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Mencken Is Denounced By Shore Newspapers
Salisbury, Md„ Dec. 11 (Special) — No concerted action against the business houses of Baltimore will be taken by the Salisbury-Wicomico Chamber of Commerce because of the attitude of the Baltimore press, according to leaders here today. The members feel that it would be a mistake for the chamber to take official cognizance of the article written by Henry L. Mencken, but prefer that they act as individuals in bringing the matter before the Baltimore firms-Several Eastern Shore merchants who expressed resentment to the press accounts, postponed until tomorrow a meeting scheduled for tonight at which events following the Salisbury lynching and a campaign for boosting the Eastern Shore were to be discussed. Some merchants have stopped business relations with Baltimore firms, and were quoted as saying resumption would depend upon an apology from newspapers and clergymen.
"The men who support the paper and the management which employs such a vicious writer must take the consequences," was the sentiment expressed by Louis W. Gunby, Salisbury merchant and president of the School Board, discussing a boycott against Baltimore business. Criticism For Act Not Resented "No one resents criticism for the lynching itself," Mr. Gunby continued. "Even those who participated in it know that there is criticism due. The fact that a newspaper of such standing as The Evening Sun would publish the article written by Mr. Mencken condemning all and sundry on the Eastern Shore, and that the business men of Baltimore would not only allow it but have not taken steps to correct the impression it made, is hard for me to understand. The least the paper could do would be to state that it does not agree with Mr. Mencken," he added.
Advocate Economic Pressure Eastern Shore newspapers, publishing week-end editions, are editorially advocating "economic pressure" upon Baltimore business. The Federalsburg Times says: "The injustice in the article (H. L. Mencken's) is plainly evident, when he refers to this section as the land of 'poverty.' But, then, how was Mr. Mencken to know that the very next day after his article appeared that one town alone in this 'poverty-stricken' area was to cancel $76,000 worth of business from Baltimore? Certainly it is plain to all that the gentleman didn't know what he was talking about when he mentioned 'poverty.'
"And, if the rest of the State believes all that was in that article, which insinuated that the rest of Maryland would be better off without the Eastern Shore, then we are ready and willing to sever what broken ties may remain with the Western Shore and Baltimore city, and form a state of our own across the bay."
Record's Editorial
The Centreville Record reads:
I "All we ask of the Baltimore press
is to give us ' proper publicity and
not to exploit unduly the crimes on
th«.Eastern Shore any more than they
do the banking and financial happenings in Baltimore city, and we will see that justice is meted out properly to those accused of crimes and without mob violence."
The Chestertown Enterprise says:
"The Eastern Shore wants nothing more at this time than to be left alone in the settling of its problems. Outside interference which caused the delay in the case of the Worcester murderer of four was directly responsible for the deplorable lynching in Salisbury.
"Lee, the Worcester murderer, and Davis, the Kent ravager of motherhood, were spirited here and there by the Shore police authorities that justice might be done. And all to what end? The chance for a Baltimore communistic lawyer, interested in the Negro law trade because of his connection with a firm dealing in financial loans to Negroes, to gain columns of personal publicity at the expense of hampered and delayed justice."
The Centreville Observer concludes an editorial with:
"Law-abiding, law-respecting citizens of Queen Anne's county resent the Sunpapers vicious and unfair indictment in exactly the same way that they resent the mob spirit that had prevailed in certain Shore sections. Hastily written editorials like that in last Saturday's Sun paper which would wreck character and blast reputation, are very closely akjn to the thoughtless, inconsiderate, brutal spirit which actuates and guides the hand of the mob in its mission of death or pillage."
Ritchie Studies Reports On Salisbury Lynching
Governor Ritchie announced last night that he had canceled a speaking engagement for todSy i i New York before the National Republican Club. He said the press of official business made it impossible for him to fulfill the engagement.
The Governor returned to Maryland Thursday after a four-day visit to Chicago and began work immediately on reports on the investigation of the Salisbury lynching.
William Preston Lane, Jr., Attorney-General, is participating in the investigation at the request of the Governor.
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