The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1915-09-02
PAGE NINE

concerned
Even had it been the right trail it's vindict-
iveness would have been without basis in reason
IT Leo Frank, a man of good reputation, of cult
ure, of happy horne life, murdered Mary Phagan,
he crazy tho craziest prisoner in the
back yard at Napa. Fe observed" neither good
i'll; the public safety merely demanded that
he beremoved from society. Hatred of him was
as meaningless as hatred of q r2ttlesnale. Far
Far better, by proper education by proper inspec-
tons Of factories and factory conditions, to have
forestalled and prevented the crime. There
already in existence delicate means of tsting
mentality, which, rightly used would prevent
many crimes of violence
Hatred of rattlesnake is not so very UNI
reasonable.
AS to child labor laws, ours would be bet
ter, If just such Northern capitalists as those
of Franks factory did not fight us SO hard
IN our efforts to protect our children.
We tried most earnestly to keep the under
fourteen girls out of the shops, the mills,
ETC.. and Franks factory was one of those
that fought us hardest.
We could do better, In many ways, if the
Yankee millionaires would let us alone, and
quit sending us such men as Leo Frank
Massachusetts, aims blow at us, and says,
in the Springfield Union:
A thing that has puzzled a great MANY minda
in connection with the case of Leo NJ Frank ia
the obstinate conviction in the minds of so many
Phagan, when to the country at large the evidence
pointed strongly in another direction. In this
connection Franks lawyer Louis Marshall puts
great deal of blame Tom Watson, whose
publications said to have a large circulation
among an ignorant and credulous element of the
South. Watson's fragrant appeals to and
religious prejudice are notorious, and have been
SO indecent at times as to bring him into diff
culties with the postal authorities. 1t appears
that Watson has made it particular business
for some time to infame public sentiment against
Frank, and that his appeals to anti-Semitism have
taken the most outrageous forms.
Watsons publications essentially yellow
Journals, conducted by typical rampant populist.
The popufist mind always works from pre-con-
ceiVed theories and has u characteristic contempt
for facts. Unfortunately there is large element
within the district around Atlanta that is respon-
sive to just such methods of appeal. In asserting
that Tom Watson poisoned the mind of the State
Of Georgia, Marshalls words doubt contain a
substantial element of truth. Other publications
of the yellow brand must share the blame, how
ever. From the start this case was given a hys-
terical treatment that was decidedly unwhole-
In this Watson was a particularly mis-
chievous agent, because he combines the instincts
of the yellow journalist and the political DEM
agog.
The lynching of Frank stands as melancholy
example of the danger that attends such ignition
of the grosser passions. The populstic spirit is
always dangerous, because of its recklessness
both Of facts and of consequences. In this in
stance a Commemorative name has been sulIied
by the deep wrongs inflicted upon one whose
rights should have received the full protection
guaranteed by the Constitution.
If the Union editor will read the decision
of the United States Supreme Court, it will
learn that Louis Marshall was utterly unable
to show to that highest Of tribunals that
Georgia had denied Leo Frank any constitu-
tional right.
Mr.. Hearst is very severe on us, in his
Chicago Examiner: he says
The outcry against Frank was raised by hate
crazed irresponsibies liz whoGe ranks were enough
criminals to carry oEs the bideous plot that re-
suited in Franks assassination. For this outrage