The Union daily times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1918-current, 1922-08-19


Governor Harvey, in speech be
fore the regular meeting of the Dar-
lngton Kiwanis Club Thursday, ap-
pealed to the law-abiding citizens OF
the state to do their utmost to aid Off
GERS in their fight against the crime
wave. We believe he is correct in
saying that a good proportion of the
responsibility for the prevalence Of
crime in the state rests at the door OF
the "socalled law-abiding citizens
He said: "The people expect the chief
executive to be firm, but forget to br
firm themselves" He is correct also,
when he says: "Many good citizen,
sign petitions to have criminals par
doned and so pass the buck to the
governor" 1t is q notorious fact
that men, otherwise thoughtful and
conscientious, will sign almost any
thing, in the form of petition, that
is stuck under their noses. Let a man
be convicted in this state, and so soon
as sentence is passed, a petition is
going the rounds to have him par
doned or paroled. AS soon as the
law has functioned, a determined ef-
fort is made to undo its work. Men
who know next to nothing about the
merits of the case, acting upon im-
pulse born of sympathy, go about 70
kill the effect of the law. The fact
that little or no knowledge of the case
is possessed by the signer deters him
not one little bit. 1t is so easy to get
rid of the matter; just sign your
name; it will not do any harm, any
way, it is "up to the governor" That
is the way they often reason. Others
shrink from signing through fear o.
bringing upon themselves the Ill will
of friends of the convicted man, OF
through cowardly fear that to refuse
to sign may injurc their business.
Most Of us are in some degree moral
towards. We like the chestnuts but
prefer to have a catspaw to obtain
them. We demand that the law be en-
forced, yet go about breaking down
the laws enforcement by signing a
petition to have its teeth extracted.
We are all too careless in the matter
of signing any and every petition
stuck under our noses. Often man
will give a recommendation in writ
ing that he knows is betrayal of
truth. 1t is so easy 10 pass the
buck" But that does not make it
right, not by long sight.
The people of the state should give
hearty approval of Governor Har-
vey's stand upon the question of Jaw
enforcement. If the governor of the
state is not sustained by the law
abiding citizens, how can it be hoped
that conditions will change? 1t Is
true, as Governor Harvey says, the
wave Of crime in this state is alarm
ing. We are reaping the result OF
too liberal pardoning on the part of
former governors, and Of the great
back wash from the war. 1t is also
true that the operation Of the bootleg
under prohibition is contributing its
part. This is not to the discredit o.
prohibition. 1t is but natural that
with the coming of great, a radical
change Of the laws in relation to the
liquor traffic should bring about add
tioaal cuthreake Of c'';;ne. Uaro oc.in
&c . :; "cs,-,-. !" ,,;.,....-,. p!
and, JG' ... ,cn.. citizen IN. is
arg, J 10 blame. - long as The "in-
fluential" man orders his bpo"n,
drinks it, patronizes the bootleg,
winks at his activities and thus lines
up with him, it will be difficult tc col
vict the criminal who peddles booze
in violation of law and the Illicit dis