American Association for Public Opinion Research
Editorial Treatment of Lynchings
Author(s): Jessie Daniel Ames
Source: The Public Opinion Quarterly, Vol. 2, No. 1 (Jan., 1938), pp. 77-84
Published by: Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Association for Public Opinion Research
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EDITORIAL
TREATMENT
OF LYNCHINGS
By JESSIE DANIEL AMES
Environment
ratherthanpersonalinclinationof editorsdetermines
the
editorialtreatment
of lynchings,
accordingto the resultsof a survey,
begun in I 930, of editorialson lynchingsin everyone of thirteen
Southernstates.Mrs.Ames,who organizedtheTexas League of Women
Voters,servingas its Presidentforfouryears,has been Vice-Chairman
of the Texas Commissionon InterracialCooperationand General
Field Secretaryof the SouthernCommissionon InterracialCooperation. She is also ExecutiveDirectorof the Central Council of the
Associationof SouthernWomenfor the Preventionof Lynching,with
officesat Atlanta.The efforts
of the Council are directedtowardthe
developmentand promotionof educationalprogramsagainstlynching
and towardthe repudiationof the claim that lynchingis necessaryto
theprotection
of whitewomen.DuringthelastfiveyearsMrs.Ameshas
personally
visitedthescenesof morethantwentylynchings,
interviewing
the people,includingnewspapereditors,and collectingeditorialsfrom
local papersand fromthe dailies in the statesin whichthe lynchings
took place. Mrs. Ames has also foundthatin stateswherea relatively
few large dailieshave underno conditionofferedcomfortto lynchers,
thenumberof lynchings
is steadilydecreasing.
Editorial treatmentof lynchingsoffersan interestingand
revealingstudyofpublicattitudes
towardthispeculiarly
American
custom.Environmentand not personal inclinationof editors
determines
thetoneof opinionin almosteveryinstance.As individuals,they,areunanimouslyopposed to mob violencebut, as
editorswho are caughtin thegeneralatmosphere
of a giventrade
territory,
theydo notreflect
theirown ideasbutthoseofthepeople
uponwhosegoodwilltheirpapersdependforrevenue.They find
themselves
in the difficult
positionof a riderwho must sit two
horsesat thesametime,one standing,facingbackward,theother
movingrapidlyforwardunencumbered
by the harnessof tradition.Theymustsatisfy
thatpartofthewatchfulpublicpressingin
closestand upon whose approvaltheymustrelyfor immediate
revenue.But, also, theymust offerassurancesthat the show is
worththe investment
of huge sums of moneyto that distant
EDITORIALS ON LYNCHINGS
77
publicwhoseworldlypossessions
are highlyessentialto the
progress
anddevelopment
oftheSouth.
byoffering
Editors,
withfewexceptions,
condonelynchings
excuses
reasonsfor lynchers
whichare in effectsympathetic
to takethelaw
defending
therightofcitizens
underprovocation
judge,jury,and
intotheirownhandsand constitute
themselves
aresofew,infact,
executioner
all atthesametime.The exceptions
thattheydo notmakeup evena respectable
minority.
and Southern
as justiNewspapers
societyacceptlynching
fiablehomicide
in defense
of society.
of society
Whendefenders
sometimes
gotoofarintheirenthusiasm,
as intheWinona,Missisof I937, publicopinionregrets
theiracts,
sippi,torchlynchings
butrecognizes
thattoo muchblame
deploresthem,condemns,
tclynchers
is great
mustnotbe attached
becausetheirprovocation
motives
arelaudable.Thisattitude
andtheirultimate
in
ofsociety
act
the South-thissympathetic
of a barbarous
understanding
thefact-influences
editorial
whileregretting
opinion.
OUTSIDE
AGENCIES
BLAMED
Editorsfromtimeto timereferto the South's"peculiar
whichmustbe handledentirely
by nativeSouthern
situation"
from"outsideagencies."
interference
Whensuch
people,without
canbe claimed,
outside
becomethespectacuinterference
agencies
forlocalcrime,bearingoffintothewilderness
all
lar scapegoat
ofthecommunity,
thesinsandshortcomings
leavingit . . . well,
if notas whiteas snow,at leastas whiteas it was beforethe
offered
beanyfiner
defense
tolynchers
than
Couldthere
lynching.
froma great,liberal,and influential
thiseditorial
dailypaper:
who
Theirbodies[theNegroes']wereriddledwithbulletsbyhotheads
took the law in theirown handsforfearthatoutsideinterference
beaksofthe
wouldblockthecourseofjustice.. . . Butthemaggoty
LaborDefenseLeaguearestained
belledbuzzardsof theInternational
withthebloodof thethreeNegroeswhosetornbodiesthismorning
lie in newlyturnedgraves.
to thelastman,was quicklyinThe lynching
community,
formed
byitslocalpaperthatitscitizenswereclearedof crime
78
JANUARY I 93 8
The PUBLIC OPINION Quarterly,
took
by the press.The local paper,supportingits constituency,
up the defenseofferedby the Capital City daily in an editorial
captioned"The CarpetBaggersof I933" and carriedthe idea of
patriotism
to an amazinglyhigh point of eloquence:
mobbutthey
They[theNegroes]diedat thehandsofan unidentified
knownas theInterorganization
wereLYNCHED bya communistic
maynowenjoyto thefullest
nationalLaborDefensewhosepromoters
thehavoctheyhavewrought.
Thereis almostvisiblea tearin the editorialeye forthe hapless
organization."
victimsof the "communistic
restrainedthan this
Nothing could be more delightfully
editorialrebukeon the same occasionfromanotherstatepaper.
Evena casualreadermaydetecttheeditor'sdislikeforunnecessary
violenceevenin a good cause:
in flaunting
thejurisdiction
ofthecourts
Therecan be no justification
and committing
murderevento showsucha despicableoutfitas the
Labor Defense,whoseconcernis not forthe Negroes,
International
thatit is notwantedin Alabama.
a fewpenitential
tears,butforthemostpartan
Sorrowful
regret,
had been
indignantand righteouswraththata finecommunity
forcedtosuchextrememeasuresto protectsociety-thosewerethe
of editorialopinionin Alabama on theoccasionof
characteristics
this double lynching.Editorial screamsof justificationwere
acceptedas noble harmoniesby the public.In an editorialthree
days afterthe lynching,the editorwho describedthe outside
in his paper:
agencyas "belled buzzards" sighedgratefully
theembarrassment
we havesuffered
at thehandsof outLet us forget
sidersnow thatthe outsideworldhas agreedthatthe International
LaborDefensesharesourblame.A statethatdoes notor cannotoffer
to themostlowlyofitsresidents
doesnotdeservetheright
protection
state.
to call itselfa sovereign
All was peacefulagain in Alabama. The countryand the
as painful,regrettable,
Alabamaeditorshad acceptedthelynchings
in thenatureof
butexcusableunderthecircumstances,
something
EDITORIALS ON LYNCHINGS
79
a terrible
cauterization
ofa poisonous
to the
snakebite,
necessary
the editors
preservation
of community
life.This accomplished,
calledon thecitizensof Tuscaloosato cleanhouse.The answer
withinsix
Tuscaloosamadeto thisappealwas another
lynching
weeks.
Thus were the editorsof Alabamaand the Southagain
Their amazementand pain weregenuine.They
embarrassed.
werequite
criedaloudin theiranguish.ButTuscaloosalynchers
and theirsecond,like
logical.Theirfirstsinhad beenforgiven
also mustbe forgiven.
In a front-page
editorial
untothefirst,
in part-eventhe
spreadoverfourcolumns,
theyfoundexpression
citizens":
"law-abiding
No lynchingcan be condonedbut Tuscaloosarefusedto take full
case and it had a rightto refuse
forthePippen-Hardin
responsibility
An outsideagencyinflamed
the peopleto such a
thisresponsibility.
was tensewithfearof racialdisorders
in
pointthatthecommunity
whichmanyliveswouldbe lost,so whena handfulof mentookthe
matterin theirown handsand put thoseNegroesto deatha certain
feltbyeventhemostthoughtful
and law-abiding
reliefwas undeniably
ofourcitizens.
THE DILEMMA
OF EDITORS
As individuals
Editors
aregoodcitizens.
theycondemn
lynching.Lynching
givestheSouththewrongkindof publicity.
It
toattract
makesit a bitmoredifficult
outside
capitalandtoincrease
of therightpeople.The Southwantsall possible
immigration
"outside"
agencieswithmoneytoinvestto invadeitssection,
but
thisinvasion
mustcomeon localterms,
chiefofwhichis thatthe
nativepopulation
mustbe allowedtohandletheir"peculiar
situation"inthetraditional
way.Thusmusteditors
sitonthestationary
toriderapidly
horsewhiledesiring
intothesunrise
ofprogress
and
prosperity.
Otherstates,
notso spectacularly
heckledbyCommunists
as
Alabama,findotherdangersto theSouth's"peculiarsituation"
equallyhateful.
Undisturbed
byrevolutionary
ideas,Negroesand
8o
The PUBLIC OPINION Quarterly,
JANUARY
I 9
38
livingin
in a stateof harmonious
whitepeoplewouldcontinue
ofeachracefindcontentment.
Thisharmony
is
whichallpersons
setforth
bya Georgiaeditor:
clearly
of caseswiththe
But he [the Negro] is stillextantin the majority
of the commonlaborer.. . He is
negroidcharacteristics
inherent
ofdealing
. . The problem
necessity.
ofan economic
stillsomething
withhimevolvesintomakinghima fitcitizen.. . It is onlyappropriatethatthey[Negroes]live in theirpresentcapacityas neighbor
citizensin continualpeaceand friendship.
basedon a recognition
of and
This peace and friendship,
is the basisof good race relations.
respect
fora castesystem,
in the philosophical
acceptanceof their
Negroes,undisturbed
and
go alongunharmed
capacity"in a whitesociety,
"present
Sometimes
Negroesforgettheirstatus,evento the
unlynched.
against
pointwheretheythinktheycan defendtheirproperty
Then theyare liableto suddendeath.
greedywhiteneighbors.
in Mississippi,
whenan old Negroman had
Aftera lynching
ofwhitepeopleagainsthim,
of
certain
acts
theright
questioned
a funeraloration
the local countypaperdeliverededitorially
closingwitha benediction:
to theremaining
Negroes,
addressed
Negroesmustlearn-and mostof themdo know-thattheyoccupy
a peculiarplacein thisland and mustkeepit. It is hopedthatwhite
learnbetter
howto handletheminordifficulties
peoplewilleventually
and better
interest-andthereby
savethemselves
fortheirownsalvation
troubleand worry.
and theirlovedonesmuchunnecessary
mustsee in thiseditor'smindthatlynchings
Outsiders
are
what
is
not
so
a
lot
of
recognized,
generally
and,
regrettable,
trouble.
evenSouthern
theircastein
whitepeopleforget
Sometimes
Whentheydo,thoughtheyareadmonished,
thisbi-racial
society.
in
theoutcome
maybe deathto a Negro.A Negrowas lynched
NorthCarolinawithintheselateyears.
in North
Now,a lynching
is news.Butwhenonedoesoccurbecauseofitsrarity,
Carolina,
sameracialattitudes
thatcontrol
doubtless
through
necessity-the
EDITORIALS ON LYNCHINGS
8I
by somepapersof that
in theDeep Southare exposededitorially
state.Such an exposureis made in thiseditorial:
If somewhitepeoplewerenotproneto be familiarwithnegroesand
socializewiththem,allowingthemreasonsto supposetheirpresence
therewouldstilllivein theheartand
amongwhitepeopleis acceptable,
in
soul of thenegrothefearand dreadof swiftand surepunishment
caseofwrongdoing.
is notdesired.
exceptas an economicnecessity,
Theirpresence,
They mustbe enduredand handledas capablyas long experience
in dealingwithan inferiorrace-made so by God himself-has
taughtthewhitepeople.Notionswhichmightinflatethe ego of
a Negro and delude him into thinkingthathe is a man even as
When a Negrois lynched
othermenmustbe dealtwithheroically.
he is notlynchedbythepersonswho firetheguns,pull therope,or
but by whitepeople who betraytheirown race
lightthebonfire,
and also theNegrowhomtheypretendto love:
one paper]get
The whiteand negroracesof theSouth[editorializes
if thenegro-loving
yankee
alongverywelland wouldgetalongbetter
and fanatical
who lovesthenegroat long distanceand thevisionary
outof the
who coddlesthenegro,wouldtakethemselves
interracialist
picture.
EDUCATION
CHANGE,S DEFENSES
Many leadingSoutherndailiesno longercondonelynchings
by holdingthemas necessaryto protectSouthernwomanhood.
on thealleged
Editorsto someextenthaveabsorbeda fewstatistics
crimeswhich arousesensitivecitizens.However,theyhave not
cometo thepointin theireducation,eitherin theirmindson facts
to do morethandroptheknightor in theiremotionson chivalry,
errantexplanationoflynching.Sincebig dailieshave a circulation
outsidetheSouthand theireditorsand publishersattendnational
theSouthin the
and conventions,
conferences
theymustrepresent
of
be
most
and
large investproductive goodwill
lightthatwill
ments.So theydarenotlay themselves
open to ridiculebydefendon
the
of
grounds gallantry.They cannptdefend
ing lynching
formofviolencetoinsurewhitesupremacy.
as a necessary
lynching
82
The PUBLIC OPINION Quartetly,
JANUARY
I
93 8
All thecountry
holdsthephilosophyofwhitesupremacy-North,
itis notgood salestalk
East,West,as well as South-butnationally
can be maintainedin theSouth
to advertise
thatwhitesupremacy
ofpureAnglo-Saxonheritage-onlybyforce,
-the laststronghold
coercion,and lynching.
has
Case,madefamousbyoutsideinterference,
The Scottsboro
becomea trifle
boring,notonlyto Alabama but to thelargerpart
of theSouth.It has done theSouthno good in manywaysbut it
Southern
has provedan assetin one notableway.It has furnished
basis forexcusinglynchers
editorsa dignifiedand self-righteous
thatthewholecountry
appreciates-delays
witha lineofargument
of punishment,
the uncertainty
the loopholes
in courtprocedure,
in the law-conditions prevalenteverywhereand universally
condemned.
to the editorialpolicyof
So, the ScottsboroCase contributes
Southerndailies in solvingtheirproblemof sittingstill while
ridingrapidlyto a place in the sun. One editorial-and their
of all editorialsin defenseof
numberis legion-is representative
lynchingon thesegrounds:
attributable
to laxityof courtprocedureand the
Lynchingis chiefly
abuse of the pardonpowerin the UnitedStates.No such outrages
because
againstlaw andorderoccurin GreatBritainandherdominions
Britishjusticeis quick and certain.. . . In thatdifference
is to be
foundthereasonwhymobviolenceis an unknownthingin oneof the
nationsoftheworldbutis lamentably
frequent
greatEnglish-speaking
in theother.
Dignifiedin style,elegantin language,balancedin construcin illustration,
it holdsarguments
advanced
tion,and international
byJ.EdgarHooveras causesofcrime,and appliesthemdeftlyand
to lynching.It is a nationalconditionwitha special
convincingly
It satisfies
thelynchapplicationto theSouth's"peculiarsituation."
erswitha good alibifortheiracts,evenif thoseactsincludeburningat thestake,or,as happenedtwicein Georgiain theselasttwo
years,theghastlyexhibitionof the mutilateddead bodiesbefore
lightingthefuneralpyre.
EDITORIALS ON LYNCHINGS
83
a
Daily papersof theSouthare beginningto showeditorially
not
a sympathy
growingsympathy
towardFederal interference,
sharedto anynoticeableextentbythecountyweeklieswhoselocal
constituencies
grapplewith the problemof maintainingwhite
If theFederalgovernment
intervenes
in the activities
supremacy.
will no longer
of lynchers,
thentheburdenof stoppinglynchings
of the law kill a Negro,
reston theSouth.If two men or officers
thatwill notbe a lynching;butif threeor moremen and women
The
kill a Negro,thatwill be a job fortheFederalgovernment.
Negro in eithercase will be verydead. The Southcan forgetthe
murderbut the natioriwill sharethe lynching.The pot and the
kettlecan't call names-a situationgreatlydesiredby Southern
editorsand theirreaders.
84
The PUBLIC OPINION
Quarterly,JANUARY I 93
8