South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-06-26
POSTAL employees
NOW ARMED SO AS
TO QUELLLOOTING
Hayes Ruling Tends to Stop
Robberies, Reports From
Various Cities Show.

WASHINGTON. June z5.-since
Nov. 2. republicans and democrats
alike have admitted pretty freely
that VIII II. Hays displays rare quail
tiles OF Leadership IN marshalling the
hosts OF the g. o. p. 20 the polls.
and a great majority OF his own
party az least seem agreed that he
merits the title OF postmaster gen
eral with which Pres't Harding saw
At TO reward him. Even the most
ardent admirers OF the little cabinet
officer. however. were scarcely pre-
pared 20 see him become a gen
sral." in the sense OF one who COM
&mands a large body OF armed and
disciplined men.
Nevertheless, 20 a man UP a tree
or a robber IN a mail car. Il looks
az though Mr. Hays had done that
very thing. for at the present mo-
ment he Is in command OF greater
number OF armed men than George
Washington had under him during
the greater part OF the Revolution
airy war. Assembled IN one place,
Gen Hays forces would make
Pancho Villas most extensive CO.
horts look like a kitchen-pOlice de-
tail. and would surpass both in num-
bers and equipment the standing
armies OF most OF the Latin-Ameri-
can republics.
The postoffice department has ap-
proximatsly 100000 employees. An
order issued by Postmaster Gen.
Hays recently directed that every es-
sental employe OF the postal service
be armed with a pistol or shotgun
and instructed in It's use. Within
week thousands OF repeating riot
guns" more than 10000 automatic
pistols and a million rounds OF am
muniton were issued 10 mail col
iectOrs, messengers. chauffeurs,
watchmen and railway mail clerks
throughout the country. and these
men were given instructions to
shoot to kill"
I'VE simply have 20 go back to the
old Wells Fargo days and shoot TO
kin. and we are going 70 do it." said
Gen" Hays in commenting upon
the order. '1 have been astounded at
~the facts which I have discovered
relative 10 mail robberies with a
a known recovery Of $3,03O,000."
Record Crime Year.
Many OF the postal employees are
ex-service men who have tested their
skill in the use OF firearms on the
battlehelGs OF France. and they are
eager TO have a chance to meet the
mail robbers half way. A number
of these men are being used to in
struct other employees Of less eX-
perience in the handling OF weapons,
and Il Is expected that a regular
course OF instruction such as IS pro-
vided by many cities for their police
men will be worked out.
The postmaster general has the
utmost confidence In the inspectors
corps OF the pOstoffice department,
the regular organization for the ap-
prehension OF those guilty OF crimes
against the United States mails He
! believes Il to be one OF the most eff
ficient bodies Of its kind IN the
world. He is convinced. however,
that the present situation Is an IN
usual one which must be met with
Unusual methods.
For IS months 10 has been appar-
ent that a great crime wave is
sweeping over the whole world and
that the United States has been par
ticularly subject TO the epidemic.
Experts appearing before congress
sionaI committees have testified that
the year Just passed was the great
est crime year since 1897.
Bandits Mostly Young.
This crime wave. which has made
itself felt all over the United States.
and has hit banks. transportation
companies. business establishments
OF all kinds. has been particularly
strong in the west and middle west.
The attacks have been made by
armed criminals upon both mail
trains and postoffices. often by young
and inexperienced men who were
al the more dangerous because Of
their recklessness.
These criminals have frequently
operated in broad daylight. entering
postofdces. holding up trains. and
even robbing messengers between
postofffces and railway stations. Dur
ing the past two years the lives OF
many postal employees have been put
IN Jeopardy by these reckless bandits,
and IN the past four months three
postal employees have been killed in
the performance OF their duties.
Youths Dangerous.
IN two % these cases the perpe-
traitors OF the crimes have been
brought 20 justice. and In the third
case the uniring efforts OF the post
Office inspectors are expected soon
TO be crowned with success.
The first OF the murders occurred
IN the Jackson St branch OF the
post-ofic' az Dallas. Tex. Five heav-
ily-armed bandits entered the build
ing late IN the afternoon and forced