The Washington herald., 1910-07-11
URGES LAW AND ORDER

Editor The Washington Herald;
The prohibition or destruction OF the 1
moving pictures or the films Of the Reno |
fight IS a secondary matter, when taken
into consideration with the dominant mob |
and riot spirit that threatened the peace |
of the whole country after the result OF
the contest was made known. UndoubI- |
ediy the rampant lawbreaker is becom- |
ing more defiant and dangerous, and un-
less checked his operations will become
such a gigantic proposition that It viii re-
quire a revolution TO subdue him. APP
parently. from the outrageous conduct OF
the participants IN the Fourth or July
outbreak throughout the country, a cas-
ual observer would believe that the form
alton and operation OF mobs and rioters
was a right expressly conferred upon or
| reserved to the vioIators OF the law BY
/ the Constitution Of the United States
| Those who recently disturbed the peace
| Of the Capital City and the nation by en-
dangering the lives Of the citizens and
/ destroying private property should be
authoritatively informed that the law
breakers will not be permitted to take
possession Of this municipality and the
rest Of the country under any pretense
whatever
Tho prevalence of this national disorder
as the result Of the Johnson-Jeffries fight
is largely due to the failure of the Fed
eral. State and municipal authorities 10
| enforce the laws against the rapidly de-
veloping mob and riot spirit that by
liberation, has become a powerful factor
ha rsu zh hn
given 10 understand in no uncertain man.
ner that the way OF the trensgressor Is
hard: that this government is one OF law
and order, and that no matter what the
occasion is, or who the promoters or the
principals are. regardless OF nationality
race, or creed, lawlessness and disorder
such as occurred here and elsewhere on
Monday last will not be tolerated in the
, future, If il requires the combined forces
OF the Federal State. and municipal gov
ernments TO prevent the same. The rail-
road rate and the antitrust laws enacted
by the Congress, and the prosecution of
trusts by the judicial departments Of the
government, are not nearly as essential
to the public welfare as the apprehension
and punishment of the ringleaders OF
p mobs and rlots
This is no time for palliating the hood
lums and the riff-raff who started this
/, uncalled-for and disgraeeful outbreak by
the issuance of orders that the moving
pictures will not be exhibited here for
f the fear of a riot, thereby placing a pre-
r MUM on the exponents OF lawlessness
A and disorder Whether the moving pic
r lures are exhibited here and elsewhere OF
not, the authorities and the law-abidins
, citizens should determine once for all thai
i rloting in this country shall cease. and
defy the leaders and their cohorts, whose
, acts of violence are threatening the ex
|. istence and permanency OF republican
Il institution to even suggest or attemp
such fragrant violations of the peace o
k the Capital City and the nation as wer'
d committed as a result OF the Reno fgh;
h For instance, suppose the lawlessnes
that broke out here on the Fourth OF Jul!
had developed into a general riot, wha
n immediate available protection woul
s, have been afforded the law-abiding citl
! zens of the community? None whatever
!, The police force is the chief protection
n and that is wholly inadequate. althoug
~ the authorities have time and again ap
sc pealed TO the Congress for an adequat
and sufficient number OF eustodians OF tn
w peace. The citizens should make dc
"a mand at the next session of the Congress
for an Increased police force and In
h. creased salaries for the guardians of IN
I'd peace who performed such excelien
r. service the night of the Fourth in break
ing up what threatened TO be a desperat
I'D conflict
r. The law breakers should be made
understand that the law is supreme, an
en- that the strong arm Of the governmer
ay will be fearlessly and impartially exc
cised in order TO uphold the supremac
IS Of the law. The law-abiding citizen
e. white and black. should organize cit
ue zens' protective league at once, SO IN;
they may cooperate with the peace fof
is GERS for the mutual protection Of Il
rs. women, the children. and the property
each other in any crisis that may arl
h in this community. at least, until Il
re. | Congress provides moro adequate p
lice force n. A. CLARKE
at 86 New York avenue northwest.