The Redwood gazette., 1919-10-22
An InteIerabIe
Situation

The following communication fror
Ohm BookWalter to The Minneapoli
ournal has the right ring-and w
re giving it space because of it's hig
alue:
In your editorial lamenting the
dangerous depravity in some Of
the youth of today that made the
murder of John G. Larson, near
Glencoe, possible, you lay the
chief blame at the doors of our
social and religious institutions.
No doubt these are In part re-
sponsible, but there are others
that have a greater part to bear.
The doctrine of inherent deprav-
ity has become taboo and youth
full indiscretion" has supplanted
the verify of criminal cussed-
ness" This flabby sentimental
ity has ousted discipline from our
public schools and righteous
judgments from our courts. In
the schools the instructor dare
not require either respect or
obedience from any pupil or ap-
ply any compulsory methods to
enforce discipline on pain of be-
ing ousted. Public sentiment
and the administration of the law
side almost universally with the
offending pupil.
The treatment of the crime of
stealing automobiles has been so
apologetic and spineless that it
not only has been a public dis
grace, but has operated to in
crease that violation of property
rights to an appalling degree
The thief is only a "joyrider."
The act is little more than an
soverindulgence of youthful e1
uberance" and an exaggerated
longing for adventure" to be de-
plored of course, deserving of a
reprimand, but not requiring an
adequate punishment in any way
commensurate with the actual
crime. Horse stealing at one
time was just as prevalent and
uncomfortable as is automobile
stealing now, and there was no
efficient remedy until they began
to hang horse thieves wherever
caught. This led to rigorous leg
islation against horse thievery
and efficient enforcement thereof.
Horse stealing at once stopped
and has never been revived.
The failure to do its duty in the
right war and at the right time
is the great American weakness.
We never rouse to duty until the
situation becomes intolerable. To
this may be charged nearly all
our troubles. Any redhanded
anarchist may come to this coun-
try and with perfect freedom and
safety preach arson, treason,
syndicalism and organize our al
lens and citizens to practice his
teachings until the situation be-
comes so intolerable that it can
be endured no longer The pres
ent great strike is the legitimate
fruit of such policy. To the ev-
erlasting disgrace of the nation is
the behavior of this nation regard
inc the great war. When Ger
many invaded Belgium every
right thinking, righteous man
knew our immediate duty, but
we were so indifferentfto the ap-
preaching storm, that the Lusi-
tania could not shake US. In the
pride of our indifference we elect
ed a president in its honor. We
could not be aroused to action
until we had been ordered off the
sea and the situation becomes in
tolerable. We were not concern
ed about the fate of the world
then, though we love to romance
along that line now. This gen.
Grafton and the next to come will
carry the burden now upon Us as
the natural result of our failure
to respond to present duty. There
is no hope for betterment until
the public conscience has risen to
the standard where it will sup
press wrong and establish right
for their own sakes and not act
simply from indolent and selfish
expediency.
Mr.. Bookwalter hits the nail on t
head. The American people are pro-
to 'lock the door after the morse h
been stolen" They do not appear
realize that an "ounce Of preventi'
is worth pound of cure. ."-Manka
Frnn Press.