The Reflector

Issue Number:24

Date: 01/20/1934

p. 01-02, c. 03-02

Shortly after President Roosevelt had delivered, in person, his annual message to Congress at a joint session in the House, at the opening of the Seventy-third Congress, several days ago, six anti-lynching bills were introduced. The House heard four and two were introduced in the Senate. The Negro Representative, Oscar DePriest of Illinois introduced the first in the House and was followed by Representative U. S. Guyer of Kansas, then J. A. Gavagan of New York and last, H. P. Kapplemann of Connecticut. In the Senate, Edward P. Costigan, Senator from Colorado and Senator Robert F. Wagner of New York introduced a bill that is being supported by the N.A.A. C. P. and the remaining one was introduced by Senator Hamilton F. Kean of New Jersey. All of the anti-lynching bills were referred to the Judiciary Committee and opinion is divided on the outside.

There are leaders of both races who look forward to the passage of one of the bills as a step towards the prevention of lynching in this country, on the other hand, there are Negro and white students of government who are confident that a Federal Anti-Lynching Law is doomed to failure and they consider such Legislature, just another law to break. Those scholars of the latter view hold that lynching is an evil arising from the masses and that they must be corrected by the State and local police powers. They further contend that Federal intervention would probably punish but could not prevent lynching.

We also, are of the opinion that the Crime could be more effectively checked by State powers, but details of the twenty eight lynchings of nineteen hundred and thirty-three have shown us that State Officials are not of a similar opinion.

Lynching in America must be stopped! It must be stopped at once; not for the benefit of any given race or groups, but for the good of America and the principles upon which the country was founded. Every lynching hardens the public heart and lessens its respect for organized government, a most vital necessity of Democracy. Every lynching questions the government's power to function AND every lynching is a step backward, a vivid reminder of the age of Barbarism.