One Voice

Between Oct. 8, 1926, and Jan. 24, 1927, many things may happencountless columns, charging the sheriff and jailer of Aiken with aiding the lynchers. Finally, the Governor of South Carolina, Thomas G. McLeod, sent a lone detective to view the situation. Every week the Governor announced that he would issue an important statement within ten days. Word came a fortnight ago that the lynching case will be taken up when the Aiken court meets in January. It happens that the regular court session begins on Jan. 24 and Governor McLeod retires from office on Jan. 18. Governor-elect John G. Richards, solemnly proclaimed that he would do what "the honor of the State demands."

The significant fact about the Aiken lynchings is that most of the South Carolina newspapers have rebuked the U.S. press (particularly the New York World and the Baltimore Sun*) for meddling in Southern affairs (TIME, Nov. 22). For example, one Edgar A. Brown, friend of Senator Cole Blease and the lawyer who may be hired to defend the Aiken lynchers, said in the Columbia Gazette: "When... an outraged people wreak their vengeance upon the perpetrator and satisfy an unwritten law, we are scorned, ridiculed, vilified and held up to the world as half-breeds and outlaws.

"I reckon The New York World would like to see a Negro Governor of South Carolina, and a mulatto presiding over the Governor's mansion, but, thank God, the people of South Carolina are still white, with red blood in their veins, chivalry and manhood in their hearts, and expect to keep our country clean and pure notwithstanding the ravings and rantings of a Negro-loving Northern press, when an occasional black brute is summarily dealt with....

"The New York World, the Governor, the so-called law and order citizens... know, as well as the balance of the world knows, that nobody is going to be punished and nobody wants anybody punished."

One voice has stood out against this chorus, has taken up the cry of the New York World, has flayed Governor McLeod for his Fabian* policy. The owner of this voice is R. Charlton Wright, editor and publisher of the Columbia (S.C.) Record. Almost every day since Oct. 8, he has written for his front page an able monograph on the lynching case. Serious-looking, snub-nosed, he is a humorist of the punning and epigramming school. A few years ago, his quips outnumbered all others on the funny-page of the Literary Digest; often as many as a dozen were reprinted in one issue. Herewith some specimens:

1921. "Germany is calm, but not yet collected."

"If the race for naval supremacy goes on, the world will be sunk by its floating debt."

"The country has been dried and found wanting."

1922. "We never knew that China had a cabinet until it resigned."

"The future of Europe, we apprehend, is more Red than rosy."

1924. "What Mr. Coolidge needs most is not a platform, but a raft."

"The fruits of victory are plums."

"When a diplomatist lays his cards on the table, count 'em."

1925. "Things are so complicated. Narrow-minded people are thick-headed."

"What France needs, however, more than she needs money to build up her factories, is a concerted movement to build up her infant industry."

"Most flivver wrecks are due to tight nuts."

In 1926, due to pressure of work and ill health, Editor Wright has given up writing his pointed paragraphs. Meanwhile, he battles "the shame of South Carolina" and prods the aches of Aiken.

*Fortnight ago, the Baltimore Evening Sun said: "If the Governor whose administration was disgraced by the lynching does not resent it enough to do anything about it, it is not likely that his successor will act. The South Carolina lynchers, in short, are quite safeas if they had stolen from the Government."

*Roman General Fabius vexed Hannibal by avoiding and delaying tactics. Governor McLeod, however, has won no moral victories by his delay.