Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-10-24
Lynchiuu the Lyncllc,.s

- EPUBLlCAN congressional leaders seem
1 y suddenly to have discovered that they
rode into power last November OH 4 party
platform: that they gave certain solemn
pledges to the country at that time: that
they have assumed obligations that must be
discharged and that the time has come to
redeem The promises given. They have not
selected the issue OF taxation OF the tar
III or of an association of nations or any
other OF the paramount" propositions
however. an opportunity to prove their
good faith. These matters must wait for
many more months. Antilynching lcgisla-
ton, on the other hand, policy To which
the Republicans are committed cannot wait
IL is urgent ii is vital.
Tho antilynchng pledge must be acted
upon. it is announced. and bill to carry
the pledge into effect has not only been
drafted, but ii has been favoraby reported
by The judiciary Committee of the House.
Of which that eminent statesman. MI Vol
stead is the chairman Nor is the proposed
les. alton any half-mcasure II is no milk
"nd-mush affair. 1t is no mere sop thrown
10 the negro voters OF the North--no casual
assurance that iynchng is frowneh upon as
Il wicked practice Of Southern barbarians
AS Il piece Of drastic lawmaking this bill
is model 1t penalties everything and
everybody having any connection. direct or
Indirect with an illegal hanging Of a negro
rapiSt or Il white murderer 1t makes lynch
ing felony, to begin with, and gives Fed
cral courts jurisdiction over such crimes
State courts, the Nolstead committee lets il
be known, cannot he depended upon to deal
harshly with lynchcrs. State judges and
State prosecutors are too apt TO sympathiZe
with the mob.
Any lyncher found guilty by 4 Federal
court may be imprisoned for life He can
hp bn loco
than five years. Any person who happens
to be member OF Il lynching party, even
II only attracted to the scene by curiosity
is held to be as guilty as the man who
adjusts the moose. This should be a warn
ing to innocent bystanders." Such limo
cents have often been hit by stray shots
an even worse fate now impends.
But this is not all. 1t is moi enough that
actual iynchers and camp followers shall
lie punished Counties in which lynchings
occur shall forfeit to the family of the
lynchcc 900 for injuries inflicted upon
the deceased. If county lines are crossed
each OF The counties invaded by the mob
becomes liable for $4,000.
Nor is that all. II is provided further that
every municipal or county officer charged
with the prevention Of lynchng who fails
ncglects or omits To do his duty in pro-
tecting prisoner threatened by lynchers
may be fined or imprisoned or both. if found
guilty. There is only one limitation pro-
N!dcd for. This is in the definition of what
constitutes Il mob. There must be at least
five persons acting in concert for the pur-
pose OF dcpriving any person Of his life
without authority OF law" before those
engaged in y lynching expedition come
within the range OF the proposed law
Such il measure as this of course is
doomed TO defeat and the wonder is that it
Is ever seriously urged by intelligent men
In the first place. il is inconccivablc that
Congress would deprive State courts Of
their jurisdiction over purely local crimes
OF this character. In the next place guilt
cannot be spread out over counties in such
a fashion as is provided in this bill Final
~. the whole business is so absurd that il
must fall of its own weight