Evening journal., 1922-05-16
Peoples Column
BE CAREFUL WITH WORDS
Mr.. George Carter.

Mr.. George Carter.
! Editor OF The Evening journal;
| Ny Dear Mr.. Carter-In a CONVEX
sation with Supt Of Police George
/ Black the other day. when / maze
| inquiries concerning the outcome or
the Official quiz" recently conducted
by Assistant City Solicitor Percy
Warren Green. ! was impressed with
certain phases OF our city life as re-
| lated 10 the Department or PubIlc
Safety, and feel prompted 10 offer
few suggestions in the interest OF
good morals and fair play.
II is needless to say that these
suggestions have no personal bear
| ing. but are set down with malice
toward none and charity toward
all"
First OF all. Il ought 10 go without
saying that too great care cannot be
exercised by both individuals ana
the press in dealing with public OF
hcials and public affairs. For ex-
ample, It is manifestly unfair. II not
against public welfare, 10 indulge IN
miscellaneous charges or innuendoas'
without first giving the officials CON
cerned a chance 20 deal with the
matters involved. Il Is the plain
duty OF every citizen. when he has
reason 10 suspect even that certain
offenses against good morals are go
ing forward. 20 communicate these
suspicious 10 the proper officials who
are by training fitted to run down
matters OF that sort and discover
whether there Is any foundation for
them.
But TO say openly and in the pres
ence OF others. that certain practices
are rife within stones throw OF
the Public Building, yet TO remain
silent so far as any notification TO
the Department OF Public Safety Is
concerned, but II II Is intimated that
such information be given. 20 decline
10 furnish Il. or 10 ask that all mem
ton OF the name be suppressed, is
not fair either 20 the public or 20 the
officers OF the law. II Is easy TO IN
dulge in off-hand charges; II IS an
other matter entirely 10 make IL pos
sible for those charged with the ex-
ecution OF the law 10 get after sup
posed offenders.
II not seldom happens, also, that
when certain prime offenders against
good morals are apprehended and
convicted, for certain persons who
are presumed TO he law-abidiHg citi-
zens to say. 20, yes. that is all right,
but why not get after others who
are just as bad. etc" Now. why not
specify who those others are? Lodge
complaint against them. II will be
needed. II is not required that pri-
vate citizens arrogate 10 themselves
police functions or powers. but. in
all fairness. II any citizen has a we'll
founded suspicion even that wrong
Is being done. IL is his plain duty as
a good citizen TO lodge his facts
where they will do the most good
There are times when the air IL
fun Of disturbing rumOrs which
make utterly false impressions on
the public mind. For example.
when. some months ago. a recreant
official was arraigned for wrong do
ing, a rumor was Immediately start
ed that a perfectly upright and
faithful official had made way with
vast sum OF money and committed
suicide. There was not fragment
OF truth in the vicious rumor: II was
lie out Of whole cloth. Seeing the
danger the writer took the liberty
Of addressing. through the editor Of
The Evening Journal, letter 10 the
public in which communication GER