Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-12-09
THE BANK ROBBER

Port Byron, ILL.,, Dec. 5.-Editor Ar
gus: We hear almost every day of bank
|robberies, railroad hold-ups, embezzle
ments, defalcations and similar Of
lenses. We are accustomed to this,
but when it comes close home it be-
comes more real and assumes a new
Importance. The bankers association,
we note, are considering the need OF
greater protection for their interests
more stringent laws, and more rigid
enforcement No one will object, but
it is much more difficult to catch the
rObber than to punish him after he is
caught
The subject has moral. Why are
these crimes so common and increas-
ing? Not because of hard times. The
men who can plan and execute bank
robbery are men who can command
good positions and good pay in any
honest occupation. Not because the
prize is easy to obtain. The bank
guards its treasure with every ap-
pliance, skill and money can provide.
Not because the law is weak or its
agents ineffective. Not at all.
Oliver Wendell Holmes once wrote,
There's never a pitcher as wouldn't
spill" There may be foophole in
| the law, missing link in the chain of
evidence, a weak place in the sup
posed strong box; and, for sufficient
consideration, these will be discovered
and taken advantage Of Men will
/ take anv chaOpaS RIM INV ,.iclye If tba
prize is large enough.
| And we are making the prize larger
and larger every day-much faster
than we can multiply the restraining
forces. Money is the prize, and all our
social organism, with every pulsation
of its heart, is making money more
and more an object of desire. We may
multiply laws and detective agencies,
and build jails, and bar our windows,
and double-bolt our doors, and
strengthen our castle walls, but the
treasure within cries out more appeal
ing, Come and take me-"
1t has been said. and truly "You
cannot make men honest by act OF
congress- That is to say. social or
ganisms have in themselves no reform.
ing power. Every mans character is
determined by his own individual
choice. He may be honest, or be a
thief, as pleases him.
But organized society, which is an
other name for government, may null
tiply, or it may remove temptations
and according as it does one or the
other will the crime increase or di
: minish. We do not affirm that the law
: is directly increasing the temptation
but We do affirm that the social or
| ganism, under the form of the law anG
; with its sanction is pushing that way
, with relentless energy. Otherwise how
| do we account for the increase o.
crimes that directly concern the poss
ession of money The daily paper:
and the court records bear testimony
r A remedy must be sought that will
touch the cause.
1t is the orthodox thing to de
I nounce socialism. and every thing tina
looks like it as the sum of all wicked
ness. But in state organized on
socialistic basis, the possession o
, portance. A man can use only abol
so much of it, and as it is made of
. material that has no intrinsic value
. he cannot send it over to Europe, AM
- afterwards retire thither and squande
: it. Therefore. it will be no object t
loot the bank, either to the profes.
; ional craftsman outside, or to tn
= trusted official and employee within
!. There may be just as many rogues III
= hung as now, but if their roguery pre-
. fits them nothing they will be likel
= soon to turn their attention in som
- other direction.
Let us give the devil his du,
&C. Socialism may be as black as it ha
a. been painted, but this is one redeem
70 ing feature. When we have exhauste
a our resources along the lines now O
;, trial we may think it worth while I
= consider some other plan.
JOHN G.. OSBORN.