The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-10-08


ta4led by the punishment or public dis
Il grace OF the individual, when In realt
II " 1t IL not the Individual but tht
\ ayueem. which should receive the brun1
Of its anger and disapprovai.
THE condition OF affairs In our po'
lice department cannot be traced tt
one man or set OF men. The recent
illegal action OF the board. IN the at
tempt TO remove one officer ana ae-
+ mote another, cannot be explained
+ merely on the ground OF grauhcauon
of individual resentmert and spleen
nor can the condition OF the depart
ment be remedied nor the wrong com
mitted by the com msssioners be nn-
done by the mere removal OK some
individuals from office or the rem
statement OF the ofsicerS wrongiuily
deprived Of their positions We must
probe deeper than these superhcla'
signs OF arrangement Of the body
politics to ascertain. II we may
whether the germ Of the trouble does
NOT affect the very Vitals of our so
ciety.
Whenever "A community, either
from lethargy or ssifishness, fai!s 70
be stirred Ia its center by a conol-
ton where the laws OF the community
are openly violated with impunity
whenever q community allows itself
to he luued 10 sleep with the false
and pernscicus idea that some OF the
mandates of tHe people as Expressed
In the s;afutes and ordinances may
be disregarded. that community is IN
great DANGER For instance, II the Jaw
regulating the sale ~ llqGir Is not en-
forced. the result is that the liquor
dealers who SIRE willing TO break the
Law receive pecun}ary benefit nv No-
hating he Will Of the com runity 50
expressed u Their laws, s.. Il IN" IA "
forhiddi0R houses Of prostitution -
set aside. the direct result IS that the
panderer. the rfMp. be fallen woman
the rea' estate dealer and the r"A' es-
tate owner IA the red light district
receive direct pecuniary benefit, What
follows There arises IN the commu-
n,tv "a. rlass Of people who learn that
II ts profitable 10 set aside some OF
the laws and when a man finds out
ths, he can profit by the failure 10
enforce ore law he comes dangerous
" near the attitude Of contempt for
ali law. and while the conscientious
officers of the law are at "A loss TO
know what is expected Of them by
their superiors the INSCRIPTIONS ON
Ger is afforded an opportunity Tor
graft and nlacRmail
Initiating the Rad Example.
"A bad example produces many
4rrststors When TIE prosperity OF
those who profit by lack OF enforce
ment OF certain laws becomes evident,
other people are encouraged to strive
tor the az me kind Of iil-eotten gains
..vica is A monster Of 80 frightfui 9nien
That tn he hated needs but to he seen,
But seen too oft familiar with ms
We frs; endure, then pity then EN-
brace"
UNFORTUNATELY. those who receive
profit directly or indirectly from the
lack of law enforcement are nufner-
GUS and powerful. more powerful than
their numbers would seem 10 justify.
They 20 into politics for two reasons
first. because having found 1t pront-
able to set aside the law. they hope
to make IL more profitable to write
the laws in their favor; and, second
because they desire to put under OBJ
legations the officers charged with the
enforcement OF the law.
They are first cousins to the graft
ers and a community OF interest Is
established between them. They arc
the tools of the corrupt politicians
and become an essential part of the
invisible government of the commu'
nfty. which Is commonly designated
The Machine,
Seeking the Remedy.
What is the remedy for this con
dition? First, an aroused public con
science that will see to 1t that oul
laws are enforced; second. the choice
OF public officials who are under NJ
obligations to the law brea ~~rs. ths
piInps the panderers. or any other
vampires who suck the life-blood oil
human society third. the remova
fVav ~
their sacred oaths, not only fail Il
see that the laws are enforced. bu
connive with those who break th'
law. and. fourth, the reward OF thos'
: officers who have the strength ant
the manhood TO stand for law enforce
ment and. If necessary, to testif,
against their superior officers wht
have betrayed their trusts.
And ! very much mistake the tenn
per OF this audience and of the PEG
pie OF Richmond If / do not read IN
il the determination to scourge the
money changers from the temple anf
to purify the altar of civic righteous
mess by any sacrifice or time. Of none,
and OF talent tina, the situation may
demand,
II would, therefore, recommend I,
you and to all who are Interested IN
the welfare OF our city to bear In mine
the ma jesty Of the law and the double
duty imposed upon every citizen, botf
OF observing the law and OF support
Ing those officers who endeavor to en-
force the law. Our Police Board ant
its conduct are the natural product o.
the neglect by as Of olir duty In civic
affairs: % our Indifference to tn.
problems Of municipal government
and OF that pernicious spirit whicf
IL carefully cultivated to induce us te
believe that some statutes and ordi
nances are not capable OF being en-.
forced
Awakened Public Sentiment.
Whatever may be the result 81
the remarkab BILE events Of recent date
that have SO deeply aroused the tndlg
nation Of all our citizens, whatever
may he the action taken by this meet
Ing tonight. Il viii ali be worse thar
useless II We do not firmly resolve IL
devote ourselves 20 the task OF build
ing UP a sentiment IN the community
for the enforcement OF the lava SEN
Ement that VIII make II hard FOR
public officers @ho violate the sane
tfty of their oath a sentiment that
will SOURCE out Of office every public
servant who hetrays his trust. a sen
tlment that viii richly reward the
faithful public servant and encourage
him in the Jealous enforcement az