The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1922-03-01
MONDELL HITS LlNCHING
IN PLEA TO PREVENT IT
In Thirty.two Years 3,372 Killed By
MObs, Including 1l2 Whites
and 81 Negro Women.

Washington. That the United
States is subject to the condemnation
and odium OF the world because OF its
tolerance of lynching is the contention
on Representative Frank W. Mondell
Of Wyoming, majority leader of the
| House, made while uring the passage
of bill by the Houes TO prevent it i'll
future He says;
"In the last thirty-two yerS-that is.
from the year 1889 to 1920 inclusive
3,372 persons were killed in the Unit
ed States by murderous and lynching
mcbse. That is at the average rate OF
1O5 per annum. OF these Up Were
whites, including Mexicans in that
category, and $3.50 mere negroes.
Anon this number were II white and
81 colored women and girls.
1T is true that, taking the country
as a whole. there has been a gradual
and very considerable decrease in
the average number OF lynchings per
annum. but this decrease has been to
very considerable extent in the sec
lions of the country that were former
ly comparatively sparsely settled and
where. with the increase of popula-
ton and the establishment of courts.
lynchings have become infrequent. On
the other hand, there are sections OF
the country where there has been no
decrease but a tendency TO an annual
increase in the number of lynchings,
and therefore it cannot be said that in
the sections of the country where this
crime against life and against civiliza-
ton has been most prevalent there is
any tendency toward a decrease. On
the other hand, there has developed
an increasing tendency toward the
practice of the most murder.
"One shudders at the bare recital Of
the fiendish torture to which mob VIC
tins are subjected. The mast degrad-
ed and brutal savages never INDUCED
in m"re heartless and inhuman acts Of |
outrage and torture than those which |
ave become comparatively common |
in this twentieth century, in this land |
which we like to consider THE haven
Of the downtrodden and the oppressed
and the hope of tn, world
Let US not forget that the taking OF
human life by mobs. the artocious
brutalities which so frequently char
acterize these crimes in our country,
are practically unknown in times of
peace over most of the civilized !,
world; that we are subject to the con-
demnation and tn odium of all the
world by reason of these frightful
atrocities; that Notwithstanding the
exalted and honorable place America,
by reason of her method and system
If government, her unselfish and al
.ruistic foreign policy, her boundless
has acquired in the minds
tuu UcdTtb vi ulOol VI lhC POOpiSo ~
he earth, our most emphatic and en-
husiastic well-wisher anywhere may
be- shamed to silence by the perfectly
plain and truthful recitay of the facts
If these frightful crimes.
IL do not propose to discuss the con-
of the measure. That
question has been ably handled by
,thers very much better qualified than
!, but ] do want to PROFOUND to the
gentlemen on both sides this question;
n tho light Of THESE awful facts, and
n view of this inttolerable condition,
What do you propose to do about 1T"
hall wesimply drift along regretful,
pologetic. shamed before nll the
,orld, making no definite attempt 10
ure this awful situation, or shall we
ny ,as we should. this evil must censc
lis blot upon the escutcheon OF the
epubllc must be removed. this men
20 must DO llfiod; this vile tester
ust DO cured,
"of course, wo shall get nowhere so
ng M wo assume an attitude OF fu- y
10 regret, n shoulder'shrugging post