Paragould soliphone., 1921-11-02
ANTI-LYNCHINC BILL REPORTED
 IN THE HOUSE
Author Commends lt-Mi- nority Member Declares It Illegal-Usurps State Rights.

Washington, Nov 1.-Widely con flicting views on the anti-lynchine bill, now before Congress, were pre- sented in the Houes yesterday il majority and minority reports from the Judiciary Committee.
 The bill, introduced by Repre- sentative Dyer, Republican. of Mis-
 souri, would undertake to wipe out lynching by heavy penalties to be
 imposed on persons participating and
 officers charged with enforcing the
 peace. Counties in which persons
 are put to death by mobs also would be subject to heavy fines 1T
 the federal court.
 Citing the demand in the plat form adopted by the last Republican national convention to end lynching
 the plea of President Harding in ar address to Congress ito wipe out this barbaric stain," and the appea of President Wilson in 1918 tt citizens to help stop mob law, tht majority report, prepared by MT Dyer, charged that these and similar appeals 'have gone for naught, ant lynchings continue"
 Congress must provide the means for ending this cowardly crime, the report continued. Tt is in pun lshment those who take part in i or who permit it.
 "The prevalence in many state: of the spirit which tolerates lynch ing, accompanied too often with in human cruelty, and the inability O unwillingness of the public auhtori ties to punish the persons guilt. of this crime, threatens very seri ously the future peace of the na
 tion. Lynchnig blots our fair nam
 as a nation, for we cannot claim t 1 be civilized until our laws are re spected and enforced and our citi lzens secured against the hideou lcruelties of which we are constant
 ly furnishing fresh examples" l The report added that while i
 had been impossible to get accurat 1 figures. available records showe' SPA persons had been lynched il | the last 30 years, of which 2,52.
 were negroes. Declaring the bill unconstitution al, the minority report, presente' by Representative Summers, Demo crat of Texas, contended it would Etend to destroy the sense of loca responsibility without adding tt
 the protection of the people. This bill, in the judgment of thu
 minority, is without constitutions warrant" said the report. 'It i
 definitely and directly antagonist
 to the philosophy of our system o government, and within the limits o its effectiveness if it should be hel constitutional, would be destructiv
 of that system.
 "If enacted and operative i | would not add to the protection 0 person or general efficiency of gov ernment nod strengthen the relation l ship between the federal governmen i and the states. On the contrary
 this proposed intervention of tn federal government directed agains
 local power, supplanting and super ; seding the sovereignty of the states would tend to destroy the sense 1 local responsibility.
 1 This bill, challenging as it doe the relative governmental efficienc of the states and the integrity 0 purpose of their governmental agen
 cies. placing the federal govern ment, as it does, in the attitude U 1 an arbitrary dictator assuming; co
 ercive power over the states, thei offices and their citizens in matter
 of local police control, would do in comparable harm to the spirit o
 mutual respect and trustful coop
 eration between the federal govern ment and the states, essential t the efficiency of government"
 MT. Dyer will ask for rule t bring the bill up for consideration
 probably this week.