The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1922-01-27
MAYOR OPENS WAR
ON VICE AND CRIME
Law Enforcement Officer Will Help
Chief of Police
(By Rev. w. II. Carwardine)

lBy Kew. w. il. CarWdrdine)
Mayor Thompson announced yes
terday that Chicago is to experience
the greatest law enforcement in its
history.
He said the campaign will be di
rected as vigorously against he'll
holes where vice exists and moon
shine is sold as against any of the
city's 10000 officials and employees
who may be derelict in their duty.
He added he had created the office
OF law enforcement commissioner and
had asked well-known man to accept
appointment to the place. Pending an
answer, he declined to reveal the in
dividuaps name.
The mayor made his announcement
to forty representatives OF all re-
ligious denominations, whom he sum-
moned to his Office.
Pledge Mayor Support
He told them he believed their CO.
operation was essential. After he
completed his announcement the group
adopted resolutions pledging their
support.
Il am convinced this government
can not endure by enforcing half its
laws and permitting the other hall to
be ignored" he said. EITHER all our
laws must be enforced or all our laws
will be violated.
There are no more important ques-
tons confronting the people than the
question of law observance.
"In these days of unemployment,
moral delinquency and the growing
disregard for life and property the
natural aftermath of war, nothing is
more important than that private cit
liens obey the laws. Public officials
should see the laws arc faithfully ex-
ecuted.
"The people, through their repre-
sentatives, make the law. The law is
not imposed by an outside agency.
Any citizen who thinks any law is not
good has a right to say so.
Under our system of government
there exists no right of revolution
against the law, and he who says he
will not obey the law is striking at the
cornerstone of our republic.
Chicago is like great CONNER
cial institution. 1t has 10000 en-
ployes, most of whom are under civil
service. Every one knows it is inn
possible in banks or other commercial
houses to prevent some employees
from being derelict in their duties.
This is equally true of OUR municipal
government, but there is no good rca-
: son why inefficient or dishonest en-
poyes should be retained.
Therefore | have established this
agency to insure honest service by
city officials and to give attention to
reports of reputable citizens on law
violations.
Appoints Law Officer
Il have decided to appoint special
law enforcement commissioner to be
paid from the mayors contingent
fund, to investigate all complaints and
to aid me in wedding out any incom-
petent public employees, and to furnish
legal evidence which will make it pos
sble to close all places where vice,
gambling or illegal liquor selling is
found to exist"
He said it primarily is the duty OF
the government to punish violations
of the Constitution and federal laws
He pointed out the government col
lects ten times as much taxes in the
Chicago district as is collected Tor city
purposes, and that it would seem the
federal government should be in bet
ter shape financially to handle Pro-
hibition cases.
y f"But we can not equivocate about