Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1901-08-26
PROTEST
Against Discrim-
ination
In the Local Enforce
ment of Law.
An Akron Attorney
Complains Of Methods
Claimed to Have Been Practiced
by Policemen.
To the Editor of the Democrat:

Wnen our f0re1dtnerS eSIuDllSneu tne
government Of the United States, they
established it upon principles Of equal
rights to all.
The Fourteenth amendment to the
constitution of the United States, sec
ton one, provides that mo state shall
make or enforce any law which shall
abridge the privileges or immunities
of citizens of the United States; nor
shall any state deprive any person Of
life liberty or property without due
process of law; nor deny to any person
within its jurisdiction the equal protec-
ton of the laws" and 1t is further pro-
vlded in Article One, of amendments
to the constitution that Congress shall
make no law respecting an establish
ment of religion, or prohibiting the free
exercise thereof; or abrdge the free
dom of Speech" etc.
Article /, Section One, of the con-
stitution Of Ohio reads as follows:
"All men are, by nature free and in
dependent, and have certain inalien-
able rights, among which are those of
enjoying and defending life and liber-
ty, acquiring, possessing and protect
ing property and seeking and obtain,
ing happiness and safety" Section
Two of the same article further pro-
vides that "All political power is in
herent in the people. Government is
instituted for their equal protection
and benefit, and they have the right
to alter, reform OF abolish the same
whenever they may deem it necessary
etc.
After reading the above article OF
the constitutions of the United States
and the State of Ohio, and knowing
Of the violation Of our laws and city
ordinances by some people and cor
poratlons particularly, and the strict
enforcement of the laws as against
| others, we begin to question whether
"All men are, by nature, free and in
dependent" and whether government
is instituted for their equal protection
and benefit and all political power Il
inherent in the people.
And we are forced to believe tina
the government, so far as we are con
cerned, is inherent in the police force
which seems to be administering tn,
laws like unto an autocratic monarchy
the acts Of the officers Of which dar,
not be questioned, however unjust, b,
any person, or he will be denominate,
an outlaw.
The acts Of President Mckinley ar
quite frequently criticised through tn
press, but any policeman Of the cit
of Akron dare not be, or the citlzel
who does so will be termed ''rioter
and the whole police force, as it
generally termed, will have it in 70
him. But of course, the Office of police
man In the city of Akron is much NOR
exalted a position than that of pres
dent of the United States.
Many of our police officers seen t
be entirely to eager to arrest peopl
for personal grievances, poor and III
fortunate inebriates, and those VIII
occasionally imbibe too freely and d,
prive their wives and children of tn
few dollars they have left, and, 1
many instances, leaving starvatio
stare them in the face while prlvile,
cd few are permitted to be taken hon
in cabs unmolested, and any societ
or political party who looks after tn
interest of these unfortunates mui
have a permit to do SO or move on.
Shame for q city with such an admin
istration! 1t is not only disgrace
the city, but an outrage on the con
munity at large, and all good citizer
ought to rise up against such an el
forcement of the laws, and such el
justice and by their political infiuenc
in the future welded by their ballot
elect men to Office who believe in equ,
rights to all and special privileges
none.
A few weeks ago when the Prohib
tion party was holding meeting @
East Market ST., under the supervlsio
of Aev. Crispin, whose honor and Il
tegrity will stand comparison wit
: any member of the police force. he wi
told to "move on"-Ghe same being
phrase recently memorized by Il
= police force) by one of Akron's mob
and audacious recently appointed 10
liceman. And after the officer had bee