The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1929-11-15
TRACE CRIME TO ITS SOURCE

The mere fact that Montana has a State Crime Commission
has already had salutatory effect on the press, and through the
press on the public. in directing attention to the wholesale dis
regard of law and the increase in about every sort of depreciation
in the calendar OF crime. The Commission "a only begun It's IN
vestgation and has essayed no recommendations, but the public
conscience has been aroused and the newspapers, the people, and,
1t is hoped, the police Officers Prosecutors IN courts are giving
sober thought to the matters of crime and lawlessness.
The situation takes on a diff erent complexion in different
counties or communities, 50 it is not to be expected that anything
resembling a common conclusion IN be reached Is to the remedy
for conditions ranging from bad TO deplorable. Many ideas for the
reduction of crime are being editorially advanced most of them
plausible, logical and of value. But no editorial we have seen has
taken cognhance of the fact that to stop anything, II curtal it,
mary cause and the effect will be eliminated to an equal extent
kind of crime condition it deserves. In a republic law and auth
GRITTY to enforce laws provisions come from the voters. There is
ficers their prosecutors. their Judges to act as nmbuc servants
If mistakes ae made in some positions the error "a be corrected
at the next election. If an official is unfaithful to his oath of of
flee, sidesteps his responsibilities, or improves his opportunity
for graft, he lays himself open to the criticism of press and public;
and such criticism should be fairly frankly and freely expressed.
If police. prosecutors and courts sincere, competent and Wig
liant they can accomplish but little if a majority of the public does
not Loyalty stand back of them.
If a decisive majority of the people do not educate their
children and train them and inspire them to be countrylovfng,
law obeying men and women, the standard Of citizenship cannot be
If the pedominatng element of the people, especially the re
spected, Influential people, do not themselves respect the laws OF
their country and state they must lot expect law observance
from others.
If they close their eyes to law nfraction, tolerate weak o. dis
honest officials, they themselves become Jointly responsible for the
increase in crime that is sure to follow.
Every adult citizen is either for 0 against law observance,
and clean, safe conditions in his r her town and state. If through
business considerations, moral weakness or neglect, W e fail to take
an aggressive stand against crime and criminals We are enlisted
foansrd onr children nee and renaring INITIALS tba are certain
to ruin many youthful lives and hopes. A town overrun with
booze peddlers, thieves, gamblers, women chasers and lewd females
cannot expect all it's boys and girls to come through unframed
and untanted. This is sometime for us to remember when we are
asked to sign a booleggers bond or drink his poison.
The Montana State Crime Commission will need to recommend
very few new laws if it can continue to awaken the public to its
responsibility in the crime problem. The voting, taxpaying public
is the source of good government or rotten government If it
refuses to tolerate grating Officials, je1yfsh judges and prosecut-
os, pettyfoggng shysters and ther methods, and incompetent pO-
lice, there will be a minimum Of crime and underworld population
in the community. The Crime Commissions work will be done.