Evening star., 1935-04-27
WARNS
LYNCH BILL FOES
Howard U. Vice Dean Sends
Protest to President,
Asking Passage.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
As Democratic leaders considered
parliamentary maneuvers to sidetrack
the anti-lynching issue now before
the Senate, a protest was sent to the
White House today by Charles H.
Houston, vice dean Of the Howard
, University School of Law. asking if the
Democratic party was determined to
make it impossible for selt-respecting
Negroes to support it in 1886"
Houston said in letter to Presi-
dent Roosevelt:
Negroes have been looking toward
the White House in vain for some
official encouragement on the Costi-
gan-Wagner anti-lynching bill Now
that the Democratic floor leader (Sen-
ator Robinson of Arkansas) is openly
organizing the fight against the bill
| in the Senate and leading tactical
maneuvers to prevent its consideration,
Negroes can reach no other conclu-
sion except that the filibuster against
the bill either has White House ap-
proval or else has frightened the
White House into silence"
Dixie Senators See Victory.
Southern Senators sensed victory
meanwhile in their fight against
enactment of the law which is ad-
vocated by Senators Costigan. Demo-
crat. of Colorado, and Wagner. Demo-
crat, of New York.
Not discouraged by one-vote set
back in a preliminary skirmish which
failed to provide a clear cut test they
moved to continue their three-day
f1libuster against consideration of the
bill
An attempt by Senator Robinson to
have the Senate adjourn over the week
end was defeated by a "a to 33 vote
yesterday Had adjournment been
voted the anti-lynching legislation
might have lost its place at the top of
the Senate calendar.
Foes Are Confident.
Senators agreed, however. that
sentiment regarding the proposed
lynching curb was not the only factor
which influenced voting on the Robin
son motion. Foes expressed confidence
they would be able to block consid-
Grafton in direct test. Even Sem
ator Capper, Republican, of Kansas,
an advocate, in statement yesterday
expressed regret that apparently the
Senate is not to be given an oppor-
tunity to vote" on the bill.
coids Connnr Sic O
menace to law and order. 1t holds
up to scorn our protestationS of de-
mocracy and justice"
Senator Bailey, Democrat, of North
Carolina, denounced the Costigan-
Wagner bill as an effort to restrain
the Constitution and write into it
powers not contemplated" by its
trainers.
What power has Congress over a
sheriff of North Carolina?" he de-
manded. "He is not responsible to
Congress. but to the people of his
community. When that response
bility is destroyed you destroy free
government in this country
Would Punish Officers.
Inc Dill WoulQ provide punishment
for local officers if they conspire to
turn prisoners over to lynch mobs or
fail to protect prisoners properly
Under the bill counties would be
liable for damages to the dependents
of persons lynched.
In the vote on the adjournment
motion, which failed to sidetrack the
lynching question yesterday. North
ern and Western Senators lined up
against Robinson, and all but two
Southerners stood with him. Logan
of Kentucky and Bachmann of Ten
nessee voted against adjourning.
The Senate faced a choice today
or Monday at the latest between con-
tinuing debate on the lynching bill OF
taking up tie bonus payment ques-
| t;op victorv for the latter course