New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-20
GEORGIA FEARS
STATES CREDIT
HAS BEEN HURT
Leading Men Worried
Most About Financial
Effect of LynChing.
GOVERNOR ASKS
ABOUT WALL STREET
Executive Deeply Regrets Anti
Jewish Feeling That Has
Developed.
Bv JOHN ]. LEARY. JR.

Bv JOHN ]. LEARy. JR.
Atlanta. Aug. 19.-These facts stand
out in the Frank case tonight:
/ First. there is ample law in Georgia
to permit of the punishment of his
murderers in any of the four counties
/ through which the lynchers took him
TO his death.
Second, that in all human probabil-
| ity none Of his murderers will ever be
called to the bar Of justice to answer
| for his murder.
Third, that the solid, responsible ele-
ment of Georgia is fearful that the
financial credit of the state has been
seriously damaged.
Fourth, that the Hoke Smith Hard
wick element in the Democratic party
having introduced the Frank case into
politics to beat John NJ. Slaton for the
Senate are beginning to fear that il
/ is a boomerang.
Fifth, that irrespective of personal
likes or dislikes the best element in
Georgia bitterly resents the imputa-
| ton that Slayton cannot in safety re-
turn to his native state and if neces-
sary will organize to protect him.
Sixth, that growth of anti-Jewish
sentiment, aroused by the campaign in
Franks behalf, is seriously alarming
the thinking men of the state.
The financial problem is the one
thing that at the moment bothers most.
Tonight, when I called at the Capitol,
Governor Harris, gray and worn and
, worried, touched upon it Immediately.
Asks About States Credit.
what is the news in New York ?"
he asked. Flows Georgia's credit"
Georgia" l replied, "is borrowing
money in Wall Street cheaper than
New York City can borrow it."
THAT was yesterday" he replied.
"How is it to-day? How has this thing
affected our credit? Has it hurt us ?"
81 am afraid that it has," | replied.
There is no doubt but that for long
time to come there will be senti-
mental effect that you cannot put your
finger on, but which you will feel"
How can that be avoided" he
asked.
"By showing to the outside world
that Georgia does not stand for that
sort OF thing; by Furnishing the MUIR
derers of this man."
1--WE are doing all that we can.
am offering all the money I have at my
disposal for the conviction of these
men. The people of Georgia do not
approve of this crime"
Governor, with no desire to reflect
, upon any mans sincerity, do you really
expect that any one will ever be in
dicted, much less punished for this
murder?"
81 do not know; sincerely hope so.
If it were my last official act | would
do anything humanity possible to bring
| these men to justice"
Regrets Race Prejudice.
Frankly the Governor went on to
explain the various phases of the
Frank case. 1t was clear that he had
little confidence that Franks murder
ers would be punished and as clear
that he deeply regretted the rise of
anti-J ewish prejudice and feared for
the effect upon Georgia's credit.
Georgia is a big borrower in the North
and there is room in the state for un-
told millions of outside money if its
resources are TO be properly developed.
For that reason the Governor. who as a
lawyer was in close touch with the
business affairs of the state, feels, as
does every man of affairs with whom |
have talked, that the Frank case is
likely to be more farreaching in its
effects than "the best citizens of Cobb
County" thought when they lynched
the prisoner.
This condition is not realized by the
man in the street, and therefore the
Georgia mob law, so-called, the strong
est statute of its kind in any state, un-
der which those participating in the
murder of Frank could be convicted in
any country if public opinion permitted
it. probably will not be indicted.
This law, to which | called attention
last night, has been ignored by most
LAWYERS in discussing the Frank case.
One of the leaders of sthe state bar,
who was largely instrumental in its
enactment, said tonight that the law
would hold
Those who would enforce it if they
could reluctantly admit that they have
no chance of success.
Merchants Have Been Injured.
"As matters stand" said the banker
who yesterday told of a movement to
finance the prosecution of the murder
ers of Frank, 81 think we will have to
rest content for a while in the hope
that this mob spirit, this anti-Jewish
sentiment, will die down. If it does
not, if it is still manifest in a week or
fortnight, something will have to be
done. | know that reputable mer-
chants have been injured by this thing.
That is not going TO continue.
IF necessary we will organize to
combat it, just as we will organize to
protect Jack Slaton if any agitation
persists against him. believe | see a
change in sight. Already. believe. a
portion of the public which damned
Slaton is now veering around to his
way of thinking. In time he will be a
bigger man in Georgia than he ever
was before.
IF necessary we will muZzle those
who seek TO profit by this agitation.
"The pity Of this whole thing" he
went on, almost in the words that Gov
ernor Harris used later, "is that fool
friends of Franks brought all this
about. II they had kept their hands off
he would have had a new trial That
| is certain. II was in the air. Then
that fellow Burns came in: then began