The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-01-12
INVITING CRIME.

:.
Two atrocious crimes within the last
few DAYS serve to emphasize one part
of Chief Grants annual report. He
pointed out that false reports clrculat'
ed during the recent election have
caused criminals of the more desperate
sort to seek out Salt Lake as com
paratively safe place for their opera
tions. Those who resorted TO the old
and vicious expedient of promising
wide-open town in return for votes
sowed the wind and the whole city is
reaping the whirlwind. They are in
large measure responsible for the crime
which cost John G. Morrison and his
son their lives, and for that other crime
of few days previous when woman
teacher was bound and tortured by
brutal thief who proceeded 10 rob her
home at his leisure.
The information contained in Chief
Grants report prompted The Tribune
TO predict crime wave and to warn
the people to beware of burglars, sneak
thieves and confidence mon. The Trib
une also stated that for short time at
least the police would have their hands
full as a result of the invasion by the
criminal element. it is deplorable that
this situation must be ascribed TO base
politics 1t is not our disposition to
exaggerate the political phase OF the
crisis or TO pretend that serious crimes
would be wholly absent if political
tricksters had made no wild promises at
the last election. Nevertheless, the
criminal element, who arc kept ac-
quainted with police and political con-
ditions in all the large cities of the
country by a nation wide system of in
formation, have come to the conclusion
that Salt Lake City is fertile field
for their evil endeavor.
AS the Chief of Police stated, the re-
ports of wide-open town and the "tilt
ing of the lid were absolutely false
1t was a foregone conclusion that no
matter which set of candidates tri
umphed at the polls the laws would con-
tinuc to be enforced with the custom
airy rIgor, 1t will require some time TO
convince the criminal element thht salt
Lake is an unhealthy place for them to
ply their black arts. The effect of the
false reports can be counteracted only
by the melting out Of stern justice to
all malefactors. This is the only course
TO convince the criminal element that
the reports circulated during the cleo
tion were untrue. Bitter experience is
tho only school in which the thieves
and thugs can learn that salt Lake CITY
is not TO be their playground. 1t must
he impressed upon them by strict en-
forcement of the laws that they cannot
live here even for brief period with
out suffering the full consequence of
their misdeeds.
Some OF those who circulated false
reports did so heedlessly. They did not
imagine for moment, perhaps, that the
information would be spread broadcast
and that carnival OF crime might re-
suit. They probably INDUCED the be-
lief that they were executing a clever
aud harmless political ruse. Others were
not so ignorant. Veterans in the polit-
zeal game, they knew what to expect,
but the eonsciences of these men are so
scared by a lifetime of contact with
the underworld that they probably will
not even suffer momentary remorse for
their offending.
The police should have the support
and sympathy of all good citizens in
this crisis. If no unseemly criticisms
are INDUCED in. and if the efforts of
the police are seconded earnestly we
shall be able TO rid the city of the Grim.
inal element in q few weeks and to en-
loy the immunity from serious crime.
which formed the bright theme of Chief
Grant S report. He was able TO take
credit to the department for quiet
wear, and we trust that the annual re-
port Of next year will be able TO record
the swift annihilation of criminality
aud succeeding months of Salt Lakes
customary peace and good order.