The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-05-31
THE LAW CAN BE ENFORCED:

ton into the conduct OF the Richmond Police
Department, which is now In its final stage, is
an increased respect for the majesty of the law
The most valuable result is to be found in an
earnest insistent. consistent. persistent enforce
ment of the law.
This result teaches its lesson. That lesson
is that the Iatc be enforced in Richmond
For years we had in this city, against the will
and over the protest of the best element of the
city, district where vice was practiced with
the consent OF the Police Department which
was charged with suppressing vice. We not
only had this district, where a part of the evil
was segregated. but We had in many other por-
lions of the city houses of vice more numerous
than those in the segregated district.
The report of the Vice Commission was fol-
lowed by an immediate enforcement OF the law
against vice; against vice not only in the seq
regated district. but wherever II could be de-
tected in the city at large Who enforced the
law? The Vice Commission? The citizens?
The newspapers? The ministers? The churches?
The women? No. None OF these enforced the
law II tods the Police Department Itself that
enforced the Eae The Police Department, 4ohich
had insisted that the lam could not be enforced
has enforced It. The segregated district has
been closed. So far as we are informed the
law is being enforced there. 1t is also enforced
in other sections of the city, so that some of
the scattered houses" where vice was formerly
practiced are now closed. The Police Depart-
ment Itself has proven that 1t can do tchat it
insisted could not be done.
Who ordered the enforcement of the law?
The Mayor The same Mayor tcho did not be-
hepe that the lato could be enforced, but pho
had it enforced completely last Thanksgiving
and tcho has had it enforced since the report
Of the Vice Commission. The Mayor and the
Police Department-Chief. Board of Commits
sioners. officers and privates-have enforced the
law and hare proven that ,ohdt they held could
not be done can be done. and can be done by
them. The police have proved to the satisfac-
ton of the city that the only thing needed by
the Department to enforce the law is the desire
to enforce IL.
We have further testimony that the law can
be enforced. At the closing session of the in
vestigation High Constable Wyatt was put on
the witness stand, and testified that II the Po-
ltce desire to enforce the ld,o they can do so.
Richmond is prepared to accept the testimony
OF Mr.. Wyatt at its full value. Richmond re-
members we'll that while a member of the Po-
lice Department. and acting as sergeant. Mr.,
Wyatt, his oton inifiatiUe-dnd, as tods gen
orally understood against the toishss OF his sn-
perior Officers secured evidence went into court
and secured convictions against numbers OF
gambling house in Richmond and broke up gam
bling in Richmond His testimony, fortified by
actual experience on the Richmond police force,
was that disorderly houses can be broken up If
the police exercise proper pigilance and dsSire
10 break them up. Mr.. Wyatt was supported in
this view by Mr. L. l.. Scherer. man In whose
knowledge Of such matters the city has con-
hdence because of his efhcient detective work
in Richmond and Virginia.
1t is substantiated that the laio can be en-
forced Then, tchy has II not been entorceds
Who has seen that it was not enforced? That
Is the present issue. The law has not been en-
forced Everybody-Mayor. Chief Commission
ers-not only all admit. but declare. that 1t has
not been enforced The law can be enforced.
Mayor Commissioners, Chief, privates-the same
officers who insisted the law could not be en-
forced-have themselves proved by its enforce
ment that the law can be enforced. Then why
was the law not enforced In the past?
The undisputed fact that certain members OF
the Board OF Police Commissioners were habitues
of houses of vice, both with and without the.
segregated district-thus violating not only the
law of the State,=but their own illegal rules
for the control Of vice-prove that the law was
not enforced. that segregation did not segregate.
and that part of the responsibility for the nom
enforcement Of the law Is therefore placed. hut
since it has been proven, by the action OF the
whole Police Department. from Mayor TO pri.
vate, that the law can be enforced. and, by the
statement of all, has not been enforced then
aehy has 1t not been? Where and whose is the
fun responsibility?
To the committee Of the Council. charged
with delicate and disagreeabie duty. Richmond
looks FOR reply