Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1896-06-26
LAW AND ORDER.

44@A W ~A-NA
There has been some talk re-
Gently of a Law and Order So
ciety in Milford This is not the
first time the subject has been
broached, but the first in the know
ledge of the writer when there has
been effort to do as well as talk. To
get the subject before us, let us ask
What is law and Order Society?
Is one needed here? And if so why?
And what is the attitude of differ
ent classes in the community toward
such an organization?
AS to the first question, the name
defines the thing. The design of
law Is good order-the repression of
vice ana crime, and the protection of
the people in their rights. A Law
and Order Society seeks the main
tenance of order through the en-
forcement of law. That is all there
is of it. So that an opponent of the
organization where there is need of
it tadvertises himself as unfriendly
to the law. The law is the target he
shoots at, law-breakers he would
cover with a shield. The friend of
the organization, on the other hand,
asks only what is fundamental to
the peace and well-being of society,
But does he not pursue unusual
methods? Why special organiza-
ton when the statute makes no
provision for it? Rather let us ask
why NoTsuch an organization? If an
individual may make complaint
when the law is violated why not
score of individuals, each of whom
strengthens all the rest? What in
terests are imperiled by a move
ment which when all is said and
done, seeks nothing but the enforce
ment of the law? If laws are not bro
ken there will be nothing for it to
do. if they are broken, Offenders
ought to suffer.
Now it is the condition of
every community that determines
whether or not such a society is
called for. Notoriously in our COM
munity the condition is bad Offend
ers are even insolent and defiant.
They have had their own way so
long that they will turn on you in
rage at the slightest proposal of in
reference. "We want no blue lawS
here" they say; condemning in this
way the very laws of their State, and
the ordinances of their Borough /;
pilloried by their own ignorance.
For it is not question of making
law, but of enforcing law already
made. And so eN ,'s continue almost
without restraint Impurity stalks
our streets, or is repressed just now
only through the energetic pro-
test of Law and Order men.
Habitual drunkards stagger to and
fro. Our ears are shocked with
profanity. Loungers obstruct the
street corners from whom de-
cent women shrink back. The
Sabbath is openly and flagrantly vi
olated in fact, is getting to be one
of the noisiest days we have. Boys
of tender years find the means of
cultivating the cigarette habit. OF
course these things are illegal: but
if it is to the officers of the law that
we are to look for relief, why are
offenses so many and arrests so fewf
Why are arrests confined largely to
one or two classes of offenders? The
trouble is just what a Law and Or
der Society is designed to remedy-a
widespread apathy and indifference.
What is every body's business is no
body's business. Many wish things
were different, but will do nothing.
They became discouraged long ago.
"What is the USE" they say,
"Things have always been so and
they always will be-" There is
fear of trouble and expense if char
ges are attempted; fear of failure :
fear of getting the i'll will of others
fear of losing popularity. 1t is the
prevalent American spirit. Mr. Glad
stone of England runs after a cabman
who has wronged him and brings him
before magistrate, but one of our
own popular sovereigns" pockets
the imposition and invites its repe-
} tition. He cannot waste his time in
looking after public interests.
But has a movement for law and
order no real friends among us