The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1905-12-13
LAW AND ORDER LEAGUE.
Committee From the State Law and
Cr0er League Issues an Address to
The People.

The People.
To the People OF South Carolina:
at the recent annual meeting Of the
State Temperance, Law and Order
league a committee was appointed to
make an appeal through the press for
; the organization in each county Of a
law and order league-so patent TO all
was the great good which might result
from such organization.
! When it is understood that the lea
que is entirely non-political and by its
constitution must remain so, that its
sole object is to promote good citizen
ship by moulding and directing pub
lie sentiment and stimulating officials
to q, more vigorous and conscientious
discharge Of their sworn duties, it is
hoped that the patriotic, law-abid-
ing citizens of each county will feel
moved to agitate the organization Of
such a league.
The conscientious official will re-
joice in and encourage the banding
together of the best men in each COM
munity for the purpose of aiding
them in the enforcement Of the laws,
and will welcome the stimulation Of a
ouickened public conscience encourag-
ing them to a strict observance of
their oath of Office Even the most
fearless public servant appreciates the
moral backing Of his constituency, and
the knowledge Of the approval and
backing of an organization composed
of the best citizens will have Won
derful effect in stimulating his best
| efforts. And when an official is in
clined to neglect his duty or pervert
| his Office, believeing from the indif-
ference manifested that the public are
careless of their interests, firm but
polite protsst from an organization
through which the general public will
soon learn to make complaint will
have great influence.
By having an organization whose
avowed purpose is to commend where
commentator is due and to protest
where protestation is needed, that
personal element which oftentimes en-
genders strife and ill-feeling is re-
moved, a private citizen, may, With
good reason, hesitate to make com
plant against a Iaw-breaker or un-
faithful official, but an organized
league can, without ofense-or at
least with added force-speak for the
law-abiding element.
In organizing such a league as we
already have in several counties Of
the State it is not necessary, nor per
haps advisable, to have an enthuslas-
tic mass meeting, but let some half
dozen or more patriotic citizens come
together and organize, adopt consti-
tuition and from time elect as mem
bers such citizens of the county as viii
in the Judgment Of those present, best
promote the unselfsh objects above
outlined; and who can better inaugu-
rate such a movement than the pas
| tors of the churches with few level
headed business men. Only after new
members have been elected should
they be approached and informed that
they have been elected and Will be-
come full members upon paylaent Ct
initiation fee.
Each county organization should ne
entirely Independent and free to adopt
a constitution best suited to its indi-
vidual league, but if any wish copies Of
the constitution of a league which has
been in successful operation for some
time, they may procure same by ad-
dressing Howell Morrell, Secretary
State League, Horrell Hill, S. C.
The committee would add few
other suggestions, the wisdom of which
experience has demonstrated:
1st. Echew politics-in the ordinary
acceptance of the term, i. e., do not
permit the league to be used for any
selfish ends, nor allow the organiza-
ton to pledge it's support to any par
ticular candidate.
| End. Keep out of the 'lime-light.
Attempt you reforms through the Of
fcials whose duties are to enforce
the laws and let said officials receive
the credit from the public; but let
the faithful official know that if he
refuse to enforce the law when it is
his duty to do so, your league will
take other methods to have it enforc-
ed and will let the public know that he
was appealed to and failed in his duty.
3rd. We do not deem it best for
public officials to be in active mem
bership, let their official acts be sup
posedly too much Influenced by the
deliberations of the league. This pro-