The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1922-09-15

The criminal plans long in advance
He knows where the officer will be
who is in charge of the territory
where his job is to be 'spulled" He
plans we'll and with foresight. An
1 officer who follows machine-ike
grind of pounding his beat from
morning until night cannot cope
with such. We need officers who
are able to outwit the wittiest
criminal, We need, if you please men
who are trained to think; but before
we can hire them the remuneration
will have to be made worth while. /
am firm believer in a we'll paid
police force, with fewer policemen,
but with men who can think and act
for themselves.
"We should, have in the United
States a swifter court Of justice
Too often we have belived that the
laws delay cannot be remedied.
There is no reason why on the COM
mitment of a felony an immediate
| Indictment cannot be returned by
the Grand jury and a speedy trial
of the accused held.
"The suggestion is also made that
our judges should have longer
tenure. Of office, which is undoubt-
edly wise. A longer term in prision
| for those convicted Of the major
crimes would be more conductive to
proper administration Of justice.
The system of parole and probation
undoubtedly needs reforming, it is
far too easy here in our own state
to get out Of prison after getting in:
Our parole board is composed OF
estimable gentlemen; but it would
seem that in some instances at
least, the pubic has been forgotten
and the Board moved by sentiment
al pleas Of the misinformed. Surely
there exists no legitimate reason
which could justify the premature
release from prison of theses de-
stroyers of human trust and In
nocence, Bragdon and Schaefer to
mingle again with the victims OF
their wanton acts. ....
"Serious consideration should be
given to the Redistribution of capital
punishment. While I am not a be-
lever in the old principle. of an eye
for and eye and "a tooth for a
tooth l do believe that in some in
stances capital punishment could
be utilized. No man who is convict
ed of murder in Minnesota can now
receive greater punishment than
life Imprisonment no matter how
many crimes he may have commit
ted. But he can go to prison with
the hope that some meddlesorl1e
sentimentalist will plead his pitiful
condition before the Board Of Pa
role with a possibility of being re-
leased before the end Of his term.
An amendment to the existing law
providing for capital punishment at
the discretion Of the jury, would, |
belive be an advance in our criminal
law.
at is recommended that the man
ufacture and sale of fire arms, both
revolvers and guns should be pro-
hibited entirely except under the
direction Of the state. The can be
no question of the ACCESSIBILITY of
such action.
ut is commended that courts are
too lenient in extending bail /
think the contention is correct.
Criminals are so organized today that
bail in any reasonable amount can
be provided by an organization or
gang. This should be considered by
the courts and in the more serious
cases bail should be required in
large amounts.
at is suggested finally that first
offenders should not be permitted
to mingle with experienced @crimi-
nails. The reason for this is obvious
and requires no argument in its ia
vor.
"Children are not to be blamed
for their disrespect of the law when
fathers and mothers openly break
! it, and boast about it, by manufac-
turing home brew that only a drag
on could drink without death: oyer
taking him. Children can not help
it if they are taught that Mr.. Vol
stead is a destroyer of personal IL
berty, and because he is the Eight
| zenith Amendment is not to, be obey
ed. Personal liberty is a smooth
phrase used by ambitious polite
/ ians as toothsome morsel to draw
votes from certain classes. It has
turned out to mean: I don't like
! this law. It interferes with my per-
. sonal liberty what l like to do) 50
! will not obey it. The base of the
/ personal liberty feeling is selfish.
: ness. You can imagine what chaos
would result If every citizen would
insist on personal liberty Russia
] and her bolsheviks will be church
! social in comparison. -> 49,. =,
| "Proper education of the youth
/ of our nation is fundamental. Cours-
/ es in civil government designed to
incubate the principles of respect
for the law must be pursued.
'"Here in Minnesota we are, in
general blessed with a good public
school system and yet the amount
Of iilliteracy is appalling. A more
strict enforcement of our laws re-
quiring compulsory school attend.
ance of children not only in cities
But in the country districts would
I.-....- L>.1kI,x ov,f Igror