South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-01-14
BREAKwATERlNG THE CRIME WAVE.

We mighty pleased to learn-perhaps from
Observation-Disclosures the proposal that South Bend
st. Joseph county people arm themselves that
they apply the chief police. mayor. courts.
other proper officials and obtain permits carry
guns. means of repelng the present crime
wave was greatly exaggerated Anyhow it is not
to be encourased or permitted People nowadays do
not know how TO handle guns They are not used
them. The chances are that they would use them
freely when they ought not, and if a somewhat
proper occasion should present itself they would be
wiser try it. for the damage that it
might bring to themselves.
Thirty years ago, in some sections of the country.
pretty much all carried guns, and YOU needn't
60 very far from South Bend to locate the see
lions. About the first thing young man thought
necessary. aside from growing a nustache. was TO
tote q revolver this evidence of his approaching
manhood n country dance. or even in the towns.
20 percent Of the young had revolvers-not
white mule but revovers-on their hips. Fights
were common too but they were fist fights. and se-
dom that anyone pulled a gun. Today the result
would be young war. Every little quarrel whethe-
dance or elsewhere, would result IN someone
losing his head and pulling q gun. Older men might
amuok that well the younger ones.
Society is in a state of unrest Everybody is tenn
pernmentally inclined TO insist upon having every
thang their way. Most men think chat every
hing that they don't like should be suppressed.
Burglars out after what they want by strong
arm methods. course they should be suppressed.
hut there IS too much difference of opinion among
the OF and too much of the spirit of intol-
GRANGE. make safe for to resort to "a whole
sale toung of guns. Furthermore. we have lunches
and there. that the social evil isn't entirely
commercialzed and present lot Of instances are
only leading the divorce which. in an cpl
demic of gun-toung. might end up in the graveyard.
We have the wind and we are reaping the
whirjwind that is all there is this crime wave.
Society paying the penalty own neglect.
What a pimple at first. then tester has ripen-
ed iRto a broken boil Il seems to have been neces-
sary TO bring the people their There is no
such thns eternal vigilance" Vigilance Is a tenn
porary expedient which society sometimes re-
sorts when It gets down the gutter and has
20 DO something TO get out II the way Of the
dvidua and society IS but collection OF individuals
The whole Is but the Of all its parts
We would suggest TO the gentleman said 20 have
proposed this gun-totng prograrn.-now limited 10
vigilance commit ees that n mighty poor
anEdote for the contribution that the city admins
trAtiOn OF which ne a part, which he has
been fostering has made toward the conditions on.
Of whAch the crime Of which he complains
dition either nationwide. If not worldwide.
and the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF cities and lack az
vigilance The part OF people. has made South
Bends contribution TO il but q part OF the great
whole We have reen too busy worrying about boil
shevks 10 the exclusion OF bootleggers and othe.
viOe agencies, until now IL seems that have been