The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1929-04-26
federal and state laws-it is a

s tut plOCtSoto Ol cT1I
maj law enforcement are simpl
methods of instilling respect an
rear INTO the minds of those VIII
nave not the intellience and NOR.
instinct TO obey the law as a ma
Ter OF conscience. The real DR.,
Diem is to awaken this ~consciou,
ness, this moral sense, and if ne,
essary to segregate such degene,
ate minds where they a do n
future harm.
lWo Immediate Problems
We have two immediate pro
blems before us in government
To investigate our existing agen
cies of enforcement and to reor
ganize Il system of enforcement
in such manner as to eliminate its
weaknesses. 1t is the purpose of
the federal administration sys-
tematically to strengthen its law
enforcement agencies week by
week, month by month, year by
year, not by dramatic display and
violent attacks in order to make
headlines, not by violating the law
itself through misuse of the law
n its enforcement, but by steady
pressure, steady wedding out of all
incapable and negligent officials.
no matter what their status; by
encouragement, promotion, and re-
cognition for those WHO do their
duty and by the most rigid scrut-
my of the records and attitudes
81 all persons suggested for ap-
pointment to official posts in our
entire law-enforcement machinery.
That is administration for which
my colleagues and | are as fully
responsible as the human material
which we have at our disposal
will permit us to succeed. Furth-
ermore | wish to determine and,
far as possible, remove the
sources of inherent defects in our
present system that defeat the
most devoted officials.
Every student of our law-en-
orcement mechanism knows full
veil that it is need of vigorous
organization; that its procedure
nduly favors the criminal; that
ur judiciary needs to be strength
ned; that the method of assembl-
lg u juries needs revision; that
lstice must be more swift and 1
ure. In u desire to be merci-
ii the pendulum has swung in I
ayor of the prisoner and far away g
ON the protection of society. I
he sympathetic mind of the 6
people in its overcon- I
about those who are in diff ?
has swung too far from Il
le family of the murdered to the V
mily of the murderer. "
His Crime investigation u
With a view of enlisting public ii
lderstanding, public support, ac- >
rate determination of the facts, .,
I'd constructive conclusions, :,
we proposed to establish a ma :,
onal commission to study and =
port upon the whole of our pro- :.
ems involved in criminal-law
forcement. That proposal has
1T with gratifying support, and
am sure it will have the CO. at
Grafton of the bar associations TO
d crime commissions in our vari- o.
S states in the widespread eff La
It now being made by them. TO
not propose to be hasty in the sc
lection of this commission. en-
mt time and advice, in order du
1T I may select high-minded oV
N, impartial in their judgment, or
He'd in the science of the law sh
our judicial system, clear in co
cir conception of our institu- la
ms. Such a commission can
form the greatest of service to tn
: generation. mi
There is another and vastly co
Ter field than the nature of laws co
| the methods of their enforce phi
mt. This is the basis question pr
the understanding, the ideals, Gu
relationship of the individual {
zen to the law itself. 1t is in ha-
field that the press plays a thf
infant part. 1t is almost final
its potency to rouse the inter
and consciousness of our peo-
d. 1t can destroy their finer
sibilities or it car invigorate
m. | am we'll aware that the
at majority of u important
rnals day by day give support
these high ideals.
Would Balance News
wonder sometimes, however, if
haps a little more support to
laws could not be given in one
,ction. If, instead of the CLAM
Of romance and heroism, which
American imaginative minds
frequently throw around those
!, break the law, we would in
t with a little romance and
oism those thousands Of our
,ers who are endeavoring to
,rce the law it would itself de-
Use crime. Praise and respect
those who properly enforce the
J would help. Perhaps a little