The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1911-02-15


One consequence of municipal own
ership should be found Ia the removal
Of the darkness temptation comes to
The criminal with the absence OF
light IN a city well lighted two po-
licemen can DO more for the suppress
sion and punishment Of crime than
twenty without the lights. ANA eX.
cape will-night impossible The ex.
perienee shows that this ratio is pre-.
served through all the gradUatons
that lead from darkness up to i0umi-
ration Even when opportunity Is
provided by the absence OF a living
guardian, the criminal must contem-
plate the possibility Of an alarm ana
then the lighted street makes an os-
pert crook avoids the well-lighted
town ms q field OF operations,
But to light the street and leave
frequent dark alleys corners or va
cant lots Is TO waste the effort in
great part-the fleeing criminal can
enter the dark zone and emerge as
one Of the pnrsuers, the probability
Of capture involves the possibility Of
Feping the criminal on the run 70
give the man detected the opportuni-
gg TO recover his composure and min
gle with the crowd Is to make ulti-
mate escape more than probable and
It. is by lighting the whole scene that
we make crime insure Wherev r
possible. the dark corners should be
shut off and where the alleys are dc
sired these should be lighted up.
electricity is cheaper than men.
But in decreasing the number ot
policemen we should be careful to
raise the character OF those employed
Experience should count for much,
but intelligence is worth more and
knowledge Of the criminal has q dis
tinot social value for which the com
runity should always be willing to
pay, because this cost returns big
dividends. Respect fOr the law
teaches morally In a very practical
way and the average mau In il city
Judges Of The law very largely by his
knowledge Of the police Nov, an
Unfit policeman Is not respected and
his character is often lowered with.
cut neglect OF his duties. Few OF MS
appreciate the temptations to when
the guardians Of our streets are eX-
posed-the crook Will pay heavily to
avoid an appearance in court. where
he may be recognized and identified
The pleas are often plausible and
none but an intelligent man has a
high ideal of duty to his employer
when that employer Is the public,
which is often careless and generally
inappreclative. The mere luck which
offers one man the chance OF a scnsa
ti0nal arrest or rescue should not lead
us into the Injustice of supposing that
industry and faithfunes is less de-
serving of credit because they DO not
pose N the llmelght
Apply the doctrine Of light VS..
crime % lie darkness in which law
lessness is fostered as wen as to the
scenes OF possible crime Temptations
come TO those who sit and brood in
semidarllness and the shadows are
dispelled from the mind as we'll ay
the invasion OF light All such places
should be illuminated and opened to|
the view lest disorder come ont oil
them publicity is like unto light in
its terror for the evil-l0er. Tramps
viii not sit and whisper for hours
when the conference is open 70 the
street and ii is Al such conferences
that the weak are challenged TO break
the law and the Young are tempted
hy subtle arguments or threats. One
light IN a dwelling is a deterrent toll
The burglar the banks aud ne stores
low set AN electric bulb in front of
the safe and consider The expense al
saving Why should not the city iiud
light yaihable in exactly the same
Gegree2
Let the burglar know that if detect
81 he must flee through streets as
light as day and he win hesitate long
before using jimmy; deprive the
criminal OF the dark places in which
crimes are hatched and he will lose
MS apprentices. Let each policeman
know something Of detective work
and the evidence needed in court il i
his value to the community is eN.E
geeted to increase and then lei the
buhlie bay him for value received il
i desires to save money.