The Washington times., 1912-08-02
FOR THE GOOD OF OTHER YOUNG
BANK MEN.


For something more than two weeks that por-
ton of the world which is interested in the murder
Of New York gambler supposedly by agents OF
member Of the New York police force has asked
with increasing wonder why the mayor Of that great
city took no personal action, and seemingly made
no endeavor to put efficient forces at work to clear
up the scandal by establishing either the guilt or
the innocence of his accused subordnates.
For even longer period of time group OF
banking officials in Washington have been thorough
y acquainted with the identity and methods of John
IE. Humphries, forger the results Of whose work
would seem to show him to have extraordinary abil-
lily in his criminal profession.
For presumably nearly the same period Of time
that the banking officials have had knowledge of
these criminal acts a prominent bonding concern has
had in its possession full details of identity and
deeds.
For more than week the prosecuting officers
OF the Government have had full knowledge of the
identity of the young man, and have had in their
hands the statement of the bank officials that a
forgery had been committed, and that the utterer of
the false signatures had confessed to his guilt.
For some days, at least tine Police Department
and its officials have had full and complete informa-
tion that crime involving the msappropriation by
forgery Of thousands of dollars had been committed
tion in spite Of the confession of the cuprt and the
official announcement by the bank of both the crime
and the acknowledgment, the one apparent move
toward the arrest or punishment Of the young man
was CONDUCTED IN SECRET
1t may be conended by the bank officials that
they have the right to the loss and to post
pone or altogether avoid the punishment of the Of
fender.
The bonding company may contend that their re-
sponsibilities solely to the bank involved, and
that If that bank is satisfied with the form and terms
of settlement which the bonding company proposes,
then it is nobody eses business.
THERE MAY HAVE BEEN SOME MERIT IN
EACH ONE OF THESE CONVENTIONS WHILE
THE CRIME WAS KEPT HIDDEN, BUT THAT
MERIT WAS ENTIRELY VOIDED WHEN THE
PUBLIC WAS MADE PARTY TO THE KNOwL-
EDGE THAT THE CRIME HAD BEEN CON-
MITTED.
There. are in the city Of Washington hundreds
Of young men who starting in the banking busi-
ness with the intention of making it their life work.
each one of those young f11en is starting 100 per
cent honest, and with no intention of lowering that
average, but each one of them is going to be sur
rounded with temptations-the temptation of living
better than he can afford; the temptation of making
money faster than the legitimate laws of wealth and
value accumulation allow; the temptation of being
constantly associated and surrounded by large
OF money, and some of these young men-the
weaker ones, the less stable mentally and morally
may succumb and THERE is NO INFLUENCE
WHICH WILL BE MORE POTENT IN KEEPING
THEM FROM SUCCUMBING THAN THE FEAR
OF DETECTION AND PUNISHMENT. AND ANY
ACT ON THE PART OF A BANKING INSTI-
TUITION OR OF A BONDING COMPANY,
WHICH SAYS TO THESE YOUNG MEN
PUNISHMENT DOES NOT NECESSARILY
FOLLOW THEFT, AND ARREST AND TRIAL
DO NOT NECESSARILY ACCOMPANY THE
DETECTION OF FORGERY" wEAKENS BY JUST
so MUCH THE PREVENTION OF wRONGDO-
ING WHICH is MUCH MORE TO BE DESIRED
THAN THE PUNISHMENT AFTER IT HAS BEEN
DONE. =
The Times cannot believe that the interested
partes-the bank and the bonding company-can
conceive it to be for their good or for the public
good that they shall condone and pass over an
acknowledged crime and protect by inactivity a base
forgery.
In spite Of the argument of mercy, the welfare
of the public, and particularly the welfare of other
young men, rises superior in Importance to the sor-
row, the disgrace, and the bodily and mental suffer-
ing which would doubtless be caused by the pressing
Of the case. The influences at work to suppress
publicity and proper punishment should be with
drawn.
"
QUICK AND DECISIVE.