The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1921-03-11
COLONEL BAuoHMAN TELLS
| HOW THE ARM OF THE LAW
/ WILL BE STRENGTHENED.
MAKE FAvoRAsLE lMPREssIoM
Wave OF Crime VIII BE Decreased
i BY These Gallant And
ls Efficient Young
4 & Troopers. Il
Ry RAYMoNp 5. ToMPKINs.

skin and NEXT It's snappiness in uni.
form and drih was-'Well. here's o.
dne, peaceful thing TO be doing after
the war; sending a force OF trained,
brass buttoned gunner out on the
Maryland roads to pry into everybody'a.
businessl What will the farmers and
the labor unions think about this?"
The writer heard pretty quickly
what the labor unions thought about
It, and he heard former member OF
the House OF Delegates say. after look
ing the State policemen over, We'll.
they're all right ae long as they don't
come around botaering our Carroll
county farmers" SO he suspected
what the farmers thought
The big question was, What have
the leaders OF the state police force
got to say about NJ And that brought
about the interview with u. Austin
Baughman. Commissioner Of Motor We
hicles for the state of Maryland.
Colonel Baughman is the real leader
OF the Maryland State Police. Their
big boss" is. OF course, Governor
Richie, and their immediate command
ing officer is Captain Roger Williams.
But whenever the Maryland state 20.
lice force swoops down upon lawless.
ness, drags sneaking criminals into the
light. shields women and children. or
DOTS It's khaki cap TO the plain citizen
who is trying TO be decent. you may
know that the motive power behind Il
all is furnished by Austin Baughman.
The writer happens 20 know that the
Maryland State police force Is Colonel
Baughman's idea. and that IT'S person
mel is hand.picked by himself: and any.
body else can learn. in 10 minutes talk
with him. that IT'S spirit and re priB.
ciples are the ones he brcathed into a.
BY the same token. II II makes mis-.
takes. Colonel Baughman will take the
blame Charitable people may say.
"Well. there have got 10 be some bad
ones in every barrel, 80 Il isn't his
fault" But n a single man on the
Maryland State police force goes
wrong. Colonel BauRhman WIN be as
hurt and as remorsefm as though he
had gone wrong himself Tho whole
thing is that close to him
To Colonel Baughman. therefore. the
writer went Ia learn the meaning Of
this epochal addition to the govern.
meDtal machinery OF the State OF
Maryland.
Just what Is tho big idea behind the
formation OF this force Of swift riders.
hard aghters and straight shooters -
the writer asked Colonel Baughman
He replied slowly and with much en-
phasis.
THE idea is TO extend and strengthen
the arm OF the law in Maryland. Moth.
ing more and nothing less than that
It is as much Of move in the dircc.
tlon OF Improvement az building up a
broken.down jail wall would be. or ex-
tending electric or telephone wires out
20 new territories. When you want 10
improve and use a room IN your house
that you have been neglecting one Of
the FIRST things you do is 10 string
wires 20 II and get some light In there.
The new State police force Is going 20
do somewhat the same thing for the
State Of Maryland. II there IL a single
dark place for crook TO hide in after
these men get on the job IN Maryland
I'll be mighty disappointed
How does the State OF Maryland re.
semhle a room that has been neglected,
Colonel Baughman?" the writer asked.
"Tn this way" he replied. that a
great part OF II has been neglected In
measures to'proteot the people against
professional bandits and desperate
criminals. I do not mean 10 suggest
that the, county and town authorities
throushont the State haven't been on
the job. They have done as much as
any men could do. But what chance
In the world have they against bands
OF professional bank robbers who dash
in, SHOOT FobsaRd dash away again in
hignTdwSfed automobiles almost be.
foreAnybddy cap count them?
Il want you 10 understand that !
don't take sny particular credit TO my
self for the creation OF this force, .
Colonel BauGhman added 1T so hap
pened that, as Automobile Commits.
siOner. was in a better position than
almost anybody else 20 see the trend
of the times in my own line Of work.
And the trend Of the times, as l saw
ct. was toward the use OF automobiles
in speeding up crime.
Professional criminals had Topped
minutes on of safe-blowing jobs. hold.
ups and killings, Just as runners lop
seconds OF of sprinting and long-dis.
lance records. But at the business OF
catching them we hadn't speeded up
ht all.
con the other hand, the State was
aiding and abetting them, in way. Ii
twas furnishing them broad smooth
boulevards TO ride on--highways that,