The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-11-08
By ALPHEUS sTEWARr.


Estate Police Auxiliary Commitfeel
Illinois supplied one-third OF the
bank robberiss OF the entire Unit
cd States last year. Other robber-
ies are TOO numerous t. mention.
Automobile theft has become 40
we'll organised that the crooks will
sell . machine before they steal II
As good roads are being gradually
extended. 1t has been discovered
that they greatly complicate the
criminal situation. Bolshevism
dares thrust its red and ugly head
above the slime in some parts of
Illinois. The need of q state police
for this state Is imperative.
The campaign for a state police
force. which will put mounted men
on the roads of Illinois. such as
they have in Pennsylvania, New
YORK. Michigan, West Virginia, Ne
vada, New Mexico and Texas, was
begun before the last session on
the legislature. The bill was de-
featcd in the senate and did not
come to = vote In the house. Var
ious factors contributed to this de-
feat, among them the delay i'll act
ing on the bill until the last min
ute; but the real cause Of the de-
feat was . lack Of knowledge ON
the part Of the people Of Illinois as
to what q state police is. Under
| standing this, the State Police Aux
iliary committee, with headquarters
in Chicago, which was organized
solely for the purpose of passing
this bill, decided to enter upon a
campaign Of education. 1t has been
engaged in this ever since and will
continue it until the bill becomes
a law. One Of its methods Of edu-
cation is carried on through its Of
fetal publication, the Police Book
| which has been distributed widely
over the state Another is to send
out men to agitate for the measure
and to bring to Illinois speakers
who can tell how the system works
/ elsewhere. As to the last, it may
] be said that rural police, every
where they have been tried in the
world. are noted for their efficien-
cy and effectiveness in upholding
the law. The Royal Northwestern
Mounted Police, now merged with
the Dominion police. has world
wide celebrity, and the police sys-
TENS of the state are modelled or
/ the Canadian plan.
| All Labor Not Opposed.
The statement is often made tina,
union labor is opposed to state pc,
lice. This is but partially true. II
Pennsylvania the saner element o.
labor. the real working man. ha:
come to admire the efficiency anl
impartiality of the state constabu
larry and to realize that 1t protect:
his interests as much as anyone's
1t is only the blatant and intoleran
disturbers who continue to protest
At Springfield. at the last session
this element charged that the eff
feet was to create lot Of Cos
sacks to ride roughshod over th'
poor working man and to proven
strikes. This was Of course untrue
No policeman has a right to sa!
that a working man dare not qui
his job, for we have not yet COM
to the red Russian system. advo
Gated by some Of the men who op
posed state police. and which com
pels the worker to toll whether h
will or not. Unless strikes are t
be carried on by riot. assault. arso1
and assassination. there is no in
reference by state police. Whel
they do interfere it is not with tn
strike. but the crime. The me-
purporting to represent union la
Dor. who approved at Springfield
may have based part Of their oppo
sition on the intent to trade 1t ha
been their policy heretofore to op
, pose about every important bill
! with a view to legislative trading
Changing conditions compel fur
Their changes. The building Of goo
. roads, and especially the automo
biles. are improvements Of whic
the crook has been quick to ava
himself. People who dwell in cit
: les too often fail to realize tina
= conditions have radically cha nged
The crook IL up-to-data. but tn