The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1916-12-19

they jest have to nave a lynchlnS
every so often" The editor of one
of South Carolina's leading journals
stated a second:
Crawford was worth around $2O,-
coo and that is more than most white
farmers are worth down here. Prop
erty ownership always makes the ne
gro more assertive. more independent
and the poor whites can't stand 1t.
there is an element of Jealousy that
enters in whenever they see mig
GER forge ahead of them, and they
lay for a chance to Jump him."
What os going to be done about 1t:
Article VI of the Constitution makes
it difficult for South Carolina to avoid
the issue. The answer depends large
ly upon the moral courage of Sherin
R. W. Burts. He is Well-to-da farm
er living near Honea Path, the son
of Rev. R. ". Burts, and was super
intendent of the Sunday school OF
Broadmouth Baptist church when the
appointment to fill an unexpired term
came from the governor unsolicited
and unexpected, because Of the fam
ily's highstanding.
There are those in Abberille who
are outspoken in condemnation or
his conduct on the days the mob
ruled. The Abbeville Jail is unusually
we'll built; single staircase leads
to the cells on the second and third
floors. Four men with 'Wfnchesters
or shot guns could have held that
Jail for two weeks against the whole
county, and militia could have been
on the ground within few hours. a
sheriff in South Carolina has power
to call out the posse comitatus to his
assistance whenever he Is resisted, or
has reasonable grounds to suspect
that such assistance will be neces-
sary." No Abbeville mob would have
taken prisoner from such men as
Capt. j. L. Perrin, or Senator j. NJ.
Nickles, or Hon. W. P. Greene, the
son-in-law of the late Gen. R. R.
Hamphill "The whole county sound
ed his praise" says the editor, read
ing in the incident an indication that
South Carolina was beginning to res
tore and revere the majesty of the
law. Abbeville has blotted that out
with human blood. Where was Able
ville's "Jim White?' the News asks.
By a score of editorials of like
tenor, and by the conduct of the
negroes, who came to the gin, receiv-
ed 800 a bale for cotton, and return
ed home without spending a cent, the
whole business men of Abbeville had
it driven home to them that the tim"
has come when the lynching of a
negro is too expensive; that mobs i'll
these days may lynch their own pock-
etbooks. iAnd on November s, at b
meeting in the court house attended
by practically every business man OF
the city, war was declared on those
Who had decided to run out the Craw-
ford family on the 18th, in resolutions
with decried lawlessness, pledged
physical support to the offers Of Law,
suggested the formation of a local
company Of militia, assured the pro-
lection of the men at the meeting to
all citizens regardless Of condition
or color, and called for a meeting OF
representatives of the lawabiding ele-
ments of the WholeI county for noon
on Monday, November 13, two days
before the Crawford's were to be ex-
PEELED The second peace conference
differed on ways and means of main
tanning law and order, but endorsed
the resolutions of the first meeting
and appointed conciliation commit
tee Of twelve two from AbbeVille two
from the towns of the county other
than Abbeville, and eight from the
rural districts who shall "take up with
the citizens the matters discussed In
the meeting, and endeavor to bring
about proper understanding be-
tween the people Of the county" The
CraWfords were not expelled on the
18th.
One clause of the Abbeville resolu-
tons is worthy of especial note: ere
solved further, That if it be necessary
to carry out this determination, the
aid of the State and Federal govern
ment be called in order that every
citizen may enjoy his rights under the
constitution" For citizens Of South
Carolina to suggest that federal In
teryention be invited If necessary to
insure his constitutional rights to the
negro is not usual. AS the editor OF
the Columbia State, one Of the most
influential journals in the South, says:
''The action of the citizens Of Alb
beville makes plain that they are
aroused They do not intend to al
low the law to be prostrated, with
the result that industry will come to
an end and property values be des-
troyed. If the choice be between mob
law and federal law, they will lay
aside the traditional objections enter
tanned by Southern men toward inter-
ference by federal authority and well
come It's assistance. Moreover, 1t Is