Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-22
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, April 22.-President
Hoover, in an earnest appeal to his fell
low citizens to observe the law, de-
clared here today that the life and
property in the United States "are rela-
lively more unsafe than in any other
civilized country in the world"
In his first address since his inaugu-
ration, delivered at the annual lunch
con of the Associated Press, the Chief
Executive said he was wondering
whether the time had not come ito re-
aIlze that We are confronted with a
National necessity or the first degree,
that we are not suffering from an
ephemeral crime wave, but from a sub
sidence of our foundations"
In order to dispel certain illusions
in the public mind on this subject"
Mr.. Hoover said, 'let me say at once
that while violations 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 criminal classes. by the pa
tronage of illicit liquor by otherwise re-
Sponsible citizens, yet this is but one
segment OF our problem.
Loss of Respect for Law Faced.
He explained that he cited the extent
Of murder, burglary, robbery, forgery
and embezzlement because only small
percentage of these could be attributed
10 the eighteenth amendment, and he
asserted that of the total number of
convictions for felony last year less than
8 per cent came from the source Of
the dry law. a-
What We are facing today Is some
thing far larger and more fundamental
the possibility that respect for Law
as law is fading from the sensibilities Of
our people" he continued.
mo individual has a right to de-
ternine what law shall be obeyed and
what law shall not be enforced. If a
law is wrong, its rigid enforcement is
the surest guaranty of its repeal. If it
is right, its enforcement is the quick
est method of compelling respect for
it."
Mr.. Hoover said there were two in-
| mediate problems before the Govern
ment: To investigate the existing
! agencies of enforcement and to reor-
! ganize the system Of enforcement In
| such manner as to eliminate its weak
nesses.
| Sted0y tTeSSuTe Is CTSeus
'Tt is the purpose of the Federal
| administration" he added, ito
strengthen its law enforcement agencies
week by week, month by month, year
! by year, not by dramatic displays and
violent attacks in order to make head-
/ lines, not by violating the law itself
/ through misuses of the law in its en-
| forcement, but by steady pressure,
| steady wedding out Of all incapable
! and negligent officials no matter what
their status; by enforcement, production
and recognition for those who do their
duty: and by the most rigid scrutiny or
the records and attitudes OF all persons
| suggested for appointment to official
posts in our law enforcement ma
| chinery.
Every student of our law enforce
ment mechanism knows full well that
it is in need of vigorous reorganization !:
that its procedure unduly favors the
criminal; that our judiciary needs 10
be strengthened; that the metnod -oI
assembling our jurles needs REVISION ;
that justice must be more swut ana
sure"
"Press Can Play Large Part"
Addressing himself directly to the
publishers and editors whom he faced,
the President said the press could play
a dominant part in resolving the basic
question of the understanding, tne
ideals. the relationship of the individual
citizen to the law itself.
"It (the press) is almost final IN itS
potency to arouse the interest and con-
science of our people," he declared.
"It can destroy their finer sensibillties
or it can invigorate them. I am Well
aware that the great majority OF our
important journals day by day give
support to these high ideals. -.
"I wonder sometimes, however, II
perhaps a little more support TO our
laws could not be given in one direc-
ton. If, instead of the glamour OF
romance and heroism- which our Amer
ican imaginative minds too frequently
throw around those who break the
law, we would invest with a little ro-
nance and heroism those thousands OF
our officers who are endeavoring TO
enforce the law it would itself decrease
crime. Perhaps little better proper
toned balance of news concerning those
criminals who are convicted and pun
ished would serve to install the fear
of the law.
FINALLY. I wish to again reiterate
that the problem of law enforcement Is
mot alone the function Of business OF
Government. If law can be upheld
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