The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-07-15
SEATTLE. SUNDAY. JULY ~.
Keep Them Out.


The Post-Inteiligencer. in view OF the
frequency OF burglariss In Seattle. sug-
gested few days ago that a little
more activity in apprehending and pun
'shing these criminals would be apprs-
ciated by our people. II Is glad to learn
that the police department is not insen-
sible to what the situation demands.
but believes that the time has come 10
pursue different line OF policy from
the rather helpless method that seems
10 be most In fashion at the city han.
From the first moment when the au-
thori,ies asserted that they proposed TO
root out crime In Seattle. they have had
but one remedy. apparently, which is
an increase in the police force, That
this was inadequate at the beginning OF
the year Is true. Additions were rec
commended and granted freely The
people were prepared 10 be liberal They
were ready TO approve any reasonable
expenditure for police protection, pro-
vided they got IT, When detective bu-
reau was recommended, there was
equally cordial acceptance Of that. Let
our police department be as thorough
ly equipped as the size and circum-
stances OF the city warrant. was the
universal opinion: and then. let us have
complete protection for life and prop
erty. The means were supplied The
end sought dos not appear to have been
attained
A good deal more Ia necessary than
the mere adding Of policeman TO police
man and detective to detective. And a
system which permits crime TO become
rampant and then calls for more men
90 deal with II Is no system at all II Is
virtually a weak summoning of the
posse eomitatus. 1t lnds an emergency
where there Is none; and there IL none
now, when the Nome crowds have De.
parted. Seattle Is not overrun with des-
perate characters from abroad and the
unruly element ought 10 be controlled
by ordinary resources. provided these
are sufficient and are in earnest about
doing their duty
Every police authority In the country
knows that prevention is more eaica-
olous than punishment thoroughly
disciplined aud competent police force
seldom has 60 So out on a general hunt
for htghwaymen and houscbrcakers.
ana track them down by the evidences
that they leave behind them Instead
OF clearing them out. It keeps them out.
AL Of the old operators. all the eN-
pcrts and many ot the petty criminals
are perfectly well known 90 poiicc an.
thorities and detective bureaus The
country over One ~ them cannot land
IN city without being spotted And
either he "a ordered to move - or Is
kept uader sueh elosr surS eiijAuce that
he is slad 70 SO withQu, persuasion
crime. like disease. is % BE- dealt with
far more successfully by guarantees
than cures
whatc this IS not done. one - tNo
suspl5lous arises Detective of'lcets
may bs Incompetent or Lax In tbr per
Torrance 20 their duties or thrs NAV
have reasons q thr.~ oar sar not ~
vrels,nS ,sa s'fi.; "a rsh.p OF lhe
no@uns population A. r.ly. .t Us g..
hiRd enc OF the 0;her ~ these ,oua.
tiens that the oTeuAer aeis shelter AMI
- baSs 90 operation. Wh-ne,er crime
Is frequent semtthlnE IS Vr.as Aav
well organized ana veil iuHcA poure
force can run ln the srveu hands tbr
occasional criminals, the sueak thieves
aud minor confidence su~a without any
trouble Any uc0 organized ana Sc
termiacA detective force ,au either keep
out the cracks or have thrm under
watch Within tWcuts-,auv hoat> after
they land here when this IS net done.
whom ne AMI property are no; safe.
when deprsdauons continue day after
day. the public is perfectly rlsht in
th,aAing that something is wrong and
IN demanding a correction
We DO net intend at this time 10 at