The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1916-07-28

lN4C. AnAAA y A1AtCAkAOu6 WOEO --L
AS a matter of fact, the man hai
no gun on him. What he did. have
ON was a big crouch such as men gel
every day around a saloon and hi
was freeing his mind with the saloor
for his territory. The body was car
ried out and word was passed alonf
the street. People began to flock tt
the support of the bartender and tt
assure him of their respect and con.
fidence, and Of their willingness tt
go on his bonds If bonds we're need
ed. They flocked to the Court House
and whooped up the sentiment in his
favor.
The court convened and heard
Testimony on the case, and he was
promptly exonerated. 1t vas done
in open court, the public approved it,
and public sentiment stood ready to
back it up. 1t was the fashionable
thing to express approval of the
transaction, and in approval it was
drowned.
A few nights ago while officers
were raiding a gambling joint, a
mans life was put out by a shot that
was u~ndeserved. Investigation indi-
Gated that a certain man, an officer,
had fired the fatal shot during the
raid. A warrant was issued for his
arrest and when the court ordered
that he should be held for trial his
bond was fixed at S 5000, and for "a
hours only n man could be found
who would go on his bond to permit
him to have his liberty pending the
preliminary examination. Condem-
nation was unanimous and scores of
men spent their time passing judy
ment on the man behind the gun.
Some even went SO far as to say that
If he were acquitted the people ought
to take the law into their own hands
and deal out what they considered
proper. Some spent their time be-
rating the officer for things he might
have done differently or left undone,
and some spent their time circulating
stories of alleged wrongs that never
happened, and public opinion has
been passing judgment as If all the
stories were true and as if they had
anything to do with the particular
act in question.
In both instances public sentiment
went to extremes. In both instances
they manifested a low order of citi-
zenship. In both instances they set
an example that makes decent people
feel insecure and criminals rejoice,
and reminds them that, after all. the
majesty of the law counts for but
little, and constitutional rights are
to be trampled under foot at
the particular time when they should
a safe guide. The spirit of the
mob was apparent both in supporting
and in condemning an unlawful act.
The spirit of the mob is operating to-
day in cOndemning a man for things
that never happened, but are simply
reported to have happened, and the
reports emanate. from people who
to do criminal acts and have not
dared to because they knew the
office would be alert and do
its duty. When an unpopular man
is charged with some particular act
that is a crime the community loves
to start all kinds of ridiculous stories
and then berate him as If they were
Ill true. In a few days they get the
idea that he is actually on trial for
Ill the crimes that have been men
Toned and for all the queer things
ne is reported to have done, and for
this belief they pronounce
him guilty and prescribe the extreme
Of punishment for it, at the same
time suppressing all that might be
truthfully said in his defense.
BY such extremes and such indulg-
9nce of the mob spirit does this COM
munity mold its character and estab-
fish its reputation and herald it in
state and n%eighboring cities and
By such acts it sends forth
impression to outsiders that if
they come here to live they subject
to such treatment, and
a storm breaks they will stand
no matter what their character
their past record for good. The
own is not keeping pace with it's
sister cities up and down the line
there are reasons for its slower
development. Blackfoot is a con-
'picuous example Of a governing
own, a county seat town, that is held
n contempt by a large percentage
If the people living in the surround
ng country and the adjacent valleys.
Today is an appropriate time for it
o set it's feet firmly on it's new pav-
ng and resolve that hereafter it will
Re just as sane as possible and as
ust as possible, and resolve to over
ONE that old comparison of it's citi-
enship with the inmates of its state
HyNSUuyrn rnr-' -- . |