The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1917-08-15
The State And The Citizen
Be 1t Remembered:
Law Enforcement s

Oli1iO ldl CllIO1lS q
: free people.
: Enforcement of law, as it
< is ever been, is the duty of $
y the States marshal, the
: sheriff, the police.
1t is the duty of every
x citizen, as it has always
< been, to aid and sustain the :
: officers who should enforce
= the law.
The State cannot and
= ought not to interfere in $
3 any community until the re-
sources of it's own people are
= exhausted, and their best eff
forts have proved futile.
The duty of the Public :
& Safety Commission begins :
only where the laws fail, be-
= cause citizenship is feeble;
or local officials are wrong,
< whether from wilfullness or
weakness; or because the :
enemies of public order are :
stronger than it's support :
ers; or because new condi-
= tions are created out of mill
: tary exigency. :
x Let civic sense and official :
fidelity see to enforcement :
of the law; there remains
for the Commission it's prop :
err task of meeting new con-
ditions created by the war y
"a task that calls for the :
peoples utmost strength. :
y + x = y
Many reports have come to
the Commission in the last few
days of movements and meet
ings that threaten public order.
Requests have come to the Com
mission almost every hour for
it's Intervention. These reports
and requests relate to meetings
where sedition is uttered, or
which give birth to seditious
sentiment.
For actual sedition there is a
plain remedy in the law. Where
ever any man violates the law
of Minnesota which forbids dis
enlargement Of enlistment, or
the federal law which forbids
obstruction of the new United
States army-he should be ar
rested forthwith and held to an
swer to the proper court for his
unlawful acts.
The federal authorities are
prepared to act vigorously. 1t
is recognized, however, That the
Department of Justice has not
men enough under the present
stress of business to meet all
demands instantly. In many in
stances the sheriff will be called
upon to deal with these offend
ers under the State law.
Meetings which may result in
disorder or breach of peace fall
under the laws relating to un-
lawful assembly. The sheriff AND
the police officers are required
to inform themselves of such
meetings and take such meas
ures as may be necessary tc
avert breach of the peace.
The Public Safety Commission
looks to the County Director III
each county to cooperate with
the authorities and to keep the
Commission informed of tne
course of events. The County
Director will have the support
of the organization under hin
and of all loyal citizens in sus
tanning the authorities.
| Right public sentiment must
also be organized. Citizens wht
uphold the government mus
not permit dissent to run away
with public opinion. Loyalty
meetings must smother assemb
lies of discomfort. Through tht
newspapers-loyal with very few
exceptions-the cause of the ma
ton must be set forth.
Violation Of law, obstruction
of the government, hindrance tt
enlistment and to federal duty
cannot be tolerated.
It is recognized by the Com
mission that hard situations art
not to be srnoothed away by
| few easy words. To bring al
the people to a sense of thell
obligations entails duty and sac
|rifce in every community. This
tduty must be snouldered by pa
triotic men and women every
where and the sacrifices mus
be made.
The American people have no
| lightly entered in this war ant