The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-06-05

The spirit that must be created Tn the minds and hearts of the Ameri- can people is that of reverence for the law, the government and the high officials of this government. The attitude of the nation Is critical and eensorious. Partisan politics and personal interests are destroying pa triotism. When a man is elected president of the United States, when he dons the official robes of our gov ernment and takes the national scep- Ire, every true American should honor and respect him. When men are elected senators, congressman, governors, legislators, judges, com missloners, high sheriffs and police. they should at once command our sympathy, our support, our respect and cooperation in the execution Of the high functions of their offices.
 Birmingham All Right
 We have in the city of Birming ham, dare assert. as fine body of commissioners, as high-elass bench of judges, as moral and efficient sheriff and deputies and as moral and efficient set of policemen as any county or city in the United States can produce l say 1t not because they dl OuA DhN bNSeNA9o CA SAAN N-~~N' What our officials need Is loyal support of our best citizens.
 Commends Judge Fort
 T have in my possession the writ ten charge of one of our high-cla Christian judges of this city on the subject of lynching and mob law. No higher position could be taken by judge and no better advice given to
 t.. 5oA erh ont our country and among the masses of our people Is the establishment in the mind everywhere of reverence for law and support for and co-op- eration with the officials of our country.
 Disregard Constitution
 "One of the primary causes of the present disregard of law and the mob tendency grows out of the disrespect being shown to the American consti- tution by men who hold high posi- tions and execute large authority and veal broad influence. One of the best articles on this subject l have read was written by a former gover- nor and United States senator of this state, Tn which he said in substance that the worst influence on the masses 
 high business and financial impor- tanee trampling our prohibition laws under their feet, disregarding our na- tional constitution. and putting them selves on the level with the vendors of blind tiger liquor. and the com mon outlaws of our country.
 Can't TrampIe Rights
 "we cannot trample our .constitu- AL q nd Tiff a civil law tomorrow. We cannot join the spirit and practice of the outlaw to- day and quell the mob tomorrow. If we are to curb outlawism in our country and stop the mob spirit, we must show ourselves willing to honor our flag. support our officials, pre- serve our constitution and keep our own civil and moral laws"
 'sEverything connected with mob ought to be repellant to manly man A mob is always contemptibly cowardly-20 to 50 against one. They select the time when the victim is in a cell in jail, helpless and de- fenceless. or toll him out from home under false pretence and seize him as towards. Every act and every movement Is cowardly. A mob Is conscicnceless and cruel. They have
 
 or propriety and no consideration for the innocent women and children connected with their victim and no consideration of the influence of this crime on society.
 Mob Begins Wrong
 "A mob never begins at the right place to correct grievance. When impatient with the slow process of law, they always seize the poor vic tim on the way to his punishment Why not start with the officers If there be criminal delay or neglect If a man is executing a bad law, why not attack those that made the law? Why attack an honest man for dis charging a duty. A mob is always selfish, some selfish prejudice or personal injury is the exciting cause.
 True manhood and true Ameri- canism is to give every man fair chance In the battle of life.
 Personnel of Mobs
 "Who compose a mob? One who has not observed closely the personnel of mbos in various states would be greatly surprised at the character of ciuzens composing the mob. Rough ly they may be arranged into about four classes: / "1. Good and honorable citizens, stir red to impetuosity by some heinous crime, some outrage committed on a neighbor or some member of his family. In the presence of an atro- cious crime committed on the help less the, are stirred into storm of sympathy and revenge; some leader of the community cries, Let's 50 after him. The impulse catches the sympathetic company like a torch set to a stubble and in a moment the mob is started and deed is often perpetrated as dastardly as the crime committed. Every citizen on mature reflection will regret his hasty deed.
 Stop: Think, Wait For Law!
 "2. A promiscuous crowd of good and bad, rough and smooth. impulsive men who are easily drawn into any movement under a momen- tary impulse--men who do not look all around a subject but are quickly car ried off with one phase of it. The one idea--a bad man has committed a bad deed and ought to be punished-sei zes them and without weighing results they are thrown into a furore by a few strong leaders who are in some way related to the injured and the mob forms somewhat like a cyclone ing unreasonable, immoderaate and excessive. constituencies and feel ingless.
 Beware of Crowds
 "3 A group of men in common business or having a common interest who feel that they have been injured in the personal business or interest. With an eye single to their own in- terest, they regard an opponent to