Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1922-02-17
MENACE OF MOBS CALLS FOR
DRASTIC ACTION BY FEDERAL
AUTHORITIES
Over Anti -Lynching Bill Designed to
Stop National Disgrace Of Murder
by Lynching

washington, Feb. 1st--During the
s6 years, 1885 to 1921, inclusive, 3,4oo
persons were lynched in the United
states. These lynchings were plain
murder. in violation of the penal laws
of each state in which they occurred.
In addition to this they were in vio-
1arion of the XIvth Amendment to the
Constitution, which provides that ev-
erv nerson within the jurisdiction OF
every state shall have equal protection
of the law,-lynching being plain de-
nial to the victim of any protection of
the law.
The vast majority of the victims CT
lynchings were negroes, but in a num-
ber of cases they were citizens of for
eign countries. The result of the muir
der of citizens of foreign countries by
mobs in this country has been very
humiliating to the United States gov
ernment. 1t has had to admit to other
governments that. although it claims
to be a sovereign nation, it is with
out the power to make good the guar
antee in its Constitution that no per-
son within its jurisdiction may be de-
prived of life or property without due
process of law, and that all citizens of
other countries are guaranteed pro-
lection while within the jurisdiction
of this country In this respect it
makes the United States on a par with
Mexico or Russia.
In addition, upward of s1,O00,00O in
claims have been paid to other gov
ernments to compensate for the mur-
der of foreign citizens by American
mobs. and there are now on file in the
Department of State scores of unad-
justed claims filed by foreign govern
ments for murders of their citizens by |
mobs in the United States.
The growing evil of lynch law and |
the inability or refusal of the states
both to prevent mobs or to punish
members Of mobs has resulted in the I
of bill in the Congress
to make lynching an offense against
the federal statutes. 1t is entirely
within the province Of the Congress
to pass such a bill. for the Constitu-
tion, which provides that no state shall
deny any citizen within its jurisdic-
.ion protection OF the law, further pro
5ides that: THE Congress shall have
power to enforce. by appropriate leg
Station, the provisions Of this article"
The Dyer Anti-Lynching bin now J
'efore the House for It's consideration
s short, TO the point and if enacted. I
yill prove effective. Briefly. the bin [
royides that If state. or a subdiy- /
'ision of a state, fails or refuses 10 q
'roiect the lives Of persons within IT'S q
urisdiction against "a mob or riotous
ssembl9ge il shall De deemed 70 have 4
enied equal protection of the law rs {
paranteed Dy the federal constifu-
on.
The hiil further makes it violation
federal Laws ~ amy state county or s.
'Nn'olpol onlcer faila or refuses io
''.'e nN Feaaonablo efforts fo prevent b
ipN'h'ne within tho jurisdiction af h
'H i'ii''Nif and he shall he hell io n
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f a'.'''H court ~ tho rn1ea snm i
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