Franklin's paper the statesman., 1912-04-13

torney Generals Efforts to Enforce
the Thirteenth Amendmsnt-Favor-
able Attitude of Federal Judges.
Washington.-Colored citizens gener-
ally are very often heard to complain
bitterly that the federal government
does not enforce the war amendment
of the constitution. Much that the
federal government does in this re-
spect very often goes unnoticed. Un-
doubtedly the most important of these
amendments. if any one Of them may
be said to be more important than an
other. is the thirteenth amendment,
which abolished slavery and which
was intended to secure to every man
the right to individual liberty and
freedom from servitude of any kind
except as punishment for crime
whereof he has been duly convicted.
Therefore the decision of the su-
preme court in the AlonZo Bailey case,
rendered by Mr.. Justice Hughes. hold
ing unconstitutional the state law Of
Alabama which held Bailey as peon.
In which Attorney General Wickersham
and Assistant Attorney General Harr
appeared, was distinct triumph for
the cause of freedom.
1t should be remembered that it was
not the official duty of the attorney
general to appear in this case. but his
act was wholly voluntary in the in
terest of the enforcement of the thir-
teenth amendment and the peonage
statutes. The report OF the attorney
general for 1911 gives two pages to
the subject of the enforcement OF the
peonage statutes. The report says:
The vigorous enforcement of the stat
utes against peonage. conducted by the
department in the last few years. 1t is be
lieved. has done much toward stamping
out that form OF involuntary servitudc In
many districts. but in some of the south
ern states this practice appears to be stlll
quite extensively carried on. Prosecu-
tions under the peonage statutes have
been instituted in nearly all the southern
states and in a few states not In the
south
The reports also recommends that
The statutes of the United States upon
the subject of peonage and slavery should
be amended SO to render them more
effective for the protection OF persons
except u punishment for crime.
Mako Amendment More Binding.
Here it would seem is large field
for the workers of the race to secure
from congress laws necessary to render
more effective the thirteenth amend
ment and thus make more secure the
lives and liberty of our brethren in
the south. The records will show that
prosecutions of persons for violating
the peonage statutes have been insti-
tuted in Alabama. Arkansas. Florida.
Georgia. Kentucky. Louisiana, Missis-
sippi. Missouri. North Carolina South
Carolina. Virginia. West Virginia. Ten
nessee. Texas and other states. Con-
victions have resulted in Alaba ma.
Arkansas. Florida Georgia. Missis-
sippi Missouri. North Carolina. Vir-
ginia and West Virginia. with prose-
cutlons still pending in Kentucky.
Louisiana and Texas.
| In "A number of cases prison SEN
tences have been imposed upon men of
wealth and standing. IN addition to be
ing sentenced to pay heavy fines. The
local United States attorneys have had
department of justice and the assist
ance of special attorneys in the prose-
| cution of these cases. Great credit
should be given them for the courage
and vigor with which they have tried
TO enforce these laws under circum-
stances where juries might be expect
ed to be slow to convict.
| Federal judges. notably Judge En-
ory Speer of Georgia and Judge
Thomas Jones of Alabama. have been
most outspoken and courageous in
their charges to the grand juries con-
sidering these cases in their respective
| districts. A few more years Of this
kind of campaign. with the assistance
of congress. ought to result in stamp
ing out peonage and involuntary servi
rude of all kinds. 1t will be recalled
| that just after the war the southern
States passed IA great many black laws
FOR the purpose of re-enslaving the
Srgro. all Of which they were required
| 10 strike from their statutes before be-
Ing readmitted into the Union or par
litipate in the national government.
Various devices have been used since
10 accomplish the same result. such
| devices as .vagrant laws" Landlord
and tenant laws" false pretenses."
The "claim of Indebtedness" etc Many
q man has been held as n virtual slave
| In the turpentine camps and contrac-
! Tors stockades by coercion and brute
force. One of the methods used II q
person desires the services of a laborer
/ u-bn hnc nt.an
guilty of other misdemeanor is to swear
out warrant. take the prisoner before
Justice of the peace. go surety on his
bail bond. then take the man to his
farm or plantation and compel him to
labor.
OfhAr IlIanaI Mafhnds In pr,e4;ea