Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-05-11
AVOID SIDE IssUEsi

The informal Investigation conducted
by the committee on police OF the city
Council. Is a step in the direction de-
sired by the bubble. II Is, Of course,
only preliminary examination. Il Is
proceeding with a view TO the develop
ment Of all the facts In the wretched
case. That Is right More latitude Is
taken than would be considered proper
IN regular court, and this should be
considered allowable under the circum-
stances.
While the point must be Kept clear
that neither the girls who were exam
ined. nor the man who first gave TO the
newspapers the information as 20 their
treatment are on trial, as some features
OF the investigation might seem to In
dlcate, Il may be necessary 90 show
their character and reputation, IN order
to bring out the motive and intent Of
the officers whose conduct ls under con-
slderatlon Therefore the Investigation
should be as full and complete as pos
slble on all sides
The Deseret News has not imputed
improper motives TO the Chief Of Po-
lice. who canddly shoulders the re-
sponslblity for the whole matter Nor
has Il charged any wrong intent on the
part Of either or all Of the officers who
participated In the affair And We want
II kept clearly IN view that this Is not
the question to be settled There seems
to be a desire 20 make IL the grand OBJ
ject OF attention. That would be a de
version and would defeat the purpose
Of the inquiry, The committee should
not permit their minds to be swayed In
that direction,
We believe the Chief was acting with
view 10 the promotion Of morality
and to the checking OF what he believed
TO be an evil In the community. We
are willing to admit all the good in
tentons claimed by the officer who sug
gesled the course pursued, and the
Chief who permitted It. But that Is
extraneous and u made prominent viii
mlslead inquiry Let the committee
keep the real point in view
Il is this; Shah the police depart
ment be permitted to 90 beyond the law,
In the exercise Of their duties TO pre-
serve the public peace? May the officers
take into custody any female who has
been reported 10 be lewd or diseased,
and require her to submit to examina-
tion by a physician, without an order
Of court and without the sanction Of
parent or guardian? II so. what
girls or woman's person Is safe2 THE
plea Of good motive doesn't count a
speck, unless IL be in the extent OF
dlsapprobation OF the conduct Of the
police. Their whole proceeding was
either right or wrong, lawful or un-
lawful
II is evident that this Is not the first
case OF the kind in the history Of
the present police administration. 1t
is also very clear that the persons re.
sponsIble for the outrage-we can view
It as nothing less-haye entertained the
notion that they were justified In their
course, that It was all right and that
those who exposed It are to be COM
demned for their interference. That
Is the attitude assumed II Is neces-
sary that such an idea shall not con-
tnue TO prevail The whole public ls
aroused over IL. The indignation IS
universal and az foyer point.
We are glad 10 have the support Of
both our morning contemporaries on
the main question. We hope they will
still keep st IN sight II matters not
how wicked or criminal the writer Of
the first letter on this subject may or
may not be-. Il does not signify how
Wild or brazen the girls who We're
seized may or may not be. Nor Us Il
very material whether or not any off,
Ger wanted 10 be present at the ev-
animation, Grant all that is claimed
by the officers on these points and
what then? Why, by their own add
missions, three girls under 10 years Of
age We're taken In custody while quietly
eating their supper at a restaurant.
What Tor? That they might be put UNI
der a surgical examination TO see
whether or not they We're disease32
Need anything more be said 20 arouse
the strongest sentiments OF aversion
and Indignation? It's not even claimed
that this was authorized by ordinance
or statute II any one thinks o. was
not an outrage LET him imagine. n
be can, that one o. these girls was his
daughter, or sister or other relative ana
then let him supply a better term Tor
The unlawful proceedings
Il was established beyond dispute
that the suspicious OF the police con.
corning two OF these girls at least were
gr0wdless The physician pronounced
them "vlrtu1us" That was the word
used as reported 10 us from police
headquarters Suppose be had reported
the other way? Would that have Jus.
uiel the lawless actions against which
we and the public protest? Not IN the
slightest degree, Tt Is the exercise Of
unlawful authority that Is the real
grievance and that must be stopped
ana condemned. Il is the invasion OF
sacred personal liberty that Is in.
volyed. 1t Is Of more moment than