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“These are papers I’ve been collecting on the situation: reports of the s it’s hard for a Christian man to credit Especially since the perpetrators of these crimes are men who claim to be Christians”

My first thought was that the president was exaggerating the problem Northerners do that all the tis, but I hadn’t known of any in Mississippi since I was a boy

“They hangchildren,” Roosevelt said “They do the s to their bodies, Ben”

I didn’t say a word How could I? He was talking about my hometown

“I’ve tried discussing the matter with several southern senators To a e element of white reprobates But I know damn well it’s the Klan, and in some of these towns that includes ju

st about every respectable white man”

“But Colonel,” I said, “the Klan was outlawed forty years ago”

“Yes And apparently it’s stronger than ever now That’s why you’re here, Captain”

Chapter 14

I WAS GLAD when Roosevelt reached for the decanter again This talk of the sins of ry

“Colonel, I haven’t spent much time down home since I finished law school,” I said cautiously “But I’d be surprised if there’s a probleroes well”

When he spoke, his voice was gentle “Open your eyes, Ben Since April there have been two edly lynched within a few oddamn epidemic, and I—”

“Excuse edly’?”

“Excellent! You’re paying attention!” He thwacked my knee with the portfolio “In this file you’ll see letter after letter, report after report, froovernors Nearly every one tells erated There are no lynchings in their towns or districts The Negro is living in freedom and comfort, and the white southerner is his boon friend and ally”

I nodded I didn’t want to admit that had I been asked, that would have been very much like my own estimate of the situation