The Omaha guide., 1935-07-13
NEW YORK WOMEN ON
LYNCHING

THE New York State Women's Democratic
News is a monthly published in Manhattan. Its
president and editor is Mrs. Daniel ODay, whose
highly esteemed friend, Mrs. Franklin d. Roosevelt
is a regular contributor. In its current issue the
leading editorial is devoted to discussions Of the
Senate filibuster against the anti-lynching bill
Views on the subject are enunciated with such cour-
age, vigor and compelling candOr that they are
gladly republished herewith:
We want to talk to you this month about the
defeat of the anti-lynching bill 1t had the ardent
support of the Jnnior Senator of New York, Hon.
Robert F. Wagner, and the Congresswoman-atlarge
Mrs. OrDay. Many of US feel that in this session
it should have been possible to pass this bill. 1t
would have accomplished very little in eliminating
the evil but at least it would have been a step in
the right direction and it cannot be that any Of us
really want ~lynching to go on. Of course, in some
southern States they are so actuated by the feeling
of fear of the bad Negro that they seem to forget
that there are hundreds Of thousands of good ones
whom it is nothing short of crime to treat as they
are treated at present.
To have this bill finally laid aside because GER
tain southern Senators insisted on filibustering to
prevent its coming to vote IS one of those i~niustices
which makes US feel that our particular form Of
government is not always representative Of the true
feelings of the people Of the country as a whole, or
even Of the majority Of the people. that some. Of
these representatives claim to represent.
Lynching is a blot on our national honor and
means that in the States where it occurs people
haven yet learned to abide by the law and to in
slst on justice to all men, no matter what color thew
may be or what creed they may profess. Until we
do this In every State in the Union we cannot feel
really secure that we ourselves will receive Justice.
In our own State there is little chance that this law
would matter to US any way or the other, but we
are a part Of the whole United States and therefore
we feel that our people, men and women alike
should make It their business to try to influence
their friends and relatives to think this whole situa~
ton out and begin to take such seps as are neces-
sary for the elimination of lynching as q form Of
justice.
What a refreshing, heartening editorial? No
pussyfooting, straddling or qualifying. Not only
do the sponsors Of The New York State Women =
Democratic News make themselves perfectly clear
ID their unalterable stand against lynching. but they
voice criticism Of the short-sighted, unfair policy Of
condemnatlng an entire race for the questionable
acts OF q few That paragraph making ironical ref
erence to representative government should be read
and re-read by every member Of Congress.
The white Americans who believe the Negro
should enjoy the full protection Of the law az pro
vided by the Constitution are many. But very few
are articulate when it comes to championinp the
races cause publicly. One political demagogue can
attract more attention and more conspicuously get
into the headlines by viciousIy attacking the Negro
than 100 sympathizers who are reluctant about GET
ing INTO a q free-for-an discussion on the race ques-
ton.
H. therefore, i a unique and gratifying expert
ence % read 10 print what the Democratic women
q New York think about lynching, filibustering
ana representative government. They do not care
what others Of divergent views may think Of what
they think.