Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-01-18
Governor Dorsey Says
STATE C0nStabulary Is
Neededt0 Suppress Crime


Gwinnett, Hall, Milton and othel
counties, where it is reported tina
negroes are being ordered by nigh
riders to leave the counties. pract1
cally demonstrates the breakdown o:
existing machinery for the enforce
ment of the law, was the opinion eA
pressed yesterday by Governor Dor
sew in discussing the reports which
have been made to him.
On Friday afternoon five Gwinnet'
county negroes, calling on the gov
ernor at his office in the capitol, in
formed him that night riders ha(
ordered them to leave the county moi
later than Saturday night. They
told him they had done nothing tc
give offense to any white citizen
that they owned their land, worked
hard, attended to their own business
and were never involved in any trou'
BILE of any kind. They impressed
the governor as being good negroes
They gave him a notice which, they
said, had been posted on negro
school house door, warning all ne
groes in Rock Bridge district OF
Gwinnett county to leave the county
at once.
Governor Dorsey at once called
Sheriff E. S. Garner, of Gwinnet1
county, on long distance telephone
Failing to get him that way, he sem
a rush telegram directing the sheriff
to organize a posse com1tatus a.
once, proceed to Rock Bridge district
and protect the negroes at all costs
He made it plain to the sheriff thai
it was his duty to protect life an6
property in that county. He further
directed the sheriff to call him or
long distance telephone to get thu
names of the negroes who had come
to see him. He did not put thell
names in the telegram for the ooVl
Gus reason that he wished to protec
them from possible violence.
Governor Dorsey did not receive
a long distance call from Sheriff Gar
uer during Saturday, but SATURDAY
night at 8 o'clock he received
telegram advising him that the sher
iff had organized a posse comltatus
and was then leaving for Rocl
Bridge district, and would make
full report of developments by wire
Sunday morning. The governor was
gratified to get this news.
In Hall county ten days ago there
began what seemed to be genera
movement to drive the negroes ou
of the northern part of the county
Families of negroes refugeed u
Gainesville in large numbers, saylns
they had been warned to leave. IL
Milton county, according to Governor
Dorsey's information, similar actlVl
ties by night riders have been under
way. 49,
Existing Georgia laws for the
maintenance of order and the sup
nression of violence tie the COVER
nor's hands until the local authorl'
ties officially advise him that they
cannot handle a situation. Then NJ
ia authorized to declare martial law
and send the military forces to take
charge, but not until then. AS mat
tiers now stand, there Is practlcaliy
no military force at the governor
command, owing to the fact that the
national guard has bene only par
TALLY reorganized since the war:
Discussing the situation last night
Governor Dorsey, as stated In the
outset, expressed the opinion thai
night riding against negroes, gI
house burning, forcing of negroes
into peonage, and similar VIOLATIONS
of the law, prove the failure OF Elk
listing machinery for law ENFORCE
ment. ..or
He further expressed the OPINION
that Georgia ought to have a strong
well organized, well commanded wei
armed and we'll equipped state con.
stabulary, or police force, operating
under the governors direction, ready
to be dispatched upon a moment
notice to any locality where life OF
property are being jeopardlzed, e1tne1
through the failure Of the local au'
thorities to act vigorously, OF
through their inability to handle
situation. 49,
It seemed quite likely, from the
GOVERNORS comments, that he Woulo
make this the subject of a leading
recommendation in his message &c
the legislature.
-ocH,rcc DTUE IN