El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-02-13


NleViatfve committee is nearing Close the committee
j. forming semjudcal opinion of the Rangers in
stution and the public IS also forming an opinion 1nal
opinion is based both on the testimony offered at this IN
Vssgaon and partly on previous experience or informa-
The inquiry into the conduct Of the Rangers was the
result Of resolution introduced by representative J
Canaes tending curb the powers Of the Rangers He made
assertion that IN doing, he endangerng his own
life beauEe he feared the vengeance Of the Rangers That
any law abiding citizen Of Texas especially member Of
the legislature should fear being killed by peace officers
was enough TO warrant investigation.
committee appointed and representative Canaes
filed his charges In these he named specific instances in
which he accused rangers Of numbering prs-
he gave names, dates and places He also accused
rangers numbering these who not their prisoners
Of beating and threatening those who their dis
pleasure and Of committing other acts Of violent cmi-
raj nature Inasmuch the affair reflected somewhat
the adtant generals Office the adutant general entered
general denial Of the charges and has the de-
fence Of the rangers Witnesses summoned of
these have offered testimony strongly coroboTave Of the
Canaes charges, while others have spoken good word foT
the rangers organization and have praised the work
they have done TO protect life and property and preserve
order IN the border counties.
The testimony If it may be relied upon, points to the
following conclusions;
COUNTIES must cope with sc0undres Of the United States
ard Mexico who dodge back and forth across the line
menaeng the security Of decent folks who live in those
counties
That the Rangers have to be men Of much courage and
endurance; have know the country well better than
the bandits they seek and be capable Of covering long
desoate stretches Of country IN brief time and regardless
Of fatigue, heat cold.
That the Rangers have to cope with quick shooting
desperate who would hesitate any force
any cunning TO KIN them before after capture.
That the Rangers generally have been very successful
N keeping banditry at minimum country, where to
suppress II altogether would require half million armed
men.
That some Of the Rangers have proved quite as villain
Gus as the bandits they to bring to earth
That Of them have been guilty Of gross brutality
II not actual murder.
That Of them have hesated to use terrorism
% gain their ends running things in remote localities
accord with their VIII and in disregard Of the Law
and Of the rights Of others.
That OF these despersdoes when complaints have
been lodged against them, have been removed from the
force, but that there nay be others Of the kind
sin In the states employ.
That individual Ringers Of this undesirable class have
threatened the lives Of those Who ike representative Ca
nses, seemed to be working to curtai their power
In addition 20 those facts rejecting credit on the Ran
Eh have been mentioned here il is stated in their
behaand It is very likely true-hat in some localities
It would not do TO make the Rangers subordinate to the
county authorities; places where is declared that shers
and county and Judges are subservient
70 powerful individual group whose interests If
rot positively criminal at least always on the side
q public welfare and the preservation Of good order
therefore, II is argued the Rangers always have
free hand EnsEeIabs only the state That is logical
Then II down to this:
Do The border counties need such protection the ran
ger force gvess The to that is 50 positively al
t1rmatITe to require further consideration
What needed is not the abolition Of the Rangers or
even top TO bottom cleaning ont but the removal and in
len cases as circumstances render usable the prose-
con Of those individual Rangers who have been guilty of
e1ae or Hiseondue-but it's almost impossible task
Ranger Officers ought TO be chosen with view to keeui1g
close supervision and tight control Of ther men and
both they and the adant general should be held person
ally accountable for any wrongful acts the Rangers r
MT Ihere ought to be an elimination Of whatever seuti-