Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-12-31
ANT|-LYNCH BILL
GIVEN PRECEDENCE
BY THEODORE TILLER
The Atlanta Journal News Bureau,
623 Riggs Builling.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. H.
The drastic Dyer anti-lynching
bill, which would take from state
courts all jurisdiction to try persons
accused Of lynching and give fed
era. courts such jurisdiction, is to be
given privileged status in the house.
The house rules committee has
agreed to give the Dyer bill right OF
way, and a rule for consideration
VIII be reported early next week.
This legislation will constitute an
if such thing still exists. Under
the bill federal courts will not only
try lynching cases, Furnishing mem
bers of mobs, but sheriffs, prosecut-
ing attorneys and other state and
county officers who fail to prevent
lynchinSs are subject to trial and
punishment for a felony in the fed
eral court. The bill is predicated on
the idea that when a person is
lynched he is denied the+equal pro-
lection guaranteed by the constitu-
ton.
Southern Democrats, who still
cling to what little there is left OF
States rights" are preparing to
stage a desperate, but probably flu
tile, fight against the special rule,
and against the bill. Representative
Edward w. Pou, ranking Democrat
of the rules committee, is scheduled
to lead the opposition to the rail-
reading of the measure through the
house by aid of a rule reported by
the majority of the rules committee.
States rights Democrats say
they are against mob law and the
lynching evil, and on this point there
is no partisan division. The Dyer
bill. however, is regarded by them
as a drastic, unnecessary, and pos
sibly unconstitutional, measure. 1t
would transfer to the federal courts
all trials of persons accused of the
crime of lynching. It provides that
state and county officials who fail to
make every reasonable effort to
prevent lynchings shall be removed
from Office and punished for a fell
ony. Persons convicted of being
members of a mob that accomplishes
lynching may be sentenced by the
federal courts to life Imprisonment.
1t is further provided that the coun-
ty in which a lynching occurs
shall be fined $4,000, the fine to go
to the family of the victim Of mob
law. Any county through which a
mob passes with it's prisoner en-
route to the scene of lynching may
be assessed a similar fine. State
and pO1lntv nfficpY-S who fail yapO1pot
or refuse to make all reasonable
efforts to apprehend and punish
lynchers following the commission
of the crime are also t ODE adjudged
guilty of felony, just as are the
officers who fail to protect their
prisoners beforehand. Their punish.
ment may be a $1,000 fine, five
years imprisonment or both, as i'm
posed by federal court.
The Republican platform Of last
year called for anti-lynching legisla.
ton and there is general belief here
that the Dyer bill will pass the
house and probably the senate by a
substantial majority. Opposition to-
day seems confined mainly to an
insufficient number of Democrats
who adhere to the states rights doc
trine. Northern Republicans, how
ever, recognize no such objection.
They are in position to retort that
in the main southern Democratic
votes furnished the majority for
national prohibition and forcing
aridity on states that did not want
it. The woman suffrage amendment,
objected to by many southern states,
followed the prohibition victory, and
the score was more even. Now the
Republican party proposes to de
prive state courts of the right to
proceed against lynching parties as
sembled within state borders, and a
mighty protest comes from the
&c