, 1922-04-19
Back Your Sheriff

IT is L VERY FINE for the citizen to com
l. plain because public affairs do not go ahead in
the fashion he would desire them That there Is a
let down here n breakdown there and q blow up over
yonder is partially your fault To complain is one
ID the easiest things a citizen can do. He forgets
apparently that the public business is his business
That he is one of the stockholders, and that n certain
responsibility goes with his holdings in the public enter
prses. That to enjoy the benefits he must shoulder
the responsibilities 1t is one thing to hire c person to
perform the public work and then go away and leave
him with the entire load on his back, and by your
neglect, or by your direct actions place stumbling
blocks in his way to prevent his accomplishment of
the work he is expected to perform And it is en-
tfrely another thing, inter you have hired this public
servant to go round and look him up, talk over the
good of the order with him and inquire what you
can do to make his work, which is your business,
run smoother better for all of the stockholders who
have an interest along with you
The habit has been in Natrona county to put a
man or woman in public office and then treat him
as an enemy to the public Double cross him, block
him at every step, sneer Mt him, taunt him, encourage
lsw-breaking which you have compelled him to use
every means to prevent and punish. In short, after
you have him in office, sworn in the service of the
public, you simply pull in the opposite direction.
And by the things you do and say lead others to
believe that he is totally without honor, devoid of
decency, is devoted to graft, is there for
no other purpose than to prostitute his office and
drag your affairs in the slime Of dishonor.
That is exactly the way it appears And shame
to say, that is the interest you seem to take in your
public business.
Where did these people, who attempted to bribe
yCur n udy, BcL INC tIdI Luey
could get by with any such transaction, IL they did
not conclude It was possible by your talk and actions
and your general attitude toward your sheriff?
What have you done in support of your sheriff
in his public duties, that would lead aw-breakers to
believe that it would be very unhealthy to make a
proposition Of bribery to thst official.
Have you aligned yourself on the side Of law en-
forcement? Have you ever uttered one word in
favor of better, safer and cleaner conditions? Have
you ever gone to your sheriff with one scrap Of in
formation, concerning the things you know, see and
hear, that are in contravention OF law and repugnant
to the good order and morality of the community?
If you have done none of these things, You have
zenship. You are not entitled to the protection of
the laws, which you have failed to support and up
hold.
The security Of society falls back upon the one
proposition, of society's cooperation in the rigid en-
forcement of the rules laid down for its protection
assume your part and perform your duty you can
claim no rights or benefits.
If you don't know it, it does not alter the truth
of it in the least, but there is n constant warfare be-
tween good and evil. There is a fierce contest for
support Proselyting is carried to the limit The
good is represented by the law and those chosen to
enforce it The evil by those who break the law,
those who wink at wrong practices, those who are
indifferent and those who fail in their duty.
Your sheriff has been waging a singie-handed
fight. 1t is unfair to him. Are You going to let him
battle on alone or are you going to join IN and help
him get bigger and better results7
Mr.. Citizen, it is for you to say. You can help
him with direct information, you can help him I'M
cover evidence, you can support him IN a hundred
ways. First of all show him that you are a part
of a vigorous public opinion that demands less boot
Logging, less gambling, less prostitution and a whole
lot less law breaking of every description.
Back your sheriff or go back to the woods.