The Washington herald., 1915-08-08

Editor of The Washington Herald: In
recent issue of your paper, under the
head, Hard Words for Georgia" you
quote the New Republic. as follows
"A people which cannot preserve its
legal fabric from violence is unfit for
self-government 1t belongs in the cat
egory of communities like Haiti. COM
munities which have to be supervised
and protected by more civilized powers.
Georgia is in that humiliating position
today. And curiously enough the near
est thing to a political ideal in the whole
State is the Importance of its own state
rights. Georgia is peculiarly jealous OF
its sovereignty. But it is not jealous
enough to preserve that sovereignty
from being defiled, or TO exercise It's
power as a trustee of American civiliza-
ton. II the Frank case is evidence OF
Georgia's political development, then
Georgia deserves to be known as the
black sheep Of the American Union
Georgia is not only jealous of her SOW
eregrty but all true Georgians are JeaI-
Gus of the States good reputation. III
the Frank case is evidence of Georgia
political development then Georgia de-
serves to be known as the black sheep OF
the American Union" Hypothetically the
statement is true. But what has trans
pired in connection with the Frank case
should not be taken as evidence of Geor-
gas civilization: particularly by those
who have never understood that case
The white people of Georgia are very
much the same as the native white peo-
pie of New York, or any other State.
Facts Little Understood.
To one who has travelled it is easy TO
believe that there is but slight difference
between the white American citizens,
49,, IN,
different sections. But it is not every
State that every year or even once in
generation. has to deal with a case sim
liar to the Frank case; the main Facts
of which are but little understood outside
of the State II the negro involved in
that case had been convicted as the prin-
Cipal in the crime then the criticism
would have been that Georgia was we'd
ded to the old prejudice against the
negro. But in this case a worthless
negro's testimony contributed largely to
the conviction Of member of very
respectable and prominent white family,
and, Curiously enough. the race question
has been set up as the main reason for
Franks conviction.
Yellow Journalism contributed largely
to the unusual conditions in Georgia
growing cut of the Frank case. New
Yorker had recently bought an Atlanta
paper. and. with his new management,
he took the New York sensational meth
DDS. and the. newly acquired paper sought
out the sensational and played up the
saIacious. with the result that two en-
terprising competitors organized active
competition: and all of this occurred
about the time little Mary Phagan
abused and Hfeless body was found in
the CRIME of the pencil factory basement.
Infiamed the Public Mind.
The writer was in Atlanta at the time.
and passed the courthouse daily between
his home and his office. and he realized,
at the time. that the papers were over
doing the job" and that very ordinary
incidents were played up in the most SEN
sational language and tragic display
with the result that the public mind be-
came inhamed. and the constant irrita-
ton the several years since has kept the
public mind. as regards the Frank case,
in an abnormal state.
From the beginning there has been
doubt as to Franks guilt; although 1t 10
probable that he is guilty. But the fact
that the Jewish business men generally
sought to defend Frank in their stores
and in the business streets first resulted
in a virtual boycott which. at first at
tracted attention. and. after a confer
enCe of prominent people, the question
was more or less tabooed in their places
of business. But it became known. at
about that time that a fund was being
raised by voluntary contributions from
welI-to-do Jews for Franks defense. and
a great deal was said. in the streets and
in the public prints, about the large fees
that Franks attorneys were to receive.
Very naturally these statements. and,
with many misstatements, and rumors.
served to further inflame the public
mind. and particularly among the poorer
people of the respectable class occupied
by the relatives of little Mary Phagan.
Today it is believed by many of these
people that Gov. Slaton was to receive
and did receive a large fee for commu
ting the sentence. OF course that is not
true, but mention it in this connection
TO illustrate the state of the public
mind
Like People of Other states.
4 great deal has been said, in Connec-
ton with this case. and others, to the