Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-10-16
UNLESS WE DO WE'LL NOT
DESERVE

THAT sounds like business" was
remark overheard by the writer, the
remark of one reading the report
that seven hard boiled" captains
from among the Chicago police had
been selected to free the city from
gang rule. Had he read the report
through and noted the complaint OF
the chief of police that Judges with
in the last year had granted 4S2
writs OF habeas corpus that had been
served on him for the release OF men
arrested as suspects, "in many cases
within an hour after their arrest"
he might not have been so sangu1ne
respecting what those hard boiled
police captains may accomplish in
cleaning up Chicago.
He might be even more depressed
to read the manifesto put OUT by
Capone, one Of the bootlegger kings,
warning the feudists to put up their
guns, to treat their business like
any other man treats his; as some
thing to work at and forget when
they 20 home at night" Otherwise
he sees a chance that he may be
shot. that other business men" like
himself will be shot down in the
street like dogs and he assures his
associate in the alcohol traffic
that there is business enough for
su."
Yes, business enough for those
who see that those get public office,
into Legislatures, judgeships, and
police captaincies whom they wish
TO get there, likewise business
enough for the bootleggers, the
thugs and all those that live like
parasites on the body polite, pro-
ducing nothing that is beneficial,
business enough most assuredly.
And does anyone suppose that any
seven hard boiled" captains of the
police force, any Ku KluX Khan,
though clad in full regalia, and in
cognito at that, will be able to inter-
fere seriously with this business"
about which Capone, the bootlegger
king, talks with so much assurance?
We admit there would be cause
for glee even though it seems I'M
holy, II efficient vigilantes, Kluckers
or otherwise. should kidnap every
known leader of crookdom, with a
few badly suspected officials for
good measure, and would whip from
their bare backs in the public
square ribbons of quivering flesh
We have not the slightest doubt but
there would be temporary surcease
of violent crime in the immediate
vicinity of such penalties, but then
what? And we must look ahead If
we would proceed wisely.
Such vigilant enforcement could
not be expected to work out as it
did in the small population of Cali
fornia in the days of the Vigilantes.
Society has become very complex,
conditions would prevent such a
cleaning up in Chicago. But there
Is just as great need of resolute
courage, Of outstanding men we'll
endowed with-entrails-, of mer
ready to sacrifice and take their
lives in their hands, ready to stand
out In the open in defense of civilized
conditions, as ever there was, and
we believe such would be as capable
as ever of accomplishing great good
by such endeavor. They would help
to crystalline public sentiment in their
support once they could demonstrate
that their endeavor knew no polite
al party. knew no religious creed,
knew no barrier of race or of
language between good men and
true. Can this be done? Are we
worth saving from chaos unless we
are willing to make the effort?
&The hard boiled" police captains
may temporarily alleviate the situa-
ton but they never can get at the
roots. Those must be choked out by
roots of righteousness growing in
the best soil we have. Meanwhile
We can aid little by insisting that
offenders found with arms in their
possession are entitled to no more
consideration than Is the armed
enemy met upon the battlefield We
can help by giving the prosecution
as many rights as we give the de-
tense. In our own State. for in
stance, the defense may take excep-
tons to the verdict of one court up
TO another but even the State as a
prosecutor may not do this, but
must abide by that verdict We can
hold up to public scorn, turning the
spot light on those, protesting to be
good citizens but conniying at crime
and profting from it; we may pro-
vide way, as under the Baumes
law In New York, whereby the old
offender is recognized as a self
demonstrated misfit for liberty, and
We can provide a proper place for
keeping them under restraint.
Unless we do this much we de-
serve no better than we are now
getting, and we may be assured that
this which we now endure will in
evitably rapidly grow worse.
One OF the best fire prevention