The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1921-09-22
A STORY WITH A MORNL.

y We think there is moral Of some import in
the story from Chicago recording the fact that
the chief OF police Of that city has bcen SEN
fenced e serve a term in jail because Of crit
ioism made by him against tho court In COM
men,lng the sentcnce imposed on him py
tho court, CHIEF Fltzmorris said;
/, while criminals are turned out of ian
--sometmes without even trinl--as they
have been by Judge Davd-and the police
d threatencd--aa they have been by Judge
i David--tor doing their sworn duty am
going to talk as much az I like. jail or
! Three hundred known criminals who
could be locked up now walk the streets OF
Chicago because We know that We will not
/, be permitted to keep them In Jail II we ar
rest them.
Il face a Jail acntcnce because l dared to
; say that double murderer should bo
hanged. II Judge David is let alone ne viii
have a lot OF policemen In cells oven II the
crlminals have to be turned out to mako
room for them"
Concerning the morts OF this particular case
we know but little But that II relates TO
q practice all too prevalent throughout the land
Is true beyond dispute And therein, we think,
can be discovered the cause OF much sym
pathy for the Khan and It's activities.
1t is difficult 10 secure for the peace officer
the sympathy OF the general public. lie IN
pounded INCREASINGLY for not enforcing the
hws OF the municipality, the state and the ma
tion. lie is charged with dererctious Of the
grnvest kind and made tho victim OF unjust ac-
euGations and malicious suspicion.
4 That too many officers Justify this attitude OF
+, the public liz true. But that prcponderant ma
jority OF them more thoroughly lmbucd
with jealous desire TO enforce all lave with
.,.:; fear or favor than Ia tho general public or
the average court, we believe to be an equal
truth
Maudrn sentamontallsts who talk volubly
about humanitarian practices and the constitu-
tional rights Of tho cltzen are a constant thorn
In the f1eah Of the police officer. And tho very
first 20 make an appeal TO such sentiment Ia
the hardened law dcflcr whose record is known
10 the police.
The Carl 'wanderer case, out OF which grew
the criticism of chief Ftzmorris and the action
or Judge David, and Is stencil In the
nostrils Of dcccrcy. wandcrcr was found guilty
or numbering his wife, her unborn babe and
ragged stranger whom ho had dupcd into he-
coming accessory, lie escaped punishment
through absurd court action and tho influence
brought TO bear in his bcholt by high stationed
American Legion notRblcs.
Chief Fitzmorris was quoted az saying that
'wanderer wasn't halt as crazy as a lot OF cop
! pcrs would be II the practice Of releasing con-
NlCted tflinlhhlS on INSANITY peas was con-
tinucd."
The chiefs remarks may have exposed him
to the wrath OF the court but, in the vernocular
OF the streets, he certainly said a mouthfuL
There is but way for society to cope with
crime that is for public opinion ana the courts
60 support earnestly the men charged with
handling the criminal element. Tho third de-
gree" may be rite OF savagcry, but It IN the
undertaking testimony OF all experienced police
officers that without It's occasional usc society
would be incapable OF defending itself against
the criminal element.
The men who guard our homes and our
property may Nil too often be guilty Of pccuia-
tions and graft, but the fact remains that they
are our first wen az our last line OF defense
against the professional criminal ana the de-
foctvcs For that reason It Is folly TO permit
these common enemies 20 appeal 10 over the
head Of tho homo guards.