The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-09-19
A Question Wioh Two Sides.

A Question Wilh Two Sides.
It was suggested some time ago
that something might be done to-
ward mitigating certain peculiar To-
cal conditions and extra ordinary local
temptations to lawlessness by adopt
ing in the States Of the South the
system Of mounted police which has
long been in use in Australia, in the
Cana dian Northwest, and in Texas
which has in the last year been estaD-
Iished in Pennsylvania. Whatever
ones private opinion Of the wisdom
of maintaining such constabu-
larry in a settled and presumably clvl-
lided country; whatever ones indivi-
dual view of the adoption of such an
instrument to the particular SITUATION
involved-and strong objections have
been urged by leading newspapers in
the South and eise1here-there are
not wanting signs that the expert
nent is likely to be tried.
In the first place, Texas, whose
Ranger force has long done admira-
BILE service in restraining la.wlessness
ON the Mexican border and in the cat
tie country, is. it is said, to be materi-
ally strengthened This, though the
Mexican border is now admittedly
well-behaved and the cattle country
needs less watching than formerly.
The trouble at Brownsville and the
hint of the possible withdrawal OF
Federal troops from several posts on
the Rio Grande would no doubt sug-
gest this increase in the States own
force Of movab BILE and dependable
neaee officers; but it appears further
that the experience which has proved
the value of the Ragers has encour-
aged the notion that they constitute
an institution for general security not
only worth retaining but w,rth IN
creasing now that the peculiar con-
ditions which brought them into be-
ms have LARGELY disappeared. For at
the moment Texas is certainly not
the least civilized Of the States.
In the second place, there have
been suggestions from Atlanta
town characteristically American and
not Enthusiastically Southern
were several fragrant cases Of as
sault by negroes have lately occurred.
that the situation be met by creating
quite unofficial and extra-legal So
c;etv of citizen regulators. That such
thing should be suggested argues
of course, a curious state of mind
a seeming preference for doing things
| without warrant of law. But it also
argues a feeling Of the need of a
peace-compelling force which does
not now exist. Such a force, obvious
w. body Of State Rangers would
furnish. Equally obviously the Ran
gers could do all toward preventing
crime and apprehending desperate
criminals that any regulators could
do-and do it decently and in order,
as the regulators could not.
Therefore the cry Of regulators
NAV be regarded, if you choose, as
blind cropping after a mounted cor
sta 5ulary by law established and by
law controlled, a perfected form OF
regulator of which the average Geor-
gian is quite ignorant. To be sure,
The Columbia State points out that
force such as could reasonably be
maintained could not guard every
lonely by-road and lane. But neither
can the irregular regulator do that.
Nor does the city policeman guard
every alley and court. He is not even
always within call but he often is.
He may be at any time. SO with the
mounted Ranger The Richmond
Times-Dispatch looks with favor on
the plan. pointing out that preven-
ton of crime, not punishment after
ward. is the point to be considered,
and urging that if state police can
not DO ALL it may do much.
Clearly it is an interesting queS-
ton. Clearly there is much to be said
on both sides Of it. Clearly the prop
osition has in it at least one excellent
element. It seeks to Introduce law
aud order into situation full. as we
remarked in the beginning of tempt
ations to the contrary-full also of
practices to the conrary.-New York