Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1919-07-12
MIR. WILSON'S APPEAL AGAINST
MOB RULE AND WHAT CAME
OF III.

s..- ~ IS. 49,,
One year ago this month President
| Wilson issued Il statement, address
cd to his fellow countrymcn, on the
subject of mob spirit and mob act
ion. In this he declared that every
American who takes part i'll the act
ion OF mob or gives any sort OF
countcnancc is no true son OF this
great democracy, but its bctrayer. !"
Mr.. Wilson did not mention particu
larly the iynching OF Negroes in the
South but that he had this evil i'll
mind appeared certain from the word
ing Of one paragraph of his address:
Il therefore very earnestly ana
solemnly beg that the Governors OF
all the states, the law Officers OF
every community and above all the
men and women OF every community
in the United States all who revere
America and wish to keep her namo
without stain or reproach, Will CO.
4 operate not passivcly merely, but
actively and watchfully-to make an
end of this disgraceful evil. 1t can
not live where the community does
not countenance it."
Tho Sun, which has not Degrudgcd
it's approval to the President when
ever he has acted or spoken for the
good of the United States, declared
on the occasion of this particularly
statement that every word uttered by
Mr.. Wilson in condemnation OF MOB
law was Sound, true and beyond con
troversy." And ave were not without
hope that the section which has ap
pcared to be so devoted to Mr.. Wilson
and which has received from him
and his Congresses such vast substan
tial benefit would hearllen to tho OBJ
vious truths the President spoke.
What has been the result? We,
shall not compile a list Of the lynch
ings that have occurred in the United
States since the President made his
solemn protest on July &c, 1918 but
offer instead q brief chronological
statement Of the worst horrors that
have occurred in the first six months
Of the present year; not ordinary
lynchings, but illegal executions OF
Negroes in which the mob was not
content with rope or bullet but in,
sisted upon stake and torch:
January 20-Bragg Williams, who
had been convicted Of the murder OF
woman and her child and had been
sentenced to be hanged IN FEBRUARY
81, was taken from the Jail at Hills
boro, Tex, and burned alive in the
presence Of 800 persons.
March 4-Judge Johnson charged
with attacking white woman was
taken from Sheriff and burned at
the stake in Castleberry, Fla. On
that date President Wilson made an
address in this city expressing his
amaZement that among the critics Of
his covenant there shold be such "a
comprehensive ignorance Of the state
of the world"
May Benny Richards, accused
Of killing his divorced wife and wound
ing four white men was hanged and
shot to death and his body brought to
Warrcnton. Ga, and burned in the
presence of 800 persons.
May 14-Iloyd Clay, charged with
criminal assault, was burned alive in
the city Of Vicksburg, Miss, by a
mob of 1000 persons.
May 81 Frank Livingston accused
of killing his employer and his en-
ploycr's wife was tied to a tree and
burned to death by a mob Of $50
whites and Negroes at Tel Dorado,
Ark
June 26-John fairfield, charged
with criminal assault, was hanged,
shot and burned to death at Ellisville
Miss
SO in six months there have been
six declarations, expressed in the
most barbaric form, OF the contempt
felt in Southern communities for the
law and incidentally for the sincere
appeal made by Mr.. Wilson less than
year ago. Five state have been the
offenders, the State with two black
marks being Mississippi whose Gov
ernor less than a week ago expressed
his utter helplessncss or unwilling
ness even to attempt to keep his
oath Of Office in tho face of tho NIL,