Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-07
MITCHELL, CAPPER
SEE ENFORCEMENT
AS CITIZENSHIP TEST
Two Speakers Bare Condi-
tions and Problems in Ad-
dresses in Radio Forum.
U. S. is MOST LAWLESS
NATION, SAYS KANSAN
Hoover's Inaugural Declaration
and Plans Are Made Basis for
Plea to Americans.

Declaring that nothing has a greater
tendency to beget lawlessness than
lawless methods of law enforcement"
Attorney General William D. Mitchell
last night told the American people
over the National Radio Forum that
under the Hoover administration and
policy of law enforcement. the "statu-
tory and constitutional rights of all
persons must be regarded" Coupled
with this, was the promise of logged
fight on lawbreakers, with all dramatics
eliminated.
Senator Arthur Capper of Kansas.
speaking over the forum on the same
program with the Attorney General,
characterized the United States as the
most lawless nation in the world" and
declared that claw enforcement at this
time summons citizenship to the test"
Both speakers in addressing a huge
audience of radio listeners over the
countrywide hook-up, arranged by The
Washington Star, and sponsored by the
Columbia Broadcasting System, based
their remarks on President Hoover's
inaugural declaration for law enforce
nlent.
The Department of Justice. Attorney
General Mitchell announced, was pre-
pairing a bill for the transfer of the
Prohibition Bureau from the Treas
ury Department to the Department OF
Justice But he stated that it was not
the intention to merge the present
Bureau of Investigation with the Bu-
reau of Prohibition as they had distinct
tasks to perform.
Attorneys Are on Firing Line.
Reporting to the American people
what the Department of Justice is do
ing to carry forward the program for
more effective organization of agencies
of crime laid down by President Hoover,
the Attorney General emphasized that
there would be no dramatic nlarshaling
of the agencies of justice"
Such dramatic methods. he declared,
would be like fash in the pan. The
results would be only temporary"
1.-The improvement We seek" he said,
"nust be gained by steady, earnest. and
persistent effort over weeks, months and
even years, so that the improvement
may be fundamental and lasting"
Describing the United States attor-
neys as the "men on the firing line
the Attorney General announced prog
ress In the program of reviewing the
field organization with the purpose OF
improving the personnel and wedding
out inef6ciency and ineffectiveness"
The matter OF improvement of pro-
cedure in the Federal courts, the At
torney General said, would be taken
up by the national commission APP
pointed by the President to consider
methods of law enforcement, and he
expressed the hope that ats sugges-
tions will result in simplifying pro-
cedure, preventing delay, removing con-
gestion in the courts and otherwise ex-
pediting the conduct of cases." 1
The Attorney Generals pronounce
ment against '1swless methods OF law
enforcement" was considered especially
significant.
Rights Must Be Regarded"
Detection and punishment OF crime
must be effected by strictly lawful
methods" he declared. Nothing has
greater tendency to beget lawiessness
THE greater the dificulties of detecting
and Furnishing crime, the greater the
temptation to place a strained con-
struction on statutes to supply what
NAV be thought to be more efficient
means of enforcing law. The statutory
and constitutional rights of all persons
must be regarded. and their violation,
inadvertent or otherwise, is to be
avoided"
In his discussion of prohibition, the
Attorney General alluded directly 10
n
buyer of liquor.
IT believe" he said, there lately has
been a distinct improvement in this re-
spect, and that the law-abiding people
Of this country have responded ana
will respond to the requirements OF
good citizenship so emphasized by the
President"
CAMPER Comments on Chicago.
senator Capper. in asserting the law
breaking elements of the Nation cited
the city Of Chicago where graft, boot
leg and politics are partners" where
there were SAT killings last year as conl-
pared with 337 in New York City.
The Senator scored the group of wet
lswyers'' who have notified this large
criminal element that the law will be
made to protect it in its lawleSsness."
Declaring law enforcement summoned
citizenship to the test, the Senator said
that it was challenge to public ofii-
Gals. Federal, State and local, from one
end Of the land to the other. and from
President to constables and patrolmen."
The text of Attorney General
MitcheIl's speech follows:
IN his inaugural address President
Hoover laid emphasis on the need Tor
more effective organization OF our
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