The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1923-09-08
DYER BILL TO Be
REINTRoDUCED IN
NEXT CONGRESS-
First Day of New Congress Ses-
sion Is Scheduled for Re-
introduction of Bill
SAYS Estates RIGHTS SILLY
Lynching Figures for First Half
of 1928 Show Absence of
'Usual Crime

Kansas City, Kan.--Speaking be-
fore the National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People, now
holding a race relations conference
here, Representatives Leonidas c.
Dyer of the 9th Missouri District,
said he would reintroduce his federal
a1tilynching bill on the first day of
the new session of Congress. The
Dyer Anti-LyIlching bill was passed
by vote of 230 to l19 in the last
House of Representatives but was
held alp in the Senate by filibuster
conducted by Southern Democrats.
Mr.. Dyer praised the work of the
Advance ment Association in creating
a sentiment against mob violence in
this country, and then said:
"Without relaxation and with con-
fdence we will continue the fight for
legislation in the 68th congress that
will make lynchings "a national crime
in the United States,v 1t is now a
national disgrace ) We are in a bet
ter position now for cooperation and
assistance by all law-abiding people
to accomplish our purpose than we
have been before. This is due to the
knowledge gained by the people gen.
orally with respect to this crime, it's
causes, and the fact that it is purely,
with little exception simply matter
of race prosecution IND mistreat-
ment.
Lynchings Result of Certain Crimes
"Those who have in the past coun-
tenanced this crime of lynching have
made, as AN excuse, that lynchings
were the results of certain crimes
committed by colored people. We
have been able, very generally, to
show that this is not a fact. The
lynchings that have occurred in the
United States during the first six
months of this year compare favor
ably, as to the causes, with lynch
ings that have occurred during the
past thirty y-five years.
"The only thing that will put a
stop to lynchings is the enactment in
to law of legislation that will punish
members of mobs, county and state
and permit this crime.
"There is scarcely an intelligent
person today who makes the claim
that such a law is unconstitutional.
Practically everyone recognizes now
that the Congress has the power, by
appropriate legislations to enforce
that part of the 18th Amendment of
the Constitution of the United States
which says that no State shall deny
to any person within its jurisdiction
the equal protection of its'laws.' Our
right to do this, so far as the 14th
Amendment is concerned, is the same
upon which we acted in providing a
law for the enforcement of the 18th
Amendment.
Cry Congress Invading State Rights
"Practically the only opposition we
hear now against a Federal Anti
Lynching law is the cry that Con-
gress is invading States rights How
silly this claim is, is made known to
every person when it is shown that
in the last IS years there have been
more shan 1000 known lynchings in
the United States and that in scarce
ly an instance have there been any
convictions of members of mobs and
those responsible for this crime. If
we should recognize States rights in
this matter, we will be simply con-
ceding the fact that mobs shall be
permitted to lynch people without
thought of possibility of punishment
by the States. This opposition to
this legislation is nothing more than
the desire that this crime of lynch
ing shall continue to go unpunished
that mob law shall continue to pre-
vail and take the place of the courts
''It is surprising that newspapers
will continue to argue against this
for this reason. Some
splendid newspapers are now sup.
porting this legislation, but many
others are not and are trying to ex.
cuse their opposition by crying out
that the Congress is invading States
rights and State laws. In most cases
newspapers take this position because
they find it pleasing to their sub.
scribers, great many of whom art
yet so filled with race prejudice that
they are in favor of continued lynch
ings. If the great newspapers of thu
country would all help US in thi:
campaign for law and order and mo-
think so much of pleasing their sub
scribers and advertisers we woult
soon be able to put this law upo1
the Statutes of the United States"
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