Daily Kennebec journal., 1922-03-07

CRIME CONTROL OR CONTROL
OF CRIME

ups and murders by professional
gunmen do not deserve the big head
lines on the front pages Of the news
papers. a speedy administration of
justice, successful apprehension OF
the guilty. their prompt trial and the
certainty Of penalty, by reason of
their rarity. deserve the spread
heads" VIII the public wake up to
the gravity of the situation and when
awake exercise gumption enough to
insist on an improvement.
There is evidence of the waking up
process; questions are being asked,
interest is being taken in plans for
checking the high handed tyranny OF
the criminal elements. Something
may come Of It. It must IL we are to
keep civilized. Professional MUIR
derors appear to be as numerous now
as they were In the Dark Ages.
The plans proposed for coping with
this carnival of crime" are many
and out Of them all may be found
some effective prevention but surely
not before the public attitude toward
crime Is sterner than a smile Of in
diligence or a sentimental request to
20 and sin no more. No effective
cure is likely TO be found, however,
until conviction is borne in on the
minds OF all. the criminally inclined
as well as the others, that justice is
made no respecter of persons or pelf.
one writer argues that every robber
who goes armed is a potential MUIR
derer and should be treated as such.
by the same reasons everyone who
wants what he wants when he wants
II regardless OF law or equity is po-
'tcntial criminal and such he should
bc regarded. However. and for i'm
mediate and practical purposes, re-
pairs and improvements may be
made on the existing machinery.
All must agree that one of the fun
damentai purposes Of government is
the maintenance of law and order.
Its life depends on its success. The
machinery OF the officers Of the law
and the courts is part of that Job. a
primary and absolutely essential part.
In this nearly all observers find not
only structural weakness but poor
workmcn. Until the needed changes
are made In this part success need
not be expected. There should be as
much skill and brains behind the law
MS in front OF It,. Returns now being
received afford proof that this is not
"a fact. The criminals nave greater
cunning and originality. These quail
tiles might he cultivated and inspired
II the work OF the criminal catcher
were better appreciated and support
cd. a conscientious officer Of the law
must find it very discouraging to
have his efforts prove of no account
through the Vaccinations Of the
criminal after being caught, his abil-
ity by delays and appeals secured
through skill of lawyer and pull" of
gang influence TO escape or long de-
fer the penalty.
Here we come against the fact that
another fundamental weakness lies in
the political influence possessed by
criminal cooperation. That must be
looked to. the sooner the better. In
some of the larger cities surveys of
conditions are being made to get at If
possible the exact conditions. When
these are revealed some change for
the better should be made, will be If
the public will but keep insisting,
which by the way appears to be
about the most difficult thing for
publics 10 do. According to certain
standards that appeal strongly to
certain natures crime today has be-
come an attractive profession. While
this affords interest to some Of the
'ologists it is fast getting to be an un-
duly heavy strain on patience and the
foundations.