The broad ax., 1908-01-25
THE NEGRO AND THE NEWS
PAPERS.
Concluded from page II

riot might have been sverted If the
newspapers had not continued to ad-
vertise with undue emphasis alleged
but uninvestigated crimes of Negroes
against white women. Such adver-
tisement is enough to arouse even
the dullest men, and ought to be re-
buked and curbed before the damage
is done.
In Philadelphia, during the past
month, some newspapers, otherwise
fair and reliable, have suggested
lynching Negroes in this part Of the
country, in deed in Philadelphia. On
der a large headline one paper begins
an article, quoting the acting-lieu-
tenant of one the police stations
thus: IF this thing (referring to an
alleged assault) keeps up. am afraid
there'n be a lynching in Philadelphia
yet" (But when l wrote the ofdcer
referred to about the crime reported
by the newspaper, and the above
statement, he refused to affirm any
thing with regard to the whole
matter.) Another article very wildly
describes the mob's brutal work thus.
beginning with a two-inch headline
Mob would kill Negro Accused OF
Attack on Child" etc subtitle
Crowd Would Kill Negro" Get
him, kill him." yelled the men as
they started after the Negro. At
every step the impormptu posse in
creased in numbers. Men in their
shirt sleeves ran out of warehouses
and Joined in hot pursuit At Pine
and Second streets several of the |
feeter-footed caught I'D to the Negro |
and struck at him with their fists. |
A couple of the blows landed and the
Negro went down like a log. Before
he could gain his feet the mob came
up and for a minute everybody join
ed in hitting and kicking the fellow
around the street" Again an article
says, 1T is only a week since John
Burton, Negro. assaulted a little
girl at Seventh and Panama streets
He was attacked by a mob that
would have lynched him If the police
had not arrived when they did"
The insistence of the newspapers
on what the mob would" have done
has the subtle influence Of preparing |
the way for a lynching in PhiIadel- |
phia, just as it did in Atlanta, and |
has done in other places. To show
now 1t works, will recite a personal
experience: / came out on the car
from the University of PENNSYLVANIA
one evening in May about eight
O'Clock. Just as the car turned on
Twenty-seventh street to Lombard. a
crowd Of about 100 little white boys.
from 6 to about IA years Of age, at
tackled it. The car was crowded, but
there were only about a dozen Neg.
rees on ii, about half Of them women,
The mob Of boys got control of the
car BY pulling Of the trolley. They
threw stones into the car, and final
~ some Of them boarded the car and
began to beat the Negroes with
sticks, shouting as they did So, kill
the Niger" lynch en-" hit that
Niger, etc. Though there were
more whites in the Car than Negroes.
no remarks were made against the
whites and only a few Of them suf-
fered violence. The conductor prom
tsed to report the matter to police
headquarters: but he remarked that
similar mobs had attacked the car !
3 few days before, adding very signi-
neantly. The police can't do anything
With these lids. They are afraid Of
tAem kids" This all happened In
Philadelphia Doubtless these urch-
Inns had been reading in the daily nap
ers the cry 'fin the Negro" and Il
hey we're trying to carry out the IN.
Junction. F. ,
Again. the crimes of Negroes are I
advertised In way that no other /,
crime IN the country Is advertised. ,
Dor example: II there are in a day q
* assaults, and only one by q Negro, +.
ne chances are that the i've assaults =
. white men WIN 20 unnoticed, IL
Ehile the one By the Negro win be I
Graded TO the world in some such 4
lShion ~ this: Negro Assaults Z
loung Girl or Another Assault d
2 Negro Brute" or Negro arrested q
e Assault The trusting public &
.l-s nnlE one assault has been com d