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{{anti-lynching sb}}

{{anti-lynching sb}}

The '''Dyer Anti-Lynching Bill''', commonly known as the '''Dyer Bill''', was [[anti-lynching legislation]] introduced in the [[United States House of Representatives]] in 1918<ref name=blackpast>Jager, Steven J. (August 19, 2012). [https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/dyer-anti-lynching-bill-1922/ Dyer Anti-Lynching Bill (1922)]. ''BlackPast''. Retrieved May 28, 2023.</ref> by "Old Guard"<ref>China Monthly Review (1932). [https://www.google.com/books/edition/Millard_s_Review_of_the_Far_East/9T4_AAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=leonidas+dyer+%22old+guard%22&dq=leonidas+dyer+%22old+guard%22&printsec=frontcover Millard's Review of the Far East: Vol. 62], p. 505. ''Google Books''. Retrieved May 28, 2023.</ref> Republican congressman Leonidas C. Dyer of [[Missouri]]'s 12th congressional district, among the regions in the U.S. plagued with antiblack race riots in the late 1910s. Although eventually passing the House in 1922 with rallying support by the [[NAACP]], it faced opposition in the [[U.S. Senate]] by Southern Democrats who, with the aid of progressive Republican maverick [[William Borah]], effectively blocked the legislation over weak support by the Republican majority.<ref name=walterwhiteproject>[https://scalar.usc.edu/nehvectors/stakeman/dyer-anti-lynching-bill Dyer Anti-lynching Bill]. ''The Walter White Project''. Retrieved May 28, 2023.</ref>

The '''Dyer Anti-Lynching Bill''', commonly known as the '''Dyer Bill''', was [[anti-lynching legislation]] introduced in the [[United States House of Representatives]] in 1918<ref name=blackpast>Jager, Steven J. (August 19, 2012). [https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/dyer-anti-lynching-bill-1922/ Dyer Anti-Lynching Bill (1922)]. ''BlackPast''. Retrieved May 28, 2023.</ref><ref name=blackleaders20thcentury,pp.96-97>Meier, August; Franklin, John Hope (1982). [https://www.google.com/books/edition/Black_Leaders_of_the_Twentieth_Century/Ptso3AuC2hoC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=william+borah+dyer+bill&pg=PA97&printsec=frontcover Black Leaders of the Twentieth Century], pp. 96–97. ''Google Books''. Retrieved May 31, 2023.</ref> by "Old Guard"<ref>China Monthly Review (1932). [https://www.google.com/books/edition/Millard_s_Review_of_the_Far_East/9T4_AAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=leonidas+dyer+%22old+guard%22&dq=leonidas+dyer+%22old+guard%22&printsec=frontcover Millard's Review of the Far East: Vol. 62], p. 505. ''Google Books''. Retrieved May 28, 2023.</ref> Republican congressman Leonidas C. Dyer of [[Missouri]]'s 12th congressional district, among the regions in the U.S. plagued with antiblack race riots in the late 1910s. Although eventually passing the House in 1922 with rallying support by the [[NAACP]], it faced opposition in the [[U.S. Senate]] by Southern Democrats who, with the aid of progressive Republican maverick [[William Borah]], effectively blocked the legislation over weak support by the Republican majority.<ref name=walterwhiteproject>[https://scalar.usc.edu/nehvectors/stakeman/dyer-anti-lynching-bill Dyer Anti-lynching Bill]. ''The Walter White Project''. Retrieved May 28, 2023.</ref>

President [[Warren G. Harding]], despite his reported "lack of familiarity" on the decibel levels of racist atrocities facing black people nationwide as a result of Progressive Era–inspired repressions,<ref>Francis, Megan Ming (April 21, 2014). [https://www.google.com/books/edition/Civil_Rights_and_the_Making_of_the_Moder/VzQZAwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=warren+harding+anti-lynching&printsec=frontcover Civil Rights and the Making of the Modern American State], p. 82. ''Google Books''. Retrieved May 31, 2023.</ref> persistently endorsed the Dyer Bill during the [[United States presidential election, 1920|1920 U.S. presidential election]]<ref>October 21. [https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/harding-publicly-condemns-lynching This Day In History: President Harding publicly condemns lynching]. ''History Channel''. Retrieved May 28, 2023.</ref> and afterwards, vowing to sign it the moment it reaches his desk if passed by Congress.<ref name=tarbert>Tarbert, Jesse (2022). [https://www.google.com/books/edition/When_Good_Government_Meant_Big_Governmen/Z9UuEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=william+borah+dyer+bill&pg=PT64&printsec=frontcover When Good Government Meant Big Government: The Quest to Expand Federal Power, 1913–1933]. ''Google Books''. Retrieved May 31, 2023.</ref>

President [[Warren G. Harding]], despite his reported "lack of familiarity" on the decibel levels of racist atrocities facing black people nationwide as a result of Progressive Era–inspired repressions,<ref>Francis, Megan Ming (April 21, 2014). [https://www.google.com/books/edition/Civil_Rights_and_the_Making_of_the_Moder/VzQZAwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=warren+harding+anti-lynching&printsec=frontcover Civil Rights and the Making of the Modern American State], p. 82. ''Google Books''. Retrieved May 31, 2023.</ref> persistently endorsed the Dyer Bill during the [[United States presidential election, 1920|1920 U.S. presidential election]]<ref>October 21. [https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/harding-publicly-condemns-lynching This Day In History: President Harding publicly condemns lynching]. ''History Channel''. Retrieved May 28, 2023.</ref> and afterwards, vowing to sign it the moment it reaches his desk if passed by Congress.<ref name=tarbert>Tarbert, Jesse (2022). [https://www.google.com/books/edition/When_Good_Government_Meant_Big_Governmen/Z9UuEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=william+borah+dyer+bill&pg=PT64&printsec=frontcover When Good Government Meant Big Government: The Quest to Expand Federal Power, 1913–1933]. ''Google Books''. Retrieved May 31, 2023.</ref>

===Failed Democratic opposition===

===Failed Democratic opposition===

[[File:James B. Aswell of LA.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Rep. Aswell (D–LA) denounced the Dyer Bill in racial terms.]]

[[File:James B. Aswell of LA.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Rep. Aswell (D–LA) denounced the Dyer Bill in racial terms.]]

Southern Democrats in the House, although unable to block the bill's ultimate passage in the chamber, vilified the legislation. Louisiana representative [[James B. Aswell]], repeating the traditional Democratic canard alleging rape as "the primary cause of the mob spirit,"<ref name=francis,p.112>"Civil Rights and the Making of the Modern American State," p. 112.</ref> castigated Dyer himself as attempting to deny justice for rapists.<ref name=waldrep,pp.74-75>Waldrep, Christopher (2008). [https://www.google.com/books/edition/African_Americans_Confront_Lynching/1e_mbgRmaGAC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=james+aswell+dyer+bill&pg=PA74&printsec=frontcover African Americans Confront Lynching: Strategies of Resistance from the Civil War to the Civil Rights Era], pp. 74–75. ''Google Books''. Retrieved May 28, 2023.</ref> South Carolina congressman and future [[United States Supreme Court]] justice (as well as [[Secretary of State]] under the Truman Administration) [[James F. Byrnes]] stated to an applause by the Southern bloc:<ref name=francis,p.112/>

Southern Democrats in the House, although unable to block the Bill's ultimate passage in the chamber, vilified the legislation.<ref name=blackleaders20thcentury,pp.96-97/> Louisiana representative [[James B. Aswell]], repeating the traditional Democratic canard alleging rape as "the primary cause of the mob spirit,"<ref name=francis,p.112>"Civil Rights and the Making of the Modern American State," p. 112.</ref> castigated Dyer himself as attempting to deny justice for rapists.<ref name=waldrep,pp.74-75>Waldrep, Christopher (2008). [https://www.google.com/books/edition/African_Americans_Confront_Lynching/1e_mbgRmaGAC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=james+aswell+dyer+bill&pg=PA74&printsec=frontcover African Americans Confront Lynching: Strategies of Resistance from the Civil War to the Civil Rights Era], pp. 74–75. ''Google Books''. Retrieved May 28, 2023.</ref> South Carolina congressman and future [[United States Supreme Court]] justice (as well as [[Secretary of State]] under the Truman Administration) [[James F. Byrnes]] stated to an applause by the Southern bloc:<ref name=francis,p.112/>

{{cquote|It is the criminal Negro and the agitator of the North and East, both black and white, Negroes and white negroettes that mislead you into grievous error on this ignoble legislation.|||Rep. James F. Byrnes (D–SC), 1922}}

{{cquote|It is the criminal Negro and the agitator of the North and East, both black and white, Negroes and white negroettes that mislead you into grievous error on this ignoble legislation.|||Rep. James F. Byrnes (D–SC), 1922}}

On January 26, 1922, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Dyer Bill (H.R. 13) by an overwhelming margin of 230–120;<ref>January 26, 1922. [https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/67-2/h169 TO PASS H. R. 13.] ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved May 31, 2023.</ref> around 700 black individuals packed the Senate gallery to witness the floor debate and passage.<ref>Bloomfield, Maxwell (September 15, 2000). [https://www.google.com/books/edition/Peaceful_Revolution/u54j3Nkn_cUC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=william+borah+dyer+bill&pg=PA94&printsec=frontcover Peaceful Revolution: Constitutional Change and American Culture from Progressivism to the New Deal], p. 94. ''Google Books''. Retrieved May 31, 2023.</ref> 93% of Republicans voted in the affirmative, compared to only 7% of Democrats; along regional divides, it was supported by 95% of Northern Republicans, 50% of Southern Republicans,<ref group=note>Among the Southern Republicans, those elected from normally Democratic districts voted against the Bill.</ref> 58% of Northern Democrats, and >1% of Southern Democrats.

On January 26, 1922, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Dyer Bill (H.R. 13) by an overwhelming margin of 230–120;<ref>January 26, 1922. [https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/67-2/h169 TO PASS H. R. 13.] ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved May 31, 2023.</ref> around 700 black individuals packed the Senate gallery to witness the floor debate and passage.<ref>Bloomfield, Maxwell (September 15, 2000). [https://www.google.com/books/edition/Peaceful_Revolution/u54j3Nkn_cUC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=william+borah+dyer+bill&pg=PA94&printsec=frontcover Peaceful Revolution: Constitutional Change and American Culture from Progressivism to the New Deal], p. 94. ''Google Books''. Retrieved May 31, 2023.</ref> 93% of Republicans voted in the affirmative, compared to only 7% of Democrats; along regional divides, it was supported by 95% of Northern Republicans, 50% of Southern Republicans,<ref group=note>Among the Southern Republicans, those elected from normally Democratic districts voted against the Bill.</ref> 58% of Northern Democrats, and >1% of Southern Democrats.

When the Dyer Bill was sent to the Senate Judiciary Committee, President Harding and the NAACP began to rally public support behind the legislation.<ref name=tarbert/> In a heavily black district in [[Chicago]], a Republican congressman relayed to constituents the words of Harding:

When the Dyer Bill was sent to the Senate Judiciary Committee, President Harding and the NAACP began to rally public support behind the legislation.<ref name=tarbert/> In a heavily black district in [[Chicago]], the Republican representative relayed to constituents the words of Harding:

{{cquote|If the Senate of the United States passes the Dyer Anti-Lynching Bill, it won't be in the White House three minutes before I'll sign it, and, having signed it, I'll enforce it.|||Pres. Warren G. Harding, cir. Jan. 1922}}

{{cquote|If the Senate of the United States passes the Dyer Anti-Lynching Bill, it won't be in the White House three minutes before I'll sign it, and, having signed it, I'll enforce it.|||Pres. Warren G. Harding, cir. Jan. 1922}}

===Judiciary Committee approval===

===Judiciary Committee approval===

[[File:William Edgar Borah portrait.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Liberal, progressive Republican Sen. Borah opposed the Bill.]]

[[File:William Edgar Borah portrait.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Liberal, progressive Republican Sen. Borah opposed the Bill.]]

At the [[Senate Judiciary Committee]], the Dyer Bill elicited "a chilly reception."<ref name=waldrep,p.76>"African Americans Confront Lynching," p. 76.</ref> Newspapers reported by the end of May 1922 that every U.S. senator, save Shortridge, completely doubted the constitutionality of the bill, which languished for six months and failed to gain the support of Idaho progressive Republican William E. Borah, who remained unconvinced even after an extensive correspondence with NAACP president Moorfield Storey.<ref name=tarbert/> Despite professing sympathy with the anti-lynching movement, Borah insisted that federal legislation violated [[states' rights]].<ref>"Peaceful Revolution," p. 95.</ref>

At the [[Senate Judiciary Committee]], the Dyer Bill elicited "a chilly reception."<ref name=waldrep,p.76>"African Americans Confront Lynching," p. 76.</ref> Newspapers reported by the end of May 1922 that every U.S. senator, save Shortridge, completely doubted the constitutionality of the bill, which languished for six months and failed to gain the support of Idaho progressive Republican William E. Borah,<ref name=blackleaders20thcentury,pp.96-97/> who remained unconvinced even after an extensive correspondence with NAACP president Moorfield Storey.<ref name=tarbert/> Despite professing sympathy with the anti-lynching movement, Borah insisted that federal legislation violated [[states' rights]].<ref>"Peaceful Revolution," p. 95.</ref>

Borah's opposition was consistent in votes among the subcommittee as well as the full committee, siding with the Democratic fold in discontent.<ref name=tarbert/> His arguments against the constitutionality of the Dyer Bill, believing that no authorization was provided by the 14th Amendment for federal prosecution of civil rights violations, provided an alibi and effective excuse for lukewarm senatorial colleagues who quietly opposed the Bill—this particularly loomed to hold true for the Western bloc, which has sided with the South in thwarting civil rights efforts, most notably the previous Federal Elections Bill of 1890 defeated by a coalition of Silver Republicans and the Democratic Party.<ref name=tarbert/>

Borah's opposition was consistent in votes among the subcommittee as well as the full committee, siding with the Democratic fold in discontent.<ref name=tarbert/> His arguments against the constitutionality of the Dyer Bill, believing that no authorization was provided by the 14th Amendment for federal prosecution of civil rights violations, provided an alibi and effective excuse for lukewarm senatorial colleagues who quietly opposed the Bill—this particularly loomed to hold true for the Western bloc, which has sided with the South in thwarting civil rights efforts, most notably the previous Federal Elections Bill of 1890 defeated by a coalition of Silver Republicans and the Democratic Party.<ref name=tarbert/>