The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-01-25
big ships should be sent back to tho
Pacific. the future theater OF inter
national rivalry and conflict.
PUBLIC POLICIES AND LAW EN-
FORcEMENT.

Rev. Elderkin. In his sermon Sunday
night, missed great opportunity 10
fix responsibility for open gambling,
but he lost sight OF this main point In
his eager pursuit OF the police.
In the slums OF London. where the
police are a power for good, the toughs
and even tho respectable people. mani
fest approval when policeman is at
tackled. They delight In seeing the
officers pummeled The London po-
leo say this mania Is contagious.
Now Rev. Elderkin is not from the
sIums OF London, though he has been
in London, but ut some time and some
where he has been inoculated with the
germs of tho anti.police mania
He is young man OF high Ideals,
but he lacks contact with the world.
He expects too much from the police;
he offers too many excuses for those
who are the superiors Of the police;
he fails to Ak responsibility at the
source OF authority.
Rev. Elderkin has been In ogden
long enough to know that when
mayor is elected, the people inquire as
to the policy he is to pursue In regard
to those evils of which Mr Elderkin
complains, In fact Mr Elderkln was
member of convention which exacted
from the present mayor certain prom
ises In the control or suppression or
certain evils, in case of election. why
did Mr.. Elderlsn seek those promises
IL he did not recognize IN the mayor
the responsible head OF government.
and why did he exact those obligations
IL the enforcing OF failure to enforce
The ordinances against those evils did
not involve a question of public pol
icy?
The mayor of this city receives
command from the people to carry out
certain policies. For his derelictlons
he must answer back to the people.
Now why should the chief OF police or
the officer on his beat presume to over
ride the authority OF the mayor and
proceed to declare what shall be the
policy of the city government In rela-
ton to saloons or the social evil, and
thus place himself above his superior
and above those who must answer
back to the people for the sins OF omis'
sion or commission; why should po-
lice force be other than responsive
to the will of those in authority; how
can discipline be maintained. II orders
from the crown head are not to be
implicitly obeyed? This rule applies
TO not only a police force but to the
army of the United States, with the
President of the United States at its
head. What does Tennyson say Of the
'The Charge Of the Light Brigade"
Theirs not to make reply,
Theirs not to reason why,
Theirs but to do and die"
There is no reason for the reverend
gentleman attacking even the mayor
or city council for failure to enforce
the law. 1t is a well-known fact that
laws concerning the liquor and kindred
questions can only be enforced where
the people are earnestly in favor Of
such enforcement Let MT. Elderkin
educate the people TO his ideas and
when be has created a large and
healthy sentiment In favor Of his
ideals, then he has but to convince the
mayor and city council Of that fact and
the police department will receive in
structions which will cause action
favorable TO the ordinances the people
want enforced