The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-12-27
Any More Fragile Than Some Those
ON LAW ENFORCEMENT
Hapeood Of Peru Attacks State and
County Officials

Editor of The Banner:-That an at
mosphere of lawlessness unprecedent-
ed in the memory of even our Oldest
Inhabitants now surrounds us is quite
beyond dispute. The vital question
with us is as to the remedy; and we
should not hesitate any length OF time
in our decision, which should be that
every decent, law-abiding citizen show
his colors and come out boldly ana
fearlessly to the rescue; even be Will
ing to sacrifice personal safety II nee
essary as well as private gain. we are
told that crime has increased one hun
dred per cent while the population mas
remained about stationary.
Twenty-Five murders in the state OF
Vermont the last year, while robberies
and petty thefts are numberless, Is a
record which may well startle US. In
many communities fear OF desperadoes
dominates, and all law is coming into
disrepute.
What we want is a general wake-up
and especially along the line OF atten'
ton to their bounden duties upon the
part of those who are legally appoint
ed TO see that the laws are enforced.
refer first to the governor, second TO
the attorney general, third to the
, states attorneys and lastly to the var
ious town grand jurors, who seem, as
rule, utterly regardless OF the oaths
they have taken, else the present con
ditlon of affairs could not have occur
red. The ordinary town grand juror
seems to think that he is TO take no &C
ton, even in matters under his person
al knowledge, except after written
complaint from some aggrieved party
He little realizes that he has taken an
oath TO Investigate and prosecute
where there appears reasonable ground
utterly regardless of any complaints
Our states attorneys, too, are many OF
them mere shysters, upon stated sal
airy, lazy indolent and subject to the
Influences" Our attorney general fails
in his duty that he has not aroused
to action those under his advice and
authority and our governor has failed
in his duty that he has not stirred VI
the attorney general And II is wor
| thy of note that no one of the present
candidates for the goyernorship has
made law enforcement which is the
chief duty OF a governor, as the chic
executive, of any force in his declar
ations, even in such time OF its cry
ing necessity as the present
Ii the east side cannot make a bettel
showing than this, then let us 20 Il
| the west side and, at the same time
Smash the mountain rule as, indeed
| ii should be smashed.
Never was there such time for Thu
churches of our land TO show wha
| they were built for as the present-th'
establishment of truth and righteous
ness. Let them fling mere form ant
cant to the winds and be prompt 4
meet the necessities of the hour Bold
frank. courageous words from the pul
| pit In this line will not be out OF plac
words that will stir up their hearer
realize their duties as citizens and L
demand proper accounting iron
those in authority. Let the pulpit joil
with the press and show that it trul
is, as it should be, power in the lane
| Although no one has shown deeI
or interest in the protection Of on
deer, yet | beg leave to remark tina
, ur deer are not the only objects whic
J need our care. Human beings, priv
ate property, moral decency also n
quire protection. Let our pro, ecutin
F.. officers be as vigilant as are our gam
, wardens, and the problem is, to larg
extent, solved.
NJ. J. Hapgood.
| Perm VI Dec Ok 1911