New-York tribune., 1922-01-12
Public Called
To Help Fight 2
Crime Wave
Federal, State and Countv
Prosecutors See Menace
TO Civilization in Grow.
ing Disrespect for Law
Condemn Lenient judges
Deplore Violations of Some
Statutes by So-Ca1led
Respectable Citizens


ALBANY, Jan. l1.-Federal stat. ord
county prosecuting officers in session
mere to-day appealed to the public to
cooperate with the authorities in
checking the prevalence of crime
which is threatening the civilization
OF TINS country" In their appeal the
law enforcement officers declared that
one of the causes of the trouble is the
substitution Of sentiment for sanity in
the prosecution Of criminals.
The prosecuting officers unanimou,lv
condemned judges who abuse the pro-
baton and suspended sentence system
ana called upon them to mete out
prison sentences. They also pilloried
so-called respectable and responsible
cltlzens' who wink at violation. Of
some laws, thus leading to disrespect
OF all, and deplored the wholesale issu
ance of pistol permits.
Conference to Meet Again February 8
The conference, which elected Dis
trlct Attorney Joab Fl. Banton Of New
York president, directed him to appoint
committees to bring about the reforms
u u IS seeking to accomplish After Mr.
banton named the subordinate bodies
airy 8, when the prosecuting attorney.
VIII meet again in the same chamber
and receive recommendations from the
committees
The meeting, which is the first of a
number to be held in practically every
state in the Union at the instance of
Harry NJ Daugherty, United States
Attorney General, was intended origi-
nally only to devise an effective plan Of
Jailing the food and fuel profteers and
curbing their greed.
Charles d. Newton, State Attorney
General, broadened the call to include
all violations of law and special COM
mittee was appointed to inform the
district attorneys of their duties un-
der the Federal and state prohibition
laws
After several addresses, including
one by Governor Miller. Guy B. Moore,
Of Buffalo. District Attorney of Erie
County, aroused enthusiasm with a
short speech, in which he declared that
crime was menacing American civilza-
tion. This speech later was ordered by
unanimous vote to be drafted into the
form of an appeal to the public.
Zone of the main purposes of this
conference is to check the crime wave
which is prevalent in all the great
cities of the state and country" said
Mr.. Moore. The appointment of mere
committees on legislation and Coop
Grafton with the Federal authorities
will not check crime or tend to check
it, and the public expects this confer
ence to take some action which will
tend definitely to correct the conditions
which are threatening the civilization
of this country.
"a committee should be appointed to
draft resolutions setting forth that one
Of the reasons Of the crime wave is
the deplora Bile public feeling which
substitutes sentiment for sanity when
it comes to the prosecution of pro-
fessional criminals.
Scores Lenient Judges
at seems to me that there should be
some expression of sentiment from this
conference that mere legislation is not
sufficient to check the abuses Of the
probation system. The appointment Of
mere committees Is not sufficient to
impress upon some judges that they
should add to their dictionaries the
words Auburn and Sing Sing and not
entirely fill their dictionaries with
suspended sentence and probation.
"lf the law is to be enforced, if
crime is to be suppressed, if the prop
erty and the persons of the citizens Of
the state are to be protected, there
must be a firm and fair enforcement
fcon.ioued on paue &hrcel