The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1909-02-27
Law ENFORCEMENT.
The Jackson League Issues an Address
to the People Of Mississippi.

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jackson, Miss, Feb 24.-The
Law Enforcement League met at
the county hourt house last Friday
:: night about 8 o. clock with hundreds
of people present. In fact, the
house was filled to overfowing.
Mr.. C. H. Alexander was called
to the chair, and in course of time
he announced that he had been
charged with the preparation of an
address to the people of the State,
which he read, as follows:
To the People of Mississippi:
The Law Enforcement League of
jackson, prompted by suggestions
from many places, and encouraged
by its own success, has decided to
take the initiative in a movement
for Statewide organization, having
for it's purpose the giving of aid
and encouragement to officers of
the law in the discovery and pun
ishment of crimes, especially those
which battle ordinary vigilance of
peace officers. Consequent upon
this determination this committee
has been named to set forth the
reasons for the formation of such
an organization, and the reasons
why all patriotic men should give
it support.
First, let US remove any possible
misrepresentation. We are not act
ing on the idea that there is more
crime in Mississippi than in other
States, or that crime among the
white people in the State is increas-
ing; on the contrary, statistics
show that the volume of crime in
this State and in the South, in pro.
portion to population, is less than
in many sections and it's rate of in
crease is even slower.
While this is true, there is much
room for improvement, and we'll
directed thought and effort can do
much to rid our State of crime and
laWlessness.
Another erroneous impression,
heightened perhaps by those who,
in their sympathy with certain
classes of criminals, are interested
to discredit this movement, is that
it reflects upon county and munich
pal officers, especially the police in
our towns and cities. Such is not
the fact. Law Enforcement Lea
CUES should exist to help peace
officers-to work with them and
through them, not against them,
unless indeed they are wilfdlly der
elict. Faithful officers everywhere
should and will welcome the aid Of
Egood citizens in their difficult and
often perplexing duties.
The question sometimes is heard,
"Why is a Law Enforcement
League necessary or desirable?
Why not leave the matter of ferret
ing out and Furnishing crime to the
officers of the law" The question
is. a fair one, and it is the purpose
of this address to answer it:
l. For crimes of certain kinds,
there is always some interested
private prosecutor. The crime pro-
duces the person and the motive to
prosecute. The family and friends
of the murdered man need no citi-
zens' committee to stimulate their
zeal and activity. The man who is
injured in his person or property
may be usually depended on to do
all in his power to discover and
punish the offender. But there
are certain offenders whose COM
mission does not bring out a prose-
cutor. The crime goes unpunished
because all who know of it are in
terested to conceal it. The actors
conceal the act. Witnesses find
refuge if need be in perjury. The
purchaser is in league with the
Iseller. The, habitue of the den is
the last man to point it out. The
frequenter of the haunts of vice are
banded to shield the vicious. Be-
cause there is no private prosecutor
for the crime shall the cunning,
calculating criminal go unpunished? /?
So long as those who support GER
tain classes of crimes are in league
with the criminal shall not good
citizens form a league with the
peace officers? Is it not right to
oppose league of the lawless with
a league Of the law. abiding?
There has always been and always
will be war between good and evil,
between law and lawlessness, be-
] tween society and the criminal.
So long as in this war as in all
others, the deliberate lawbreaker
resorts to stealth and stratagem
can any complain if they are met
| by stealth and stratagem?
| 2. Another reason why all good
Icitizens should unite to aid officers
in upholding the law is that> law
breakers are always united.
Whether organized or not they can
always be counted on to act to .
lgether. There is sort of fratern-
| ity among the laWless of every
community. Arrest the keeper of
any kind of dive and the frequent
ers of that and of every dive in the
place are in a sense under bond to
aid him. The rescue corps is al
ways ready. If curbstone opinions
are needed, if anonymous news
paper articles are needed, if wit
nesses are needed, if jurors are
needed, they are forthcoming.
Lawbreakers stand together. They