Arizona republican., 1920-11-26
What 1. Wrono With Us7

We have received copy of American Police Systems" by Raymond B. Fosdick, former chairman of training camp activities of the and navy de- partments. This the result of a study under taken by MT. Fosdick at the request of the Bureau of Social Hygiene. In the of its preparation seventy-two American cities visited and their methods investigated This study was the valuable since the ground had been gone over years before by MT. Fosdick. Thus narison was made possible to disclose what, if any. improvement had been made.
 MT. Fosdck had previously made investga- ton of European systems, included in his European Police Systems" of which the later book may be earded the companion. In the comparison thus afforded the surface. at least. without going to underlying facts, the American system suffers.
 It must be understood though that the task the American police that is, larger cities much difficult because the heterogeneity of popu- lation. Another fact is many foreigners of the lower type who were orderly home under the severe repression of the systems there. coming to America give way criminal instincts in the belief that that is of the privileges they may enjoy under our freedom.
 Then, from the earliest times we have been care IRss in the enforcement the law, courts have ten dilatory and negligent There has been every Where throughout the country tendency of com nunities to rid themselves of ev-doers by shunting
 
 Recently convicted of attempted murder Ilven long sentence. but 1t was suspended on the <ondon that he take himself out of the state Such Neatment does not discourage crime or tend to 1fssen the total of 1t in the country.
 Illustrating difficulties the American police Mir. Fosdick quotes from the Paris edition of the Chicago Tribune January l. 1919: There is probably undisciplined egotistic, mischievous force in the United States than in any country of first rank i'm tha world Commenting on this MT Fosdick says: This indictment framed by indignant news paper is scarcely exaggerated. There Is hardly community where it's accuracy is not vindicated. It is little wonder therefore. that the task which have police has all but proved impossible" \ The police system though greatly improved throughout the country is yet far from efficiency in individual cases. We what is going in Chicago. the uncovering of crime whose existence under the former police administration known to exist. Hardly year passes that does not bring out some such scandal-where the police has been corrupted by criminals or else held in check by rupt municipal governments engaged in shielding criminal rings These scandals which seldom or never develop in European municipalities.
 That life is much less secure in America is a well known fact to which MT. Fosdick refers. In New York he says, in 1913 there 323, homcides for which there only 1855 arrests only 80 con- victions and only 10 capital punishments. By 1918 there some improvement III eHe Aesseheu nun Der of homicides, 221 for which 25s persons were rrssted on suspicion 77 convicted. only capital punshments.
 The figures for either of these years are no' satisfvinr when contrasted with those of England and Wales whose population is about six times tha of New York Tn 1916 there were there only g murders for which 5s persons were arrested 5s wea brought to trial promptly; 4s were convicted and Il were sentenced to death.
 Summing up his investigations of our method or handling crime MT. Fosdiek says We have ltte indeed to be proud of It cannot pc oehleo 'hat oa achievements in respect policing is sordid and un