New Britain herald., 1925-11-13
SWIFT PUNISHMENT
 CHECK ON CRIME
Big Bill" Edwards Prescribes
 Bullets or Jail for Thugs

That the sorcalled "crime wave" in New York is less in proportion 10 the population than it was in 1917 and that the abolition of crime means the abolition of business, was the statement made by William H. t'Big Bill"o Edwards of New York at meeting of the New Britain Ro- tary club today. Mr. Edwards was former commissioner of the street department of New York, was col lector of internal revenue under Woodrow Wilson and Is former Princeton football star and coach.
 His address. in part. was as fol- lows:
 "rhe early Connecticut settlers lived by the rule of the law and the prophets and they knew the laws were good because they made them themselves. In those days, crimin- als were not indicted for murder; they were indicted for behaving in an unseemly manner. Any act that was against the interests of the men who run things in each town was unseemly. This brings me to a few thoughts on the crime wave.
 When one leaves New York and visits elsewhere, he finds people ask ing about the crime wave in New York and people want to know if It's safe down there. I recall a trip I made to my old home town in New York state, It was at the time Becker was on trial--yeu will recall the names of Lefty Louie, Gyp Nle Blood, Jack Rose and others. l met my old friend. Jim Pendell, the To- | cal constable, on the street one day and, after he had told me of his annual arrest told him something about the murder of Rosenthal and all that led up to 1t. He came clos CT to me and whispered I knew 1t was soin on all the time A good deal of the crime wave is in the newspapers. [ do not worry about it. There are not as many crimes of violence in New York in proportion to the population as there were in 1917.
 Crime does not increase because of hard times nor because of com ditions following war. They in- crease In proportion to the oppor- tunity for crime. Out of 100000 attempts to move money without much guarding through the streets, certain definite number, on an average, will result in highway robbery and out of 100000 good opportunities to commit forgery a certain number on an average will result In forgery. The rule holds with all crimes relating to business, Prohibition has nothing to do with such acts as are committed when men break into bank, Legisla+ ton has nothing to do with 1t. When q man with a gun stops you and takes your cash, there are only to determinating factora--oppor- tunity and fear of punishment.
 Opportunity comes from in. creased business activity. To abolish crime will require the abolition of business, The more nation pFespers the more crime in- creases, Tho supply of bad men is never limited: as the supply of op, portunity for crime increases, crime increases.
 ''To make men afraid to commit crime requires swiftest of detection, certainty of conviction and a prompt committal of the offender for pun ishment. These make bad men afraid. Nothing else will, Nothing else will stop thug and nothing will stop some thugs except q bullet or q jail.
 President Frank II. Shield an- nounced that George W, Christ had undergone a slight operation at the New Britain General hospital but that he was improved today. T. P. McAuiRe, who has just returned from Europe. was greeted by the club. Rotary and Kiwanls will hold joint meeting on November 25. December the New Britain Musi- cal club will give Its annual recital to the Rotary club. The committee of Rotarians in charge Of arrange ments consists of Leland Fierce. , Herman s. Hall and orville r. ! Parker.
 There was only one visiting Ro- tarian, William F.. Gilbert of Texas. Members of the Exchange club. Princeton graduates and others were guests.