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2017

A Lesson on Hatred from the Annals of Logan County History

Aaron Barlow CUNY New York City College of Technology

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This work is made publicly available by the City University of New York (CUNY). Contact: [email protected] Wednesday, August 30, 2017 • BELLEFONTAINE EXAMINER • 5

eMail: [email protected] www.examiner.org Opinion & Editorial

GUEST COLUMN A lesson on hatred from the annals of Logan County history

ogan County Sheriff John Carmen Sullivan was a for the moment, was averted. disabled vet from World War I, gave a speech at an popular figure in the county during the 1890s. His During the evening, however, a vocal group, whose American Legion convention in Toledo in the mid- BELLEFONTAINE EXAMINER Stetson hat (covering a bald head) was widely description is a lot like that of the Ku Klux Klan, rallied 1920s, a speech against acceptance of the Klan into the L HUBBARD PUBLISHING CO. recognizable and his sense of humor the still-angry people, leading them Legion, something being pushed for at that time. His PO Box 40 • Bellefontaine, 43311 was appreciated even by his political back to the “calaboose” where Newlin specific argument against the Klan was based on the An independent daily newspaper enemies. was held. Unwilling to face the mob, the character of the Jewish soldiers he had served with Founded in 1891 He was my great-grandfather and guards retreated, at least one by force. overseas — for the Klan was then (and is now) as anti- by E.O. & H.K. Hubbard clippings about him from Bellefontaine Newlin was taken out and summarily Semitic as racist. Issued daily except Sunday at newspapers have come down to me. hanged. I wonder if he thought, as he stood for his beliefs, of 127 E. Chillicothe Ave. They include stories of the death of his My great-grandfather failed in his what had happened in Rushsylvania a generation earlier Member of the: mother-in-law, burned when her clothes duty that night, as later newspaper — certainly, he knew the story. Ohio Newspaper Association and caught fire in the kitchen and of my stories pointed out. Some of them also Certainly, he knew that our country can only move AARON BARLOW the Inland Daily Press Association • grandmother’s skip-rope playmate, who argued — and I agree — that he never forward if we stand against hatred and for the rule of The Associated Press • fell through the rotting wood over a well before my could have succeeded. Newlin was going to be killed no law. While we may never be the ones who can Ohio League of Home Dailies grandmother’s eyes. They include tales of Sheriff matter what the sheriff or anyone else could have tried individually stop the movements of anger, we only PUBLISHER: JON HUBBARD Sullivan’s practical jokes. to do to stop it. Anger had replaced the rule of law. encourage it when we stand by. This is the dilemma GENERAL MANAGER: T.J. HUBBARD And they include descriptions of the lynching he Logan County, of course, was not the only site on a that Sheriff Sullivan faced and his response was surely EDITOR: MIRIAM BAIER could not stop. lynching in Ohio — and there were many, many more one he spent the rest of his life regretting. It served, ADVERTISING DIRECTOR: BOB CHAPMAN On April 15, 1894, Seymour Newlin, was lynched in in other states, particularly across the south. But it is though, as an example for the next generation and the CIRCULATION MANAGER: JILL THOMAS Rushsylvania. Newlin, an African-American, was this one that I have a connection to. I think of Newlin next. My grandfather was determined not to repeat that accused of raping an elderly white woman: the local frequently, as I know my grandmother did, though the sort of failure, even on a much smaller scale. Neither SUBSCRIPTION RATES papers left little doubt — in their reporters’ minds, at lynching took place a few years before she was born. My was my father, who became, in a small way, a civil- Delivered by carrier, per week ...... $2.40 least — of his guilt. An angry crowd had gathered, larger great-grandfather, I suspect, reflected often on his own rights activist a generation later. By motor route, per week...... $2.40 than the entire population of the village, by the time role in Newlin’s death. It had to have generated a Neither am I, in our own time of renewed hatred and Price of single copy...... 50¢ Sheriff Sullivan arrived on the scene. He quickly sent for certain amount of guilt, and it surely changed the way a revitalized Klan. By mail R.F.D. in Logan and adjoining back-up, about a dozen young men from the local he viewed his Logan County fellows, though he never let Standing together against hatred, we can all defeat it. Counties, per year postpaid...... $125.40 National Guard unit. Even with them, however, he was that show. Aaron Barlow is a great-grandson of the late Logan By mail outside of Logan and in a ticklish situation. His men, though armed, likely Stories of lynchings, events of the American past, County Sheriff John Carmen Sullivan, a professor of surrounding counties...... $147.40 had friends and relatives among the mob. They remain alive in all of us whose ancestors were involved, English at the New York City College of Technology ONLINE Edition certainly would not have willingly fired at them. be it as victims, perpetrators, or even law officers who, and faculty editor of Academe. He is author of the Five weeks ...... $9.50 Sheriff Sullivan negotiated with the crowd. They for one reason or another, stood aside. We can’t push books The Depression Era: A Historical Exploration of Thirteen weeks...... $24.70 would disperse if he and his men returned to aside or ignore that history any more than we can bury Literature and Doughboys on the Western Front: Twenty six weeks ...... $49.40 Bellefontaine, with a group of locals deputized to guard the other terrible legacies of slavery. Memories of American Soldiers in the Great War. Fifty two weeks-(1 year)...... $98.80 Lesser periods by mail slightly more than proportionate the building where Newlin was held. Violence, at least My grandfather, Sheriff Sullivan’s son-in-law, a He can be reached at [email protected]. cost of yearly rate. Mail subscriptions will not be accept- ed from territories served by an Examiner newspaper courier or motor routes.

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Second Class Postage Paid At Bellefontaine, Ohio 43311 Publication Number 049000 “Nothing is stronger than public FROM THE SENATE FLOOR opinion; given the facts, nothing is wiser.” A comprehensive view of the heroin and prescription drug epidemic eroin and prescription drugs have ravaged our Getting those in need into treatment and long-term In addition to treating those in need, we need to communities. Overdose deaths have become so recovery programs is what will help turn the tide of keep these deadly drugs off the streets. At a Customs Hprevalent that coroners’ offices across the state addiction. and Border Protection port of entry at the Greater are literally running out of space. This is The Maryhaven Addiction airport, I saw their screening process to stop a national epidemic, and, sadly, Ohio is Stabilization Center in Columbus is a synthetic heroin, including fentanyl and carfentanil, FORUM GUIDELINES at the center of it. The number one great example of this. They are building from reaching Ohio communities. Labs, mostly in Letters of less than 500 words will be given preference. Writers cause of crime in Ohio is opioid a new countywide treatment center that China, ship synthetic drugs into Ohio directly through should limit their letters to one per addiction and related offenses will provide both immediate support for the mail. Fentanyl is 50 times more potent than heroin, month. For verification purposes, all committed to pay for drugs. An overdose victims as well as treatment to and it is increasingly taking Ohioan’s lives. letters must include the writer’s estimated 200,000 Ohioans are suffering overcome addiction. This comprehen- In February, I introduced the bipartisan STOP Act to address and telephone number. The writer’s name and city will be printed from addiction, and at nearly double the sive approach is key to battling the root address this problem. It requires the U.S. Postal Service with each letter. No anonymous let- national average, Ohio has one of the ROB PORTMAN of addiction rather than just treating the to get electronics customs data for packages entering ters will be printed. Letters of thanks highest rates of overdose deaths in the immediate symptoms. As a part of the the country — the same way private carries like UPS will not be printed in the Forum, nor country. 21st Century Cures legislation, I fought for an additional and FedEx already do — to give law enforcement the will disputes between customers and businesses. I recently visited two Ohio medical centers where $1 billion in new funding for states to combat the opioid tools to identify, and target, the suppliers of these dead- The Examiner reserves the right to addiction is treated and the pathway to recovery begins. epidemic. It is this funding that helped provide the ly poisons. edit letters for length and clarity. Forum I also visited the Customs and Border Protection port of means necessary to build this new treatment center. The opioid epidemic in Ohio is a complex problem letters and guest editorials are the opin- entry at the Greater Cincinnati airport where officers I also visited the Ohio Health Grant Medical Center that requires a comprehensive solution. My visits high- ions of the writers and do not necessar- ily reflect the opinions of the Examiner. are trying to stop these drugs from ever entering our in Columbus where they treat babies who are born lighted some successes, as well as some needed reforms E-mail letters may be sent to: country. dependent on opioids. This is a tragic and all too com- to combat the heroin and prescription drug epidemic news@ examiner.org At the medical centers, I was able to see new mon occurrence in Ohio — expectant mothers battling flooding our local communities. Everyone has a role, approaches that treat the root of addiction rather than addiction give birth to children who are dependent on and I will continue to do what I can to assist Ohio com- Letters can also be sent by fax to 592-4463, or by mail to: just preventing loss of life and sending people home — these drugs before taking their first breath. My legisla- munities in this important fight. only to revert back to drug use shortly thereafter. There tion passed last year, the Comprehensive Addiction and Rob Portman is a Republican U.S. Senator from The Forum is no question that Narcan, used to revive those having Recovery Act, provides help to pregnant and postpar- Cincinnati. He can be reached at www.portman.sen- Bellefontaine Examiner an overdose, saves lives — but it is treatment centers tum women as well as vulnerable babies affected by this ate.gov; 312 Walnut St., Suite 3075, Cincinnati, OH P.O. Box 40 that provide a second chance to live addiction free. disease. 45202; or telephone, (513) 684-3265. Bellefontaine, Ohio 43311

FROM THE STATE SENATE ABE MARTIN In , wind is our shale n my desk in the , a single significant amounts of energy using wind. That is fine waiting for us to fix this problem we created in Ohio law. picture of my four beautiful granddaughters is a — and they are pursuing economic development by I sincerely hope as a legislature we are prepared to do so. Odaily reminder of what we are trying to other means. However, in my district, wind is our shale. Senator Hite represents the 1st Ohio Senate District, accomplish here in the General And every day that goes by with this which encompasses all or parts of Auglaize, Defiance, Assembly. As tough as it is at times, the arbitrary setbacks rule in place is anoth- Fulton, Hancock, Hardin, Henry, Logan, Paulding, only thing that pulls me away from er missed opportunity to get this indus- Putnam, Van Wert, and Williams counties. Learn more spending time with those smiling faces is try back on track for Northwest Ohio. at www.OhioSenate.gov/Hite. the understanding that the decisions I Wind energy development can have make here are right for my constituents a rippling economic effect, too. in Northwest Ohio, and that we are Corporate purchasers such as Amazon, creating a climate for economic manufacturers like Timken, and state PRAYER FOR TODAY development, are moving our state CLIFF HITE and local government treasuries all Oh Lord and Master of my life, take away from me forward, and ensuring our children and stand to benefit from these wind proj- the spirit of laziness, cowardliness, lust for power, grandchildren have boundless ects, incentivizing more and more busi- and malicious and idle speech. But rather give me, opportunity and a bright future ahead of them. ness investment in our area. Northwest Ohio is an ideal throughout the day to come, an ample spirit of vitality It saddens me that at this very moment, overreach- region for this viable and renewable energy source. The and force in your service, to the benefit of your glory “A diplomat is a feller that ing wind turbine setback laws are preventing just that. current setback laws are bad for business, the environ- and the good of my fellow man. Let me act in lets you do all the talkin’ They have halted a tremendous economic development ment, and our families. humility, patience, and decency at all times, seeing while he gits what he wants.” effort that is estimated to bring jobs and a $4.2 billion My goal when I joined the legislature was to leave my own error and overlooking the faults of others; wind industry to an area that has not been able to reap Ohio a better place than when I started. I strongly believe and let me always know the presence of your Holy Written prior, 1931, by Kin Hubbard, a the benefits of Ohio’s shale boom. Many parts of the the development of these wind farms will benefit our world-famous newspaper humorist and Spirit, to remind me of what I have asked, in the father of late T.E. Hubbard, former state have neither the interest nor ability to generate state for generations to come. New projects are eagerly name of my savior Jesus hrist, DAILYPRAYER.US Examiner owner/publisher