The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1921-04-19
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Mail and bank robbcries have increased 'nor-
nously during the past few years. So much 40
that both the postoffico department and the
bankers Of the country have been tremendously
embarrassed. Postmaster General win Hayes
Nadcs directly to the very crux Of the matter by
pffcring a reward Of $1,000 to any person who
captures mail robbcr. man IL captured
phen you get possession OF him. regardless Of
whether he IL dead or alive. So that little point
Is determined.
Mail robbing II going TO speedily become al
most a lost art, providing the postofficc depart
mcnt seizos on tho first opportunity presented to
literally make good It's offer. For when the
great body OF citizenship Is thus encouraged To
take a direct hand in law enforcement tho law
Is going TO bo enforced when the by-stand.
crs and thore always such, understand that
there is a liberal recompenso for exposing them
selves TO momentary danger, some Of thcm VIII
take the chance. And when they do rs tho
end Of the mail robbng business
similar action by the banking associations Of
The country viii put summary stop to bank
,obbng Tho greatest allies bank robbers have
are the various burglary insurance companies
when banking institution covers itself with
Insurance. against depredatons 1t removes the
last obstacle to the professional bank robber
because tho time TO get bank robbor is when
hc is engaged In the act. And almost always
there are numerous ones standing hard by that
could easily kin capture the felows--if there
was anything In 1t for them. But rsroly Is there
an employe of a bank willing to expose himself
Go the slightest danger, because an insurance
company stands pledged 10 make good all losses,
In the circumstances 1t IL wonder that 10 few
employees of banking institutions make common
cause with criminals.
But instead OF hanging up a substantial re-
ward for IA bank robber dead or alive. the bank
ing associations rely their insurance protec-
ton and ask the state to put up the reward.
This is absurd II is recalled that when a mere
youth shot down Henry Star at Stroud few
years ago while he was In the act OF robbinE a
bank there no consideration shown tho boy
by either state banking authorities. Whether
he received cent not do not recall, but
we do recall very vividly that both the state and
banking authorities rcsored to all sorts Of quib-
bling to avoid paying the lad the rewards that
hc thought were outstanding for the apprehcn'
zion OF the notorious bandit
The writer said at the time he now repeats
had there been no reward offered for starr,
apprehension, the banking association did Il
sincerely seek to discourage bank robbing
should have met and voluntarily rendered tha
boy s., 900 for his courageous act. And becaus,
of the bankers attitude at that time public sym
rathy was turned to "A very great extent agsins
tho bankers in their contest with bank robbers
II every state banking association should, a.
81 matter OF fixed policy, duplicate tlS offe
made by Postmaster General Hayes. instead OF
few officers being indifferently alert to protcc
their interests, the entire citizenship would h'
alert. and in every attempted robbery ther,
would he som adventurous individuals ready tC
sally forth to earn the reward The result
would be mighty few bank or mail robberios.