Cayton's weekly. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1916-1921, 1920-05-29

The whole system of Southern justice, as
administered through the courts, is defined
by the Houston, Tex, Observer as follows:
"A code of justice that has two stand
ards can not be justice at all, but at once
becomes a selfish and cowardly fence behind
which it's makers take refuge when the game
gets too warm. It's operation is identical
with the Justice in Mexican bull fight in
which the bull has not a chance in the world;
yet he is goaded and harassed until mad
dened-then killed. If he displays too much
pep before killing time his tormentors have
the board fence for a refuge. He cannot
60 behind that Is not this very much the
predicament oft he Negro in the South when
rub comes? In too many cases, as in
Arkansas, the laws are complete for his pun
ishment but nothing for his protection
The Observer rightly declares that there
can be no peace nor happiness for large
percentage of Southern people-both black
and white-until this wrong is corrected.
The advantages Of ownership Of one home
are set forth by the Rock Hill IS. o. Mes
senger in the following vein:
"A citizen who owns his home no matter
what his vocation, is a more responsible
member of the community, as well as more
advanced in an assured standard Of COM
fort and prosperous employment. 10 own
home is a long step toward the possess
ion of a substantial income, and one in
which the dividends are secure and always
timely"
On the other hand ownership of home
entails some obligations and responsibilities,
and ties the owner to one location. Still,
in these days of high rents and scarce apart
ments the home owner has some advantages
over the tenant, even if he has to pay higher
taxes.
"A wrier in the Kansas City Call, who de.
clares that he is not zone of those Negroes
who have abiding faith in the future Of the
black race in America" thus unbosoms
himself on the subject of the constitutional
amendments affecting the race:
1.-The Temperance advocates have invoked
every proper legal expedient to destroy the
powerful liquor interests in this country and
have compelled congress to apply to this
amendment the appropriate legislation
necessary to the enforcement of this law
to promote the general welfare. The human
wrecks caused by intemperance, the great
number OF crimes caused by the indiscrimi-
nate use Of alcohol, the misery it has en-
tailed upon the young manhood and woman
hood Of the human race and the diabolical
uses to which it has been put-all these and
more reasons that might be advanced show
that the general welfare is not promoted by
it's general and free use as a beverage by
all the people. The legal machinery of gov.
eminent has been freely used to prevent it's
manufacture and sale, to destroy plants
manufacturing it and to punish those who
offer it for sale. Now if the government can
do all these things to make the XVIIIth
amendment an effective and potent law, why
cannot the same agencies be inovked to en-
force the enforcement Of the provision of
the XIII, XIV and XVIII amendments,
which are, or ought to be, just as good law
as the XVIIIth amendment"
Undoubtedly they can be, but it will re-
quire more effort and greater degree Of
organization than have yet been exerted
to that end. When the American people
can be brought to realize that the general
welfare will be promoted by the enforce
ment Of the Civil War amendments, steps
will he taken to enforce them hV aDDrO-