The tribune independent of Michigan. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1933-1935, 1934-06-16
PATRICK WRITES
OPEN LETTER TO|
THE FREE PRESS
+ a K es Issue Wit h
Editorial Against
Anti-Lynch Bill

The following open letter was
written by Attorney William T.
Patrick ST.. 1915 Beaubien street,
to the Detroit Free Press. In answ-
err to an editorial which that paper
recently published under the title,
"A Vicious Bill" The letter reads:
Editor,
Detroit Free Press.
Detroit. Michigan.
Dear Sir:
note that in an editorial, entitl-
ed: "A Vicious Bill" you poceeded
to attack the Wagner-C ostigan
Anti-Lynching Bill. now pending
before the United States Senate.
you stated. among other things.
that, Under II the Federal Attor-
neys could bring suit in Federal
Courts against Counties in which
lynchings occurred. II convicted a
county could be fined up to $10.-
O00.0 which would go to the fami-
ly OF the victim" You stated. fur
Their. that, THE States are abund-
antly able to deal with lynchings
as with other crimes of violence.
The matter is best left to them"
agree that the Southern States
are "abundantly" able 10 deal with
lynchings, but tn. thing which
puzzles me. and many million other
people is why don't they do some
thing about It? Surely, you will
agree that thus far they have de-
fled all existing authority. and in
creased rather than diminished
their blood-thirsty pastime. II is
not wise nor logical TO leave IL TO
them 10 settle. any more than II
was for Lincoln. Seward. Phillips,
Garrison and Grant. 10 leave the
question OF slavery to them. Those
who do not desire to leave IL 4.
them are not their enemies and
more than Lincoln was, and sure
Is he was not Our best friends
are those who tell us of our faults
and help us 10 mend them" Con-
gress through the Wagner-Costigan
Bill. is endeayoring TO mend" an
already too long existing fault OF
the South. which she has passively
neglected
The bill is perfectly Constitu-
tional. under Article one. Section
eight. last paragraph. of the United
States Constitution. which reads as
follows: THE Congress shall have
power 10 make all laws which
shall be necessary and proper for
carrying into execution. the fore.
going powers. and all other powers
vested by this Constitution in the
Government OF the United States
or in any Department or officer
thereof" The fourteenth amend
ment to the Constitution OF tn
United States is One OF these
"Cther Powers" and is capable o
adequate enforcement. only throug|
the Congress OF the United States
The real essence OF the fourteent
amendment can be enforced. onl
through such Bill as the Wagner
Cos:igan. because this Bill Ia d
signed to protect. Liberty. Life al
Property. and TO assure. as a ma
ter of fact. Due Process OF La
This cannot be accomplisht
through the Constitution as II no
stands. in the absence OF some SUI
Elemental power of Congress. to
conferred upon. ANY Department
or Officer Thereof" In this pro
gressive an enlightened age. fol
lowing 'he Supreme Court decision
in the Minnesota Mortgage Case. !
is reasonable to expect that the Su
preme Court, under the wise guild
ance of our genius Charles Evans
Hughes, to place n liberal con
struction upon the Wagner-Cos-
tigan Bill and declare il Constitu-
tional should the necessity arise.
Pass the Wagner-Costigan Bill
and YOU remove by so doing. the
blackcs stigma from the greatest
Na ion on earth.
Very truly yours.
iSigned)
William + Patrick. Sr
Lawyer
1915 Beaubicn Street.
Detroit. Michigan