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The Green Bag

ernor Baldwin of Connecticut advocated more rigorous methods, such as the restoration of the whipping-post and sterilization. He would have criminals convicted of rape sterilized. Governor Blease, in this connection, made his sensational defense of lynching for rape, but was met with a defense of lawful and orderly government by Governor Kitchin of North Carolina, Governor Gilchrist of Florida, and Governor Mann of Virginia. On the next day Governor Carey of Wyoming asked Blease if he had not taken the oath to uphold the Constitution. The South Carolina Gov ernor replying with an intemperate slur on the Constitution, the Conference, at the suggestion of two Southern Gov ernors, O'Neal of Alabama and Mann of Virginia, adopted by an overwhelm ing majority an anti-lynching resolu tion : — "Resolved, That it is the sentiment of the Conference of Governors in session at Richmond, Va., December 6, 1912, that the whole power of the several states should be used whenever necessary to protect persons accused of crime of every kind against the violence of mobs and to provide for speedy, orderly, and impartial trials by courts of competent jurisdiction, to the end that the laws for the protection of life and property be duly enforced and respected by the people." Governor Blease's attitude has been generally denounced by the Southern press. Discussion of a state income tax was led by Governor McGovern of Wiscon sin, who read a paper. Ex-Governor Augustus E. Willson of Kentucky also read a paper on the subject. Governor McGovern asserted that the Wisconsin income tax had succeeded as strikingly as the old personal property tax failed, in compelling persons of means to pay their just share of the support of the

state government. He attributed the failure of the income tax plan in other commonwealths to lax administration. "The country has gone railroad mad," said Governor Foss of Massachusetts in an address designed to arouse public sentiment to concerted action in the development of inland waterways. He asserted a transportation crisis faced the country, and that the key lay in waterway development. Papers were read by Governor Oddie of Nevada and Hawley of Idaho, on uniformity in laws governing divorce. The Conference adjourned to meet in Colorado Springs next year. The Dynamiting Case The prosecution of officials of the International Association of Bridge and Structural Ironworkers in connection with the dynamiting of the Los Angeles Times Building in October, 1911, and other outrages was concluded at Indiana polis Dec. 28, when verdicts of guilty against thirty-eight labor leaders were re turned. Indictments having been found by the federal grand jury Feb. 6, 1912, the trial opened on Oct. 1, just two years after the Los Angeles explosion. Of the fifty-four original defendants, some were discharged, and two others, McManigal and Clark, pleaded guilty. A jury was secured in thirteen hours, on October 3, consisting mostly of farmers. At the trial before federal Judge Anderson the Government presented 549 witnesses, whose testimony covered 25,000 pages, and a quarter as many witnesses ap peared for the defense. The jury was out seventeen hours. The prosecution cost the Government in the neighbor hood of $750,000. Judge Anderson passed carefully upon every phase of the complicated trial. His efforts to give the convicted men every possible chance under the law, and his attitude of mercy in passing sentence, were strik