The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-09-01
ABUSES WHICH CAN BE
OVERCOME.

4
This paper repeatedly has declared
its disapproval Of the system of Civ.
| ing "floatera" These criticisms have
been directed not against the ogden
method, but the system which prevails
throughout the west, including, of
course, Ogden. We have registered
complaints also against the practice
of allowing the police to be judges.
jurles and executioners. and this com.
plant applies TO practice which is to
be found IN nearly all cities of allow
ing the police too much latitude
OF late others have dwelt upon
these abuses until the press of the
country Is making campaign for re-
formation In police circles.
Reproducing an article from an
Eastern paper, the Logan Journal
says.
a justice Of the New York State Su.
preme court has publicly accused the
police force of New York City of arbi-
trary and Illegal abuse OF police pow
ers, and so severely called them to
account that their methods are now
under investigation by the mayor
! Commenting upon the matter. the
Baltimore American declared that "if
there is anything lneXcusable in a
government like this. it is tho disre-
gard OF personal liberty and constitu.
tional rights by the very forces Gre
ated by the law to enforce those
rights" which Is an incontrovertible
truth
The entire theory upon which this
government is based, is the greatest
possible liberty of the individual with
out encroaching upon the rights of
others. The police and police justices
are the hired servants OF the public,
as much to secure and assure the
peaceful use of this right. as to in
woke the restraining law upon those
who would invade 1t
But instead of this. in too many
cities the police assume the role of
| tyrants, and exercise without any au-
| thority of law or warrant In Justice an
arbitrary authority that knows no re.
stralnt, stops at no injustice and
brooks no question
OF course 1t isn't usually brought TO
bear against citizens bearing evil
dences of prosperity. because they
might have friends who could mako
things warm at headquarters, but Is
invoked chiefly against the unfortun-
ate and friendless, who are harshly
driven from one place TO another. and
often "jugged' because. forsooth, they
i have ubIol,
does. indeed,-and to a greater extent
than charity-seem to cover a multi.
tude Of sins
If a man happens to be either sus-
pected or for any reason dlsllked By
the police of a city, his cheapest and
easiest plan is TO get out OF it. for
they'll be on his trail until some pre-
text for his arrest is either found OF
made. and he will find when brought
before the justice. that he is part of
the police machine. II he is a, strang-
er and was properly humble TO his
captor. when 1t Is found he has no
money he will be heavily fined as
yagrant, then given a floater out of
town. with the suspended sentence
hanging over him II he returns He
but barely sets foot inside the next
city before the process is repeated.
! The greatest desire of his heart may
be to flnd work. but he may never
linger long enough: and at last, driven
by starvation and desperation, he may
resort to crime.
If resident of the city in which the
police have IAN eye upon" him, which
often means some grudge against him.
some cause of offense Will be found
and he Is arrested. tried. and found
guilty as a matter of course. even II
little false evidence is required He
is then measured and photographed,
and at the expiration OF his sentence
goes forth a marked man, subject to
rearrest under circumstances that
would brand the persecution as a pub
lie outrage IL applied TO any man OF
known standing in the community
The Standard has advocated that an
advisory body. made up OF all classes
of citizens. meet every three months.
to review state, county and city af-
fairs, and offer advise to the servants
of the people. through the medium OF
the newspapers. We are convinced
effect on those entrusted with police
duties, as its scope would be broader
than that of grand jury and It's ut
terances would be accepted as the
voice of the people.
Why not have 100 citizens, OF their
own volition, act as a nucleus to a
mass meeting TO be held every three
months, to be attended by all inclin-
ed TO take an active part in direct
ing state, county or city government?
How long could abuses of any kind ex.
ist In any community while such a
searchlight swept through tho darkest
rccesses of public affairs?
WHERE OGDEN is FORTUNATE.