The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1907-07-25
TOO MUCH MILITARY.

II is gratifying to The Caucasian to
note the protest of the New Orleans
press against the military, called into
service to assist in the maintenance of
law and order at Hahnvile. When held
within reasonable and conservative
bounds, the military can render invalu
able assistance to the civil authority, but
the military should always be subordi-
nate to the civil authority except when
martial law s,ipersedes all law.
Il has been noted that whenever there
has been manifested the least excite
ment, arising over the commission of
some crime which appeals for swift and
summary execution. the militia has been
summoned and held in readiness to per-
form the service which should be left
exclusively to the civil authority. This
tendency to rush the military is being
resented by the people. These military
displays may be applauded in the North,
but are unnecessary in Louisiana, except
in extreme cases, and only after the civil
shall have reached the limit Of its att
thority, but under no circumstances
should military usurpation Of civil att
thority be tolerated.
The protest of the New Orleans press
against the militarism at Hahnville is
timely and mist have an all-powerful
influence for good Under no pretense
or pretcxt should the military assume
charge over the civil.
From accounts reported the military
was at times huffianly There was main
tanned an absolute despotism The sheriff
Of the parish Of st. Charles was ignored
and treated with contempt, and it was
only after he had exercised his author
ity regardless OF an averted clash, that
the military acquiesced and gave him
recognition commensurate with his Off
cial position.
This incident at Hahnville should be
: guide in the future for all the sheriffs
In the State. When confronted with an
emergency the sheriff should enlist in
his service law-abiding citizens, and
such citizens will not fail in their duty
whef. obligated to the sheriff. A case
in point occurred in Caddo when more
than fifteen hundred men in Shreveport
clamored for the negro Charles Cole |
man. q rapist and murderer. Inside the
jail with Colonel Ward. sheriff, were a |
few deputies and less than dozen OF
his friends. The mob, having realized |
thst the men inside the jail would shoot,
and shoot to kill, became more conserva
tive. During the night the local military
company reinforced the men . in jail
Shortly after midnight the mob in
creased to three thousand, dispersed.
The climax had been reached and
passed. The day following, several COM
panies Of militia were rushed into
Shreveport. Colonel Ward could have
held the jail with few good citizens.
However, the militia was kept on duty
several days, at least until after Cole
man had been hanged in Jail, after hav-
ing been tried and convicted at almost
lightning speed. The people at that time
resented the military interference, and
The Caucasian protested against it.
There has been too much of the military
e this State, but if the military is neces-
AIRY to meet an emergency, the military
must be subordinate to the civil and
must be directed by the sheriff in au-
hority charged with the maintenance of
aw and order and the protection of the
in his custody.