The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-03-19
4 NEW ENeLANp pAnApLE.

Middletown. Conn. Is in a state OF
revolution. This fact must be stated
at the outset, because Aliddletown Is
in New England and no one would
/ believe that New England town
could do as Middletown has been do
Ing unless there was something wrong
| with it.
Aliddletown's revolution. It appears
has been brought about by Mayor
Fisher. who had fine reverence for
the law. The people elected him
Mayor some years ago. ana he took
office with the idea tina, he was there
to administer the law. He tore things
10 pieces He pulled ou: the SUNDAY
laws and paraded thYn up and down
the streets OF the town. He announced
that he would uphold every Law on the
statute books of Connecticut and
every ordinance promulgated by the
city fathers OF his town.
For while the people liked 1t.
They thought Fisher was on the job.
They liked him and his work long
CROUCH to name him for a second
term. Thus justified, Fisher began in
earnest. He brought out skeletons OF
laws from which the skin had long
been stripped by vultures of common
usage. He told the police to enforce
these laws or lose their Jobs. He
picked up the blue Sunday law and
made that his idol. He would enforce
that law If 1t cost him his job. He
kept things moving until the people.
at the end OF his second term, decided
Fisher had moved them far enough
The rule of law was getting monoton-
GUS. Two years later. after a warm
campaign, Fisher and enforcement
won again. On the ballots of his
champions. Fisher went into office a
third time and started to work like
Roosevelt back from a holiday But
his Job was not the same. During his
retirement, Il man had been Mayor
who knew not Joseph and who had let
the blue laws be forgotten again. OF
l .
! SO he at once started the old game
Somehow. neither public sentiment no,
the sworn officers Of the law woult
support him. Fisher found that tn,
laws. some of them, Were being badl,
enforced. but he could not have then
better enforced. He found that othe,
laws, despite all he could do. would
not be enforced at all by his police
In his desperation, he called on the
City Attorney to tell him what rights
q Mayor had. after all, if he could NOT
enforce the law.
The attorney in question had some
old-fashioncd views. He knew some
thing about men and about laws, and
he intinated that Mayor ought to
have enough sense to know what q
police officer should do and what he
should not do. Carefully yelling his
words in good parliamentary terms.
he suggested that an officer was not !,
fool and should not be treated as
fool. SO far as enforcing law was
concerned. the attorney was here
tic. He had this to say:
1T Is sometimes said that all laws
should be strictly enforced. This
sounds we'll as an abstract proposition.
but no person who has given the mat
Ter any serious consideration can sup
port such a claim.
Laws are made to promote the well !
fare and happiness OF the State and !,
community and not as means Oft
oppression. which would be the re-
suit if'every law on our statute books |
at the present time were enforced In
every instance.
Some laws are OF such a character
that 1t is generally conceded that the !,
welfare OF the community demand S I
their enforcement, so far as reasona-
bly, possible in every instance. There
are other laws which although manda-
tory in form are of such a nature that.
1t may sometimes be the part of wis.,
dom: and good Judgment to waive their
strict enforcement and to enforce themI
only when their violation results or is |.
liable to result in injury to individualt
or public welfare.
All officers who are in any way
charged with the enforcement Of law
must necessarily be allowed 10 exer- I
else reasonable discretion as TO when
they should act or refrain from action. 4
The law itself recognizes this principle
when It gives to courts of justice the
power to suspend Judgment"
Mayor Fisher has not yet filed his
retort courteous. which will doubtless I
blast everything the attorney has TO !,
say. While We are awaiting the lat
est explosion from the Mayors Office
however, we must express our hearty
approval OF the City Attorneys POSI- |
ton. even II he does come from Con- /
necucut. He hit the nail upon the I
head, Public sentiment and not Leg
islatures, really makes laws. Laws cam
not be enforced unless they are sup i
ported by public sentiment, and laws
should not be made which vii, not be 4
SO supported. In The same way, there /
are lew laws, except those relating TO Z
telonies' which should always be en-j
forced with the same rod of iron police
power. The man who tries to enforce
'hem hnds that he is moving contrary
10 the Will OF the people who mad q the
laws and contrary ia tha ra,1 s,iri,