The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1920-10-15
DEPARTMENT IS
G0|NGFORWARO
At FULL SPEED
Robert Jones Makes Fine
Record With Law En-
forcernent in Pioneer
Idaho Field.

Idaho Field.
Boise, Oct. l4.-In the establish
ment of the cabinet system Of govern
ment for Idaho, Governor Davis on
April l 1919, went into his official
family and selected Secretary of State
nsbert o. Jones for commissioner of
law enforcement. Mr.. Jones came
into the office Of secretary of state
with a valuable experience behind him
for the duties of that office, which ex-
perience made him available for the
appointment to the law enforcement
branch Of the Idaho state govern
ment. He had obtained his Univer-
sity of Idaho degree by hard manual
labor in the mines of north Idaho. fol-
lowing which he was elected and
served as member of the legislature
from Shoshone county. Later on he
went to Washington, D. c., in the
capacity of private secretary to the
late Senator James H. Brady, re-
naming with him until the senator's
death in January, 1918. Senator Brady
ranked high on the senate military
affairs committee of the senate and
as result he was kept busy looking
after matters for, Idaho boys who had
business before the war department.
Mr.. Jones largely assumed the de-
tail of these duties and hundreds of
difficulties were met and taken care
of through his efforts. After the
death of Senator Brady, Mr.. Jones
served for several months as an at
torney in the alien property custodian
office, subsequently, returning to Ida
no because of i'll health, and later was
chosen to make the race for secre-
tary of state.
Pioneer in Work.
In the development of the depart
ment of law enforcement, consider
able pioneer administrative work had
to be done, as the department in many
respects involved new departure
in Idaho government. The fish and
game bureau was already established
and there the problem as that Of
putting less politics and more fish into
the streams of the state, and the strict
enforcement of the law in the interest
of the recreational advantages of the
whole people. The bureau of license
represented a departure in that thu
licensing Of the Is professions Of thu
state as consolidated into this on
department. The work Of the newt,
established athletic commission wa
placed under the supervision of thi
department. ~
Probably the most significant fea
ture of the department Of law enforce
ment has been the establishment o
the state constabulary. Only fe,
states in the union have state polio
ing agency, through the movement t
this end is now pronounced, and
is expected that other states viii fol
low the Idaho plan. The state con
stabulary in Idaho, in reality, con
sists of all of the peace officers 9
the state at the head of which 10 Ii
state police, consisting of small bt
well trained force, over which is tn
commissioner of law enforcement
The state constabulary has done E!
'pecially good work in the matter {
the enforcement of the license law
of the state, has taken the initiatiy
in the adoption of a statewide syl
tenn of finger print Identification, an
in many other ways has coordinate
police effort.
Legion Aids Materially.
With this agency, Commission
Jones was able to direct the compr'
hensive drive against the Reds ar
I.iW. w. when this class, followin
the Centralia tragedy. began to VI
Idaho soil as a safety zone. TT
commissioner wired every north Id
no sheriff to proceed to make q
rests under the Idaho criminal syl
dicaiism law and asked all peace Q
ficers in the state to be vigilant
the fight. against the |. w. w.
The regular state police force W
augmented to aid in this drive. mo
of the additions to the force beis
American Legion men who had MAJ
regulations along this line.
The legion men over the ent'
state rendered great assistance a
were active In assembling informatit
Tor the department. This drive {
suited In a total of 90 arrests bei'
made, most of which were in Z
northern counties of the state. VIII
this state organization evidence "
collected and presented. and ths
was taken from county to county
be used wherever needed. A numb