Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-09-18

All is quiet in Herrin-but for how
long? Most of the editors who have
discussed the most recent outbreak of
violence in Williamson County be-
lieve law and order can be introduced
there only through drastic action by
the state Of Illinois itself
1T seems fairly certain that the later
outbreaks Of the warning factions are
not related to the labor disturbances
that first drew attention to the village
explains the Springfield Union ''The eff
forts to enforce prohibition laws was di-
rectly responsible for the second civil
war. and it appears. from what may be
learned. that the present disturbance is
connected with those difficulties" What
ever the facts may be. the Kansas City
Journal thinks 1T is clear that efforts
outside the law to enforce the law are
against the laws themselves and in
ev1tably must result in the state of af-
fairs now existing" Herrin has shown
what can happen anywhere, what is
bound to happen in many places" adds
the Houston Chronicle. IF we don't
trample down this pestilence of bigoted
emotionalism and come back to our
senses"
These repeated outbreaks are symp-
toms of a dangerous state of public
feeling: the causes need to be remedied."
declares the Philadelphia Inquirer. but
the first thing the people of Herrin
should learn is that lawlessness is no
remedy for lawlessness." The governor,
the ST. Louis Globe-Democrat contends.
should create an investigating body
for this particular and vital purpose.
and that body should determine what is
the matter with Williamson County and
make its findings known-upon this
basis law and order should be restored
at all costs"
The Chicago Tribune says: 1--WE
ought to be able to appoint a receiver
for the county with power not only to
maintain and enforce law, but with
the ability to take up the task of edu-
eating and elevating the public con-
science and character; but we have
no method of doing that. In lieu of
it, when Williamson County sinks in
its depravity to a physical wilderness
as 1t is now moral wilderness. we
may colonize a new civilization there.
In the meantime the future of such a
community remains dark and bloody"
THE creed of Herrin, born of pref
udice and diSrespect for the consti-
tuted authority that its residents
have helped to create" the Indian
apolis News holds, "is a challenge
that cannot be ignored, because ST.
lence or inaction in the face of such
situation is Of itself not far from
criminal" The Oklahoma City Okla
homan is confident that had the men
whose blood lust gave Herrin a name
for assassination been sent straight
to the gallows, had the men who mas
sacred defenselesS miners been hang
ed, had the laws of Illinois been en-
forced with reasonable promptness,
Herrin would be today peaceful viii
lage and every citizens life would be
safe" The Cleveland Plain Dealer
also suggests that "a few hangings
at Herrin-legally conducted-would
be of inestimable benefit For what
has occurred there, the New York
Times suggests, cit will take time
and will require resolute action by
the county and State authorities to
restore in misguided people the sense
of civic duty and the feeling of obli-
cation to await the process of law"
y X r y
There is only way to cure Herrin,"
in the opinion of the New York Her
ald-Tribune. that is, through secur-
ing a livelier sense of their political
responsibilities among the citizens of
Illinois and more vigorous idea of
the obligations of government among
the politicians in Springfield. It is
one of those drawbacks with which
the blessings Of a federal government
are tempered that there IL nothing
in the world which the rest of the
country can do about it." The dis
..Erace Of Herrfn, the Wichita Beacon