South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-07-26
PRESIDENT IN
DENUNCIATION
Of MOB RULE
Appeals to Nation to Stamp
Out Spirit Which Makes
PretenSiOnS to 0emOC-
raCy Pure Hypocrisy,
International News Service

WASHINGTON, July 26.-Pres't
Wilson today placed lynchers
souarely on the side o. Germany.
In a stirring denunciation Of mob
rule. and a plea 20 all Americans
TO make an end of this disgrace
fuI evil" he declared that any man
who even so much as cOuntenanced
mob action is a betrayer OF Amer
lean democracy and adopts the
standards OF the enemies OF his
country, whom ne affects TO de
spise."
The presidents statement ad-
dressed 10 My Fellow Country
men,. was inspired 10y the numer-
GUS lvnchings OF which suspected
pro-Germans were the victims. 1t is
understood here that the lynching
Of Robert p Praeger at Collinsville.
nm. last April was responsible, more
than any other for the presidents
appeal today Every lynching, the
president points out, is blow az
The heart of law and justice and di-
rectlv opposed 20 the principles for
which America a. democracy
stands
America Fighting Mob Rule.
How shall we" he asks. com
mend democracy 10 the acceptance
or other peoples. If We disgrace our
own by proving that 1t Is. after all
no protection TO the weak
The president stresses the point
that America as nation, is engaged
i'm nghting mob rule on a vast scale
lighting lawless passion born of
the very fact that Germany has out
laved herself I'M the courts OF the
world by making lynchers Of her
armies. And individual lynchers in
America are emuldting Germany
example. the president asserts.
Declaring that mob rule cannot
live where the community does not
eountenance il. the president calls
rpon the official and civil pOpula
ton 10 cooperate mot passiVely
merely. but actively and watchful-
Iy- go see that the laws or the ma
ton are kept inviolate and 10 show
am utter contempt for the things
tnat have made This war hideous
among the wars OF history.
The Presidents statement
The text of the presidents state
ment follows.
Nv Fellow Countrymen. take
The liberty Of addressing YOU upon
"a subject which So vitality affects
The honor of the nation and the very
character and integrity Of our insti-
tutions that Z TRUST YOU viii think
me justified iu speaking very plain
is about H.
Il almde 10 the mob spirit which
has recently here and there very
frequently shown its head amongst
rs NOT ion any single region. but IN
many and widely separated parts OF
The country There have been many
Iynchiugs and every one OF them
has been "a blow al the heart OF or
dered law and humane Justice No
man who loves America. no man
utbo really cares for her fame an
honor and character. OF who IS
&rulv loyaI Co her institutions can
sistify mob action while the courts
OF Justice are open and the govern
-reuts Of the states and the nation
a~.. ready and sule to do their duty
We are at this very moment ushuns
ravfes~ passion Germans has out
11wed herself smon- The nations be-
cause .he has disrega rded the sacred
otisatIons of law aud has mad-
Ivnchers Or her armies Lynchers
,nularc her disgraceful example. L.
Ia, my part ann anxious 20 see every
community in America rise above
trat level with pride and "a fixed
resolution which no man or set of
tren can auoFd to despise
Must Not SullN Democracy.
eve proudly claim Go be the
champions Of democrac, 90 we
-saIN at-. in deed. and in truth let
a- see 600 be that we 90 uot discredIt
uur own say plainly that every
American who takes part in the sc-
zion or a moo on gives % any sort of
sountenance is no true son of This
eseat democracy hut ITS betrsyer
and toes more 90 dlscrrdit her To-.
fraf 1reie di-iot alty to her stand
CONTINUED On PAGE FouR)