Evening star., 1922-06-07
Burning at the Stake and
the Dyer Anti-Lynching Bill

The recent epidemic Of mob violence
against negroes has resulted in
general discussion of the subject and
the relation thereto of the so-called
Dyer anti-lynching bill. which Is
tabled in the Senate because of grave
doubts regarding its constitutionality.
The newspapers of all sections unite
in condemning mob action. and appeal
to the law and order element in every
community to stamp out the spirit of
violence. But many express doubt of
the wisdom of action by the federal
government. believing the states
themselves can be depended on to end
the outrages.
Although harm has come because
of a popular conception that federal
laws are better enforced than state
enactments. which has resulted in al
legations that states rights have
been trespassed upon. the Milwaukee
Sentinel feels convinced that it is
high time for some states to bring
to the standard set by the federal
laws" Yet with that view carefully
taken into consideration, the Grand
Rapids Herald believes that "in spirit
and purpose the Dyer law is sound.
Persistent southern lynchings are a
IL
curse will never by controlled by the
states themselves. Under the doctrine
of implied powers some way can be
found-whether the Dyer law or some
other-to make federal attack upon
this curse constitutional and result
full" In view of the fact that there
apparently was conclusive evidence
that some, at least. of the negroes
lynched were guilty, the Manitowoc
Herald-News says. the incident ap-
pears "in what might be called its
most favorable aspect" and then.
after recalling that the great ma
jority Of decent southerners have
spoken against this crime" insists
1.-The federal government apparently
cannot set free the negroes. but it
can and should see that they are pro-
tected in life and lirnb."
Sharp and sincere denunciation of
the killing of the negroes is voiced by
that 1.-The cure for the evil resides
with the authorities and the public
opinion Of the communities in which
this order of lawlessness finds ex-
preston" and 1t makes 1t very clear
that "becouse of a few recklessly.
cruelty, lawlessly disposed groups of
people, the entire south is unjustly
advertised to be land where lynch
ing stalks abroad. as an unconquer-
able menace to the maintenance of
order and to the peace of society"
While this is true some action must
be taken to curb the evil in the opin-
ion of the Boston Transcript, which
insists if Congress has not power to
act, then constitutional amendment
should give this authority. because
"the nation is on its conscience in
this matter. It cannot live and be
safe while nourishing in its breast
such rampant and worsening saw
agery as lynch law expresses" But
there is sincere doubt in the mind of
the Rochester Herald whether law of
any sort will suffice. 1t suggesting
that there Is but one way to stop
lynching and that is by more general
education, by the cultivation of
greater confidence in. and more uni
versal reliance upon. the courts and
in the processes of law"
While the possibility of passage of
the Dyer bill has vanished, the Mo-
bile Register contends that there
should be no apologies for lynching
and all good citizens wish to see
such manifestations Of lawlessness
suppressed" Indorsing this view, the
Columbus Dispatch, points out that
] constitutionality was claimed for the