The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1921-03-06
CBy William Garner Burgin.)

The crime which has been general throughout the
country has within recent weeks found its counterpart
in own community and the lawabdng element of the
population has been outraged by series Of awless
which should not be tolerated in enigheped
community. There have been daring robberes and at
tempted robberes, burglaries, unfortunate shooting
scrapes and other escapade that should have no place
in the life of civilized community Dsrespect for law
and for the rights Of others has grown TO such an extent
that unless halt called somewhere no citizen will be
safe in either his person or his property. The public
aroused to the situation and through its organized
agencies of eXpresonthe press the churches and the
business mems organizations and clubsit viii ncreas
ngy make its voice heard in behalf of law enforcement
and the preservation Of the peace and order of the
munity If strenuous measures are necessary, they
should be TAKEN and every exhausted whereby the
city and county may be freed from awessness and vo-
ence and life here be restored to its normal sanity and
tranquility
Lawlessness will flourish so long as it goes unpublished
Farcca trials and patry penalties will not check it. The
awlessy inclined be made realize that violations
of the law will be punished commensuraely with the
seriousness of the ofense against society They should
he made know that pull and family prestige offer
barriers to the administration of Justice The admnista
ton of justice is impersonal; it knows arbitrary dis
examinations and plays favorites When therefore, the
officers of the law representatives, sworn to uphold
the law and safeguard the interests Of the peopewhen
they show an inclination to fulfill their pledges of faith
the people, they should have the support and full
operation Of all the law abiding citizens of the community
The community should rally to their support and
them that they shall not wage losing fight IT, how
ever the officers elected by the people to represent then
show an inclination to axity in the enforcement Of The
laws rghteousy indignant electorate should make its
protests heard This written in criticism of any
particular officer Indeed, if might be permitted t
partcularize commentator would certainly go to the
Mayor of the city his recently announced policy Of rg
law enforcement He deserves the support of all law
abiding citizens who the laws upheld and those
dtons restored wherein happy and peaceful people shall
minge freely and fully one with another, and wherein
there shall be jeopardy to life liberty The pursuit.
of happiness by Of the prevalence of awessncss
A law is no stronger than the sentiment back of it.
a law is un-enforced, that implies that public opinion
not sodfied behind it. for officer however ecreant
to his duties could refuse long the mandates of aroused
and thoroughly organized public opinion If you in
cned ercse the officers for the nonenforcement of
the laws you crtcise yourself in measure for you not
only chose those officers but by your attitude you make
it easy or difficult for them to carry out their duties
1t u.s. for example generally admitted by all our citizen
ship that the National Amendment prohibiting the
factue and sale of Intoxicating liquor is not adequately
administered 1t is the duty Of the local officers to
force that measure, locally, together with all State laws
pertaining to that subject 1t is matter Of common
knowledge that that Is not done The community accepts
the situation without attempting to remedy it, There has
been no united protest against the violation Of the law in
this respect and the people must therefore, share the