The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-01-18
TEACH RESPECT FOR LAW.

Too much sympathy is being
wasted nowadays on criminals. During
the hunt for Raphael Lopez, who killed
six men, five of whom were deputy
sheriffs, II was not unusual 10 hear
some one express the hope that the
bandit would escape. This sentiment
was not confined 70 criminals, bat was
voiced by fairly intelligent and perhaps
weIl-meaning men. When asked why
they sympathized with the slayer they
replied that be wns $50 clever" or
that he was "gnme." Even If he had
been possessed OF clcverness and cour-
age OF high order, this would have
been no warrant for the expression Of
such sentiments by men who expect
and receive the protection Of the law
for their HIVES and property.
As q matter Of fact, Lopez, while
endowed with certain cunning, did
not have q spark Of manly courage. he
never fought in the open, never took
Q chance. Every shot he fired was
from ambush. he was not seen by any
Of tho officers he killed. They were
the bravo men, they took AL the
ehancesi they won't intrepidly into the
smbushea they knew had been laid for
them by Lopez, and they sacrificed
their lives that the lives Of others
might be shielded And yet there was
much maudlin sympathy for the muir
dwer and not G little hostility towurd
the officers.
A few nights ago two highwaymen
entered grocery store and slew the
proprietor and his SON. When the
search for them began the unthinking
wero heard TO express the hope that
tho offenders would escape.
In every community there is a feel.
ing Of hostility toward the police, not
only On the part Of criminals, but on
the part Of those who would resent
With indignation tho charge that they
stood for lnwlessncss or crimiuality.
But they must be for the law or against
IL There Is no middle ground. Those
who fail to uphold the authorities who
aro seeking to prevent or 10 punish
crime are allies of the criminal and the
foes Of society.
Men congEegate into groups for mu-
eusl protection. In prehistoric times
there was no semblance OF what VIC
now call civilization The rule OF the
strong prevailed The physical giant
became the leader Of the clan, and lit
tie or no sympathy was shown for the
weak. Il was case Of the survival
Of the fittest. Civilization, however,
has introduced methods of curbing the
strong and the ruthless and of protect
ing the weak and the peacefully in
clincd- Ono man is forced 10 surrender
privilege In order that another man
may enjoy a hight. One man finds that
his right ends whero another man g
right begins II he seeks TO transgross
that other mans right no discovers
that the law blocks the way. II he is
a sensible man he realizes that II he
cannot invade tho other mans rioht
neither can the other man invade his
right, and 60 he ia satisfied TO uphold
the law aad to have it enforced against
himself as well as against others
The spirit Of loyalty to the law is
essential 70 the safety Of society, and
40 social order could long exist that
permitted criminals, big or little, TO
disobey the law and defy the officers
Of the law. And vet this spirit Of law.
lessnoss, OF hostility TO the Officers OF
the law, is common sentiment among
the thoughtless. They are so accus.
toned TO the social order and peaceful
living under it's dispensation that they
cannot imagine situation where their
lives and property would be in great
psril Even during a carnival Of crime
or public riots they vaguely imagine
that these things Just happen 80 and
hat the causes could uot be avoided.
NeTer was greater fallsey. While il
. true there always will be lawlcssness
and lawbreakers, il is also true that
general disrespeet for Law will increase
crime and the perils that threaten life
And pToperty.
The spirit Of respect for the law
should De taught in tho schools. The
teachers in tho public schools. who are
denied the privilege of intoxicating re-
ligIoas doctrines. are not forbiiden to
teach morality or patriotism Or respect
for the Law. Lectures az stated inter
vsls should be given on tho NECESSITY
nf laws, OF offioeTs OF the law. and OF
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