The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-17
ONE NEED OF RURAL TOWNS.
suggestions for Improvement in the
Matter of Police Protection.
ltchburg' Sentinel.

Renewed attention is being called TO the
growth of hOodlumism in the rural districts
of Massachusetts, to the increased inse-
curity of property and even Of life and Sc
riOus thought is being given to the nea rs of
preventing this increase of lawlessn ess. The
difficulty arises in large degree from the
feeblesness of the small towns. They have
lost much of their population and in some
instances large part of their property.
With the decline of the native populati On
has come in 4 foreign element which neg
lects the training of it's young people and
which is not inspired by that regard for law
and order which are the essential Of peace,
even If it is regarded as very old fashi0ned.
AS long as the towns continue to decline and
nothing Is done to oounteract the. present
It is even said that in some towns it is not
safe for woman to be out unattended after
dark: This seems almost incredible in law
abiding Massachusetts, as we fondly re-
gard our State. But there is no denying the
facts.
Now it is manifestIy impossible for the
towns to maintain a regular police force.
They have their constables elected by the
town meetings under local influence, more
or less relying for office upon the favor of
their neighbors, all of them we'll acquainted
with the people OF the locality and usually
of a harmless and nonaggressive type The
hoodlum element does not stand in awe of
such an arm of the law. Such a police force
is weak and contemplate in the opinion of
those who have the nerve to commit the Of
law a constable has no authority outside of
his own town. 1t Is impossible. under pres
combine for the maintenance of Joint no
lice force.
Perhaps the law might be changed Just as
it was changed to permit employees on rail-
road trains to exercise police powers in diff
ferent towns in order 10 give them authority
over disorderly persons. on their cars. Or
such an arrangement might be legalized as
that whereby different towns unite in the
support of a superintendent of schools But
such combination or introduction of help
from outside of the towns is essential for
the preservation of property and life There
is the suggestion that the district police
force might be enlarged so as to have over
sight of several towns, the districts being
small enough to make such supervision ef-
fectual. This would involve an invasion Of
the old ideas of local self-government but
it would afford protection where it is much
needed.
1t is evident that our old theory of local
democracies existing in the towns must be
modified TO meet the eXigencies of the times
The State is the superior body Therefore
the State cannot permit the territory of any
town to be used for hoodlums and criminals
who sally forth from their retreat for the
sake of preying upon the property of the
people of other towns or for the disturbance
Of their neighbors. This evil has grown 10
such an extent that IL demands recognition
by the lawmakers and conditions ought 10
be established WHICH shall check the ten
dency of recent years in rural communities