Panama City pilot. (Panama City, Washington County, Fla.) 1907-19??, 1908-04-30
Wanted -Men!

Wanted---Men!
The criminal statistics Of the United
States, as shown by the census of
1908, may well cause the friends of
the fair state of Florida to hide their
faces in shame.
In the tables of prisoners per 1OO,-
600 population, on June 30th. 1904,
Florida is charged with 221, against
an average of 100 for the entire United
States, an increase of 121 over the
average, or much more than double.
Twelve other southern states show
an average of but 50, or II less than
that for the entire country. In other
words Florida shows an increase in
prisoners on that date of 121 per 100
600 population, over the United States
as a whole, and 1872 over her sister
southern states.
In the matter Of convictions for
homicides, the most serious crime
known, Florida again Outranks all the
states in the Union, showing - to
each 10000 population, against % in
the remainder of the Southern states,
and an average of 10 for the entire
United States.
Nor from daily newspaper reports,
and local conditions in this county,
dpes it seem probable that the census
OF 1910 will show any Improvement
over this disgraceful record. Murders.
assassinations, and lynchings, are
almost daily piling up record which
ifnot checked will again place Florida
to the front in the matter of crime;
and it must be borne in mind that the
above records are of prisoners con
Victed, not of crimes committed.
Within the last month this county
has witnessed the attempted assassi-
nation of a young girl, shot while
sitting in her fathers house at night
fall; the attempted assassination of
her step brother, after the family had
moved to another part of the county
for safety; two negroes lynched, and
third unaccOunted for, in this sec
ton of the county; and thus far not
person legally charged for these
crimes.
Governor Broward as Chief Execu-
tive of the State, has taken his oath
to take care that the laws be faith
fully executed, and is granted the
power to employ as many persons as
in his discretion he may deem neces-
sary to procure and secure protec-
ton to life, liberty, and property of
the inhabitants of the State.
The Sheriff of the county is the
chief conservatOr of the peace of the
county, and it is his duty to see that
peace is maintained, being given al
most unlimited powers in the way of
assistance in doing so.
The Board of County Commissions
ers have the authority, and it is their
duty as the legislative body of the
county, TO give their support in the
preservation of the laws and protec-
ton of property, and can offer re-
wards for the detection of criminals. ,
They are also obligated to investigate
the manner in which the Sheriff has
performed his duties. /
In view of the law, the oaths taken
by these officials, and the crimes be-
ing committed in Washington county.
law abiding people desire to know of
Governor BrCward, the Sheriff, and
the Board of County Commissioners of
the County, what they are going to do
about it?
If the state of Florida is not to re-
lapse into the state of barbarism that
it from its discovery. until
the advancing civilization of the early
coIonists demanded, and by force of
arms compelled change, there must
be placed in our public offices men !
who Will fearlessly perform their duty !
in preventing and furnishing crime. {
What the State of Florida re0uires G
Just now is MEN.