has
lts own faults. No section can with
wisdom spend its time jecriu. al the
faults of another section. 10 should nr
busy tryin- 10 amend lis own short
comiugS To deal with the crime oi
corruption il is necessary To have "h
awakened public conscience and i'
supplement This hy Whatever le-i-.1
ton viii add speed and certainty m
tile execution of TIE law. When We
deal with lynchiu- c,cn more is ncccs
-ary. \ great many white men are
huchel. lut thc crime is peculiarly
frequent in yc>rc., 10 black men. He
-r.a;c-t existing cause of lynchIns is
Lp p,rperdtiou especially 10y blar"
mcu. OF the hidc1u~ crime Of rape. the
most anouulhlc iu all the category
Of crimes. even worse than murder.
Iawle~.lc> crows hy what 10 feeds
UPON. and when moh~ begin 10 lynch
for RARE they speedily extend the
-uhcrr of their operations and lynch
fo. man, other kind, of crimes. so that
tVo.thirIs of the lynchu-- are not
for rape at all while a considerable
proportion of the individuals lynched
are innocent OF AN crime
There is hut one safe rule in dealing
with b.ack men as with white mon
a. is the same rlie That must be ai-
u'i.i iu dealing with rich men and
poor meu-tuat u.s. to treat each man.
Whatever his color. his creed or his ST..
rill position. with even handed justice
ON his real worth ats "a man. White
people owe it quite as much 10 them
selves dis To- the coiored race TO treat
we'll the colored man who shows hy
his Mf, that hc deserves such treatment
There is no question OF social equality
or negro domination involved
10 my judgment. the crime Of rape
~hould always be- punished with death.
a, j., the case with murder. Assault
with intent 10 commit rape should he
made capital crime. at least in the
discretion of the court. ana provision
should bee made by which the punish
mcnt may follow Immediately upon
the heels OF the Onense.
Railroad Employees Hours.