The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-04-22

| ask only that you weigh this
for yourselves, and if my posi-
ton is right, that you support it
not to support me, but to sup
port something infinitely more
precious-thc force that holds
our civilization together-law.
And I wish to discuss it as law,
not as to the merits or dement's OF
a particular, but all law. federal
and state, tor ours is a government
OF laws made by the people them
selves.
Bar Suffers InfirmitieS
A surprising number of our peo-
pie, othel wise OF responsibility in the
community, have drltted INTO the
cXtraC tdinary notion that laws are
made Tor those who chose to Ooey
them
And in addition, our law-enforce-
merit machinery IS suffering from
many mtirmities arising out OF its
technca htieS, It's circumlocutionS
its lnvolved procedures, and, too
often, l regret, from inefficient and
delinquent officials.
We are reaping the harvest OF
these defects. More than 5000 hui
man beings are killed lawlessly
every year in the United States.
States Little more than half as
many arrests follow Less than one
sixth OF these slayers are convicted,
and but a scandalously small per-
centage adequately are punished.
Cites Britain as Example
Twenty times as many people IN
proportion TO the population are
laWleSsly killed in the United States
as in Great Britain.
In many of our great cities muir
der apparently can be committed
with lmpunity.
At least fifty times as many rob-
berries in proportion to population
are committed in the United States
as in Great Britain, and three times
as many burglaries.
Even in such premeditated crimes
as embezzlement and forgery our
record stands no comparison with
stable nations. No part of the coun-
try, rural or urban, is immune.
Life and property are relatively
more unsafe than in any other
civilized country in the world. In
spite of all this we have reason to
pride ourselves on our institutions
and the high moral instincts Of the
great majority of our people.
No one will assert that such
crimes would be committed if we
had even a normal respect for law
and if the laws OF our country prop
erly were enforced.
Respect for Law Fading
In order to dispel certain illusions
IN the public mind on this subject,
let me say at once that while VIC
lationS OF law have been increased
by inclusion of crimes under the
eighteenth amendment and by the
vast sums that are poured into the
hands of the criminal classes by the
patronage OF Illicit liquor by other
wise responsible citizens, yet this is
but one segment of our problem.
I purpoSely have cited the extent
of murder. burglary, robbery, for
gerry and enlightenment, for but a
small percentage of these can be
attributed to the eighteenth amend
ment.
In fact. of the total number of
convictions for felony last year less
than s per cent came from that
source. 1t. therefore. is but a sec
tor of the invasion of lawlessness.
What we are facing today is some
thing far larger and more fmda-
mental-the possibility that respect
for law is fading from the sensibili-
ties Of our people.
Obedience Not Debatable
Whatever the rules of any law
may ~ VIC CAAAOAkCA1lCAlL VI N1ldN
law written in plain terms upon
our statute books is not, in my
mind. a debatable question.
Law should be observed and must
be enforced until it is repealed by
the proper processes of our democ-
racy.
The duty 10 enforce the laws
rests upon every public official and
the duty to obey it rests upon every
citizen.
No individual has the right to
determine what law shall be obeyed
p = what law shall not be enforced.
If law is wrong. its rigid en-
forcement is the SureSt guaranty of
its repeal.
If it is right, its enforcement is
the quickest method OF compelling
respect for it.
I have seen statements published
within a few days encouraging citi-
zsns TO defy law because that
particular journal did not approve
OF law itself. I leave comment on
/. such an attitude to any citizen with