The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-01-28
LAW AND ORDER
INDORSER OBERTS
NO MOB POLICY
Executive Committee Issues
Appeal to State to Stand
Behind Governor in Law
enforcement Promise.


NASHVILLE, Tenn. Ian. IS, (Spl.)
The executive committee Of the Ten
hesse Law n order league Monday
afternoon issued the following strong
statement commencing Gov Roberts
for his stand against the mob evil and
determination TO put an end to this out
rageous practice which has been a
detriment not only to Tennessee. but
also to the entire South
The executive committee Of the Ten
nesse Law and order league COM
mends with all possible emphasis the
seneial attitude Of Gov. Roberts to mob
violence, and more particularly his ad-
dress to the legislature asking for in
creased power for the prevention of
l~ynchtngs. With characteristic straight
ttTwH,dness n ylEor he has attacked
this growing evil We assure him of our
earnest support, and In So doing we
feel that we represent the sentiments of
we organization for which we act. and
the sentiment OF the best citizens OF
this state.
psck rs
o"Oh Va NONOlhVI'
While we are gratifIed. we are not
surprised at the governors words. When
the state conference on law and order
was held last March, he was prevented,
by his official duties, from being pres
ent, but he wrote a most vigorous let
ter in support Of the purpose and plans
ment Of his candidacy he devoted to
this subject a paragraph that rang out
in no uncertain tones, and in his cam
paign speeches he repeatedly said that
a ,lynching should not occur during his
administration If 1t VAS in his power
to prevent It. In various interviews
with the members Of this committee
he has given evidence of his determina-
ton. Now that he has backed UP his
oft-repeated words with a specific adj
dress to the legislature, and with a def
mite program Of action, he is entitled
to the support Of all thoughtful and
patriotic men.
We urge the Legislature to give heed
to his earnest words, as well as the
promptness Of their own zeal for the
public good, We are informed that a
bill providing the governor with add
tional police force, which will repre-
sent the state in an emergency, Will be
submitted to the legislature. A bill pre-
pared by the attorney general of the
state has also been proposed, said bill
aiming to bring legal pressure to bear
upon SheTiffS to enforce rigidly the laws
of the state. From these bills, and per-
haps others to be submitted, we con
fidently expect that the members of
the legislature will work out a definite
program by which mob violence may
ST. O. ,4,ee r-InnnpFon.Dnr, ~ '"'S ''''''
we "ould renllnd lhe 'esls!alure OF
the great conference held IN the state
capltol in March; ~ was one OF the
most representative bodles ever gain
cred In the stateI135 towns and 20 ed
ucational institutions sent delegates.
thlei Justice Neil presided, vigorous
speeches in, favor, OF law enforcement
were made by leadlng citizens ana Wig
orous resolutions were passed, From
those resolutions we quote some ex-
pressions that reveal the attltuda OF
those who participated In the meestng
W record our solemn protest
against the atrocities which have been
perpetrated by the mobs which have
lynched men in, Tennessee in the past.
However brutal may have been the
crimes which have provoked such mob
violence, we find no %extenuation, no
alienation In the %abrogation OF law,
We have the strong conviction thai
lynching Is unjustifiable under any and
all circumstances and IL wrong i'm the
sight of man and In the sight OF God
Mob violence is an economic, social and
moral evil, and a peril that must he
stopped. II is A cure for nothing; il
%aggrayates rather than prevents Crime
Mobs are a menace to civilization-thev
make no distinctions violate aiI roo,
son and set no limits to their passions
ou,
We lvsotuteiS set OUT races against
Wy lStuiItlrue ~ SUCH outbreaks OF
primal phssloh we cal upon, We urge,
stdte, county anu municipal o~tilcers 10
use al power AZ lhelf command, al
moral ana lesal pressure TO prevent
sum iHnClh1Es III me Iuture' we can