Middletown transcript., 1905-07-08
M1DDLErowN, DEL. JULY 8, 1905.
LAWLESSNESS in DELAWARE

The numerous cases of assault
with intent to serious injure or
to kill, especially directed to Of
fcers of the law, have aroused
the people Of Delaware. Some
writer's to the press as well as
partisan editors like the EUegy
Evenings, have directed their
shafts at the negro as a race, as
being responsible for the out
RACES. We do not desire to be
considered as trying to shield
any guilty man, black or white,
but it is not right, just or true to
carry prejudice so far. In some
instance recorded, bad white men
have been in the mess, and bad
rum at the bottom of the
trouble. These and too common
practice of carrying concealed
deadly weapons, are the real is
sues involved. It is not a ques-
ton of race. but of law and order.
Our correspondent last week
gave his opinions as to a solution
of the trouble that is caused by
the crowding of our streets on
Saturday nights. One Of them
called for the requiring all col
ored persons to leave town at ten
o'clock. Leaving out of consid-
Grafton the fact that there are a
great many colored property
owners and others who live
within the corporate limits Of the
town, and whom it would be i'm
possible to bring under the pro
posed regulation, we do not be-
lieve there is merchant in our
town who would subscribe to
such a proposition. We know of
some places in Virginia and
other States, where this plan is
tried, and it has been worked in
a measure. But, in order to Sc
cure favorable action, it was
necessary to entirely dis, or
rather re-arrange the farming
habits. When this law is en-
forced, or attempted to be en-
forced, the farmers all cease work
at noon on Saturdays, and give
their men the half holiday. This
results in transferring the night
crowd to the afternoon, lets the
men get homei in time for supper.
But to ask men, white or black,
who have labored hard through
the week and until sun down Sat
urday to do weeks buying and
visiting in space Of less than
two hours. A better solution
would be for the Town Commits
sioners to arrange for special
police of the right kind. Some
Of the kind we have had in the
past were wholly incompetent
and worse than useless, as they
knew nothing of handling
crowds.
For the other and more serious
trouble, only rigid enforcement
of our laws will bring a solution.
AS to carrying concealed
deadly weapons, Commissioner
McAddo, of the New York City
police considers it as the most
serious danger now confronting
the American people, and urges
that the Courts use the extreme
measure of the law upon offend
ers. Delaware's law calls for a
penalty of "a fine Of not less
than twenty-five dollars nor
more than one hundred dollars,
or Imprisonment in the county
jail for not less than ten nor
more than thirty days, or both at |
the discretion Of the Court" TIL
is the invariable custom to i'm
pose a fine of twenty live dollars, |
or Imprisonment for thirty days. |
We believe the law should be !
made more stringent and require |
a penalty Of at least six months
or one year in Jail, and a fine at |
the discretion of the Court. I
But, with the law as it is, the i'm
position of the extreme penalty |
of Imprisonment would go long
ways toward breaking up the
practice. No man places a pistol
or knife in his pocket unless he
intends to use it, and its pres
ence is constant suggestion and |
temptation to use it. When
these wrongs are corrected, and
the sale Of deadly weapons is
more closely looked after, a large
part of the serious disturbances
noted will cease.