The Caucasian., 1913-02-11

in this city and in the parish; tha
the maximum penalty in fines an
In imprisonment be meted out t
gamblers and bOotleggers: tha
there be more readiness to cOnvic
on circumstantial evidence: urgin
prompt prosecution; that the com
missioner of public safety wage re
lentleSs war on these organized VIC
lators and reorganiZe his depart
ment, looking to him for relief bu
not placing ali blame on him; call,
ing on the Mayor to secure better
enforcement of the laws.
Who Is Responsible?
This meeting held to fix if pos
sible the responsibility for the lax
iiy in the enforcement of the laws
will have salutary influence in
this community. One result ha>
| been derived, and it is in the de-
mand for more rigid enforcement
of the laws.
The enforcement of the laws has
been a hobby Of the Caucasian, in
whose columns there has been sug-
eested how the law could be en-
Io: ae3
il is issue of Sunday, February
and the 9Th there was given pub
licity to an ordinance of the city
which would hold amenable the
owner of the property who rents
his premises to one or more who
gamble therein, or for purposes in
contravention of law.
If this ordinance was enforced
rigidly there would probably be q
manifest decrease in this disregard
of the law.
However, two ordinances offered
by Judge Fullilove and now enforc-
able may operate in the checking
OF this crime.
At the Sunday night meeting
there was apparently an effort 70
shift responsibility for the laxity
in law enforcement on the sheriff
and on the judge of the City Court.
The Caucasian is not the cham
pion nor the apologist of the sheriff,
but he should not be held account
able for the failure in the enforce
ment of ordinances of the city
which are strictly within the juris-
diction of the police authorities of
the City of Shreveport.
But, it will be said in all candor
that it is the duty of the sheriff to
enforce the law, State statute,
against craps and gambling; also to
enforce the prohibition law beyond
the city limits.
By intimation at least it was sug-
gested that the City Court is influ-
enced in many of its decisions, es-
pecially in cases applying to boot
leggers and gamblers, by the broth
er of the judge of this court. If this
be true the judge is liable to i'm
peachment and the attorney to dis
barment from practice.
It would seem from the Caucas-
ian's view that the laxity in the en-
forcement of the ordinances, espe-
cially directed against gambling and
must rest on the police
which has been criti-
cised by reflection in that it is held
under suspicion, which may be un-
fair and unWarranted. This view
was expressly voiced at the Sunday
night meeting.
In all fairness to the police de-
partment it may be conceded that
without evidence convictions are
but it would seem sin
gular that the convictions have
been of the class who may be rated
as ordinary, while the "big whales"
escape from the laws ENHANCEMENT.
For illustration: Recently there
have been several raids, but the
captured have been the helpers and
porters, who with rare EXCEPTIONS
are negroes.
In holding to account the respon-
sibility must rest also on the courts
whose clemency is not justified
when the repeated and defiant vio-
ators of the law are by the infrac-
tors who are chronic offenders.
In all such cases there should be
meted out the maximum in fines
and imprisonment. The chronic vio-
ator should not be invested with
sympathy since he is deliberate and
persistent in this disregard of the |
aw.
AT this Sunday meeting there was
urged the cooperation of the citi-
zens with the officers of the law,
out under present conditions only a |
limited number of citizens will VOL
lnteer TO appear as witnesses
against offenders who when con-I
victed receive nominal fine and