The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-05-30
LYNCH|NG LAW IS LATEST DEMAND BEFORE CONGRESS
Borah Leads Fight Against Dyer BiII-FearS It Uncon- stitutionaI-Negroes Are
 InsiStent
By HUGH ". ROBERTS Washington Bureau, The Age Herald
 ROO DayfdsOn Buiidf


 Washington, May 2s.-tspecia1.)- The high carnival of rapine and mur- der in certain sections of the country has given cause for the negroes of Massachusetts to repeat their demand on Congress that it enact an anti lynching bill.
 Congress is preparing to respond, and would hastily respond but for the insistence of Senator Borah of Idaho that Congress refrain from the silly proeedure- of enaeting d law which it knows in advance to be unconstitutional" Others less bold Tn face of negro pressure urged the putting through the Senate of the Dyer bill. passed through the House, and thus impose on the supreme court responsibility for its continued existence
 Conferences Held
 At the present time conferences are underway between Borah and certain leaders of the House In hope that the republican element might respond to the insistent demands of the negroes of Massachusetts. and at the
 
 ing into law statute known in ad- vance to be unconstitutional.
 Shortly after these conferences were initiated. Boston negro leaders, pointing to newspaper dispatches re- lating incidents of lynching follow ing criminal assaults in the south, and to other dispatches indicating growing opposition to republican policies, asked Senator Borah, with significant emphasis, if the Dyer bill was absolutely abandoned.
 Dyer Hill Considered
 Senator Borah replied in the nega- tive and explained that delay was due to the necessity of devising statute which would stand the test of the court. 1t is altogether prob able that such bill will be prepared. The House, on account of it's idle ness, may put it through. It appears impossible for the Senate to do as much, for the Senate has It's hands full. The situation is so arranged that democrats very easily could en- compass It's defeat At the same time, democrats. because of the ever recurring sensations In the south hesitate to take a stand against a measure which, despite its further encroachment against the rights of states to govern themselves. Is in- tended as a check against mobs de- siring to execute the law themselves
 HumiIiate south
 Massachusetts negroes of the Will liam Monroe Trotter type are evil dentiy inspired by belief that the passage of the Dyer or any other kindred bill would bring great humi- llation upon the people of the south. It is said that they are aware that a mob bent on securing vengeance would not be deterred through the existence of a law which inflicts a financial penalty on the county in which lynchina might occur. Such knowledge prompts certain republi- cans like Senator Borah to hesitate. and 1t is believed that but for the fact that this is an election year. and the further fact that in some states negroes hold the balance of political power, this anti-lynching proposition would be dropped.
 At the same time, every new out rage in the south, every lynching. every beating. inflames the negro uplifter to demand punishment of the south at the hands of republican legislators. And every new outrage weakens the hands of democrats who contend that the south Is able to solve it's own problems.
 Anti-lynching legislation is to the front again in the national Congress.