The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1910-01-07

money from fines. The larger mum
Der of arrests by the police of Cairo
during the last four years is in itsel
proof positive of more lawlessness II
the community; and If these arrests
are analysed it will be found thai
they comprise very few people who
have been most responsible for thi:
lawlessness-very few keepers of dis
orderly houses or other lawless estab
lishments. The police have been con
tent to arrest the patrons or victims
of these places, often upon sligh
provocation; but have been careful tt
keep hands off" the enticers or pan
derers who kept breeding places fol
crime for revenue only" and have
given the regular hangers-on of these
)aces practically 1.-The freedom of the
city," The result has been what was
to be expected: The diyekeepers and
heir cohorts grew steadily holder in
heir operations and more defiant oil
)olice authority; the number of petty
Offenders grew steadily greater: the
)olice department OF the city, under
his neryeless and spineless policy
grew steadily enthusiastically les
able to cope with the vicious element
many of whom came to look upon ths
,oliceman's star and uniform with
profound contempt-some striking
proofs of which are on record. II
is in this condition that The Bulletin
has found justification for the state
ment that, while our police force Is
not large enough, it would be much
more effective than it is for the pro
lection of the people, If it's policy
were more manly-more for law and
order and less for graft-political OF
financial.
And His Honor lays himself opeI
to Just criticism when he attempts &c
explain why he has not given the cit,
setter reinforcement He processes
to believe that Cairo is different from
other communities. in that it is mad,
NJ of many and wholly diverse ele
nents of population, representa-
widely conflicting opinions and in
erests," and that the antagonist
md i'll feeling with reference t
moral conditions render officers o.
he law unable to secure such en-
orcement Of law guarding the publ
morals. as would make for the bes
interest of the city. both morally ant
materially" He says: 1T has bee
demonstrated times without number
the experiences of the past. in this
md other cities, that city admins
ration can go but a little further il
he enforcement of these laws thai
he average of public sentiment
itizens and taxpayers will justify an,
upport, Revolutionary methods have
Invariably been followed with re
dictionary results, il not actual failure
making worse, rather than betterinF
he existing order of things. To be
'ome permanent, all reform meas
res must be carefully considered ant
IT such character as to receive the
substantial support of majority o.
he people affected thereby"
There are some commonplace
ruths in all this. but also much error
cairo Is not different from other com
nunities. Every community is mad
lp of diverse elements" having "cop
letting opinions and interests; ever
community has its immoral elemen'
md its panderers to that element
md everywhere these latter arc
strong or weak. according to the pol
icy pursued toward them by the off
,ers of the law. The mayor is righ'
when he says that effective enforce
nent of law depends largely upon this
will OF the majority Of those to b.
affected thereby but what right ha:
an executive to assume that the ma
iority of the people want lax en-
forcement of law with respect to the
vicious element in a community, wheI
the paramount issue at his election
was that he should restrain that ele
ment and "re-establish the reputa
ton" of the city as a law.abidinf
community? The MAYOR is right a.
so when he declares that revolution
airy reform methods" have invariably
brought reactionary results which lef
conditions worse than before; but
what surer cause of revolutionary
reform is there than long-continuec
and persistent laxity in the enforce
ment of laws made for the regulation
of evils that cannot be suppressed?
Perhaps the most remarkable, no
Ito say surprising passage in the mes
sage, is the following 1t has beer
the constant effort and concern of tn,
present administration to conside
such questions in the light Of the gen
eral public sentiment, desiring to give
specia. consideration to the request
and opinions of our reading and mos
prominent citizens, those who by edu
| cation, character, position and prop
erty constitute the representative
body OF our citizenship. 1t has beef
l a source OF deem raprpt in tha nac