The Detroit times., 1916-12-07
DETROIT IS
MECCA FOR
L.AWL.ESS
-wM y. LOyETT
Citizens League Secre-
tary Talks On Con-
ditiOns
TOO MANY LAWS,
TOO LITTLE LAW"
Cooperation Needed to
Clean Up City,
He Says

The Walton robbery OF Wednes-
day night and the Burroughs auto.
bandit hold-up were used as illus
trations Thursday noon, in an ad.
dress on How TO make Detroit a
better city" given before the em-
ployes OF the Burroughs Adding
machine plant. gathered in the gym
,nasium. by William p. Lovett, ex-
ecutive secretary OF the Detroit
Citizens league.
There are several reasons why
Detroit Just now is probably the
worst center OF lawlessness In
America. and there also are things
to do 10 remedy this condition."
said Mr. Iovett.
The lawless element always
fiocks to a city or section that Is
booming and Detroit the Dynamic
Is today the most progressive and
aggressive city In the United
States" he said. THAT class OF
'desperadoes' who kept life and
property in peril In the gold-hunting
days OF 40. In California, and more
recently in the Klondike. have be-
come the auto bandits and gunmen
OF our own day.
I'VE will have more OF this con-
dition rather than less in the CON-
ing winter. AS the stickup high
wayman thrived In Chicago during
the Columbian exposition. so class
OF disreputabes have focked 10 De
troit am told that whole blocks
of Chicago. south OF the Twelfth-st.
viaduct have been almost depopu-
lated-the inhabitants have moved
TO Detroit. where they think the
gamble OF life is more attractive.
Crime Can Be Put Down.
THESE conditions are growing
pains In rapidly growing city. But
lawlessness can be put down IL we
face the facts fearlessly.
Even with a whole army os 20
licemen. on duty day and night, our
police commissioner cannot solve
the problem without cooperation OF
citizens az every point The first
thing needed Is rigid enforcement
Of every law, big and little. Indi-
vdual liberty must be made subject
TO social control and governmental
authority We have great respect
for Teutonic mandates. why not for
American? We in America have
too many laws. too little law
But the harvest OF lawlessness
springs from seeds OF lawless think
ing and talking. The controversy
over parking automobiles. with arg
uments about obeying or not obey
ing the order Is like the clos
ing Of Sunday saloons and so on
up. People get the notion that
law is only some mans mandate OF
some words printed on paper by
the common council.
Law is more than that. n IS TIA
expressed will O, the government
for securing safety OF life and prop
erty The police commissioner
speaks for the whole city, whatever
he says and he should be obeyed
The real problem Is education OF
the masses 10 the idea that law Is
not a hare hip but a blessing. 10
protect property and lie.
Cooperation Needed
There ls doubtless need ~ 90
operation with other cities or states
In Kidding this city OF the lawless
elements. There must also be or.
eauizauon among citizens 10 rem
cdy permanently the civic evils
which are tho source Of lawlesa
ness We have too many laws. TOO
little law in America Spasms OF
virtue VII NOT free us Many NOR
al ipsues are based on systems or
methods OF government which re-
qulre change
a great need in the American
cty .s 20 hX responsibility in all
department. whother public safety
or taxation Detroit now az work
GA this problem The Citizens
league Rill have various suggestions
20 offer o. the time passes The
FIRST thing is 20 purify the ballo'
and secure such election machinery
that honest elections can be held