The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1922-02-08

One Of the most vicious pieces o
Legislation ever proposed in the Unite
States was the bill to prevent lynch
ings and fixing penalties for viola
tion of the law. 1t was intended
designed, planned and directed as ;
direct slam at the South by the higl
and mighty republicans, who, ma mat
ter how they may fawn and shipper
hate the people of the South with
every drop of their northern blood
The anti-lynching bill was fit anc
suitable companion to that other in
famous measure proposed some years
ago by the republicans, and known
as the "Force Bill" BY the terms
of this measure the United States
would station soldiers at every polling
place in the South to see that lall
negro men were permitted to vote.
Being "peeved" election after election
to see the "Solid South" come to the
front with her Democratic votes, the
republicans sought to break the Solid
South" by forcing down the threats
of the Southern people suffrage of
our large negro population
In the case of the Force Bill John
Sharp Williams and other Southern
Democratic Statesmen shook their
fists in the faces of the northerners
and dared them to pass it. John
Sharp Williams said something about
the flashing Of swords long ago
sheathed by the Confederates, and the
old bayoncts that might possibly he
taken down and polished and again
reflect the sunlight of freedom, etc.,
ETC., etc. Anyway, the Force Bill"
was thrown into the discard, just
where it is likely the Anti-Lynching
Bill will go. 1t would be one thing
for the republicans to fine Southern
county for lynching a negro rapist,
and another thing to collect the fine.
A debate occurred in congress few
days ago on the Anti-Lynching Bill. |
Many things were said in its favor
by the republicans, and many things |
were spoken against it by the Demo
Gratis. So far, the best thing we have
read on either side was the twenty
minute speech made by our own
Hon. John E. Rankin,
who said:
Mr. Chairman, this so-called anti-4
lynching bill is one of the most dras
tic and most vicious measures that
ever came before this body. Yet, if
! thought it would stop Iynchings +
and at the same time prevent the
awful causes of lynchings, without in
fringing on the rights Of the States
doing violence to the Constitution,
destroying the rights of our citizens
or unjustly penalizing innocent PERI 1
sons for the offenses Of other people, Z
| would consider giving it my sup
port.
But I Know it viii not do that; it't
was not intended for that purpose.
1t is but a play to the negro agita-.
tor for political effect, and it will not
only fail to decrease the number of
ynchings, but it will encourage the J
negro brutes in their attacks on the J
white women Of the S
country. (Applause.) {
As the gentleman from Tennessee
Mr.. Garrett) said, it ought to be
,alled "a bill to encourage rape" ]
That will be the result if it becomes G
he law 1t will cost the lives of in G
locent white women and children Y
the South, if not through S
nut the entire country You men t
rom the north have never known G
what it means to live state of con- v
tant dread for the safety of your d
owed ones. Heretofore you have had r
title or no race question. But in the d
south it is different. The shadows c
{ the negro criminal constantly hangs S
IS Mr.. Garrett says, like The sword t
f Damocles over the head Of every o
White woman in the South, and no h
ne knows just when and where it G.
5 going to fall. Il
The vicious negro will understand p
rom this bill that they are protected CT
n their crimes. They will see that
v its terms they are assured of the HI
of the Federal government, v
nd that if their crimes are so re- in
citing as to invoke the wrath of an W
utraged community to such an eX &C
ent that they rise up and take the pi
fe of the offender, then that COM kl
lunity or county is to be fined in the re
1m of 100000 to be paid to his fami b.
Z, no matter how atrocious his crime TT
lay have been. In other words, it H
lsures the life of the negro rapist 81
1r $4,000, to be paid to his family W