Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-21
.LAX|TY ON CRIME
SCORED BY PASTOR
Rev. J. N. Pierce Praises Of.
ficers, but Urges More
Aggressive Attitude.

An aroused public opinion in the
Capital to force its police heads to quiet
their side-stepping, lodging and daily
ing tactics and assume an aggressive
attitude toward crime and the admin
iStration of the laws of the DiStriC:
was called for by the Rev. Jason Noble
Pierce. pastor of First Congregational
Church, in his morning sermon yester-
day.
Dr. Pierce called upon the press Of
the city to give the public the facts
as to:
Reported existence in the Capital
Of liquor, dope and gambling rings.
why. as recommended by the grand
Jury investigating the Mcpherson case
Inspector Shelby and Lieut.. Kelly have
not been suspended
why, if it is true as reported. there
are delays in trials Of criminals in the
courts OF the city.
II 1t is true that any police private
who shows initiative beyond certain
points renders himself liable to suspen-
sion or dismissal
Not Doing Best Work."
Commissioner Proctor L. Dougherty.
in charge OF the Police and Fire De-
partmentS. and Maj. Henry G. Pratt.
superintendent OF police, are not doing
their best work because they are ION
the defensive and they ought not to
be-" Dr. Pierce declared.
His sermon follows in part:
There are three essentials for a
splendid police force-good men. good
leaderships and the support of the best
people. As l have met them. it seems
TO me we have noble men as officers of
our police force. Over them all are the
Commissioner and the superintendent
Of police. These two are the men who
In the last analysis are accountable and
responsible for our police situation.
Both are strong capable men. Yet
we are confronted with the situation
that those men are on the defensive
and they ought not to be. Men on the
defensive do not do their best work
What we need is such an aroused pub
lie opinion that those men will not side
step, will not dodge, will not daily, but
will do their job as it is not being done
today
In the third place, religion believes
In the truth, and it is essential to tell
the truth. That is where the public
press comes in. God give us reporters
and editors in this city who have vision
and courage to tell the truth, the whole
truth, the unshaded truth, and nothing
but the truth-for what we want is the
unvarnished facts. Is it true that this
city has liquor ring, dope ring
gambling ring? 1t seems to be true
We should like the press to be able to
give us the facts. Is it true that there
are delays In trial: that the police can
make raids and arrests, the prisoners
then being bonded, and year in and
out they carry on their business without
coming to trial? 1t seems to be true
We ought to know the facts and what
lies behind them.
Action Needed for Good Of CITY.
'Is it true that any private who
shows initiative beyond certain points
renders himself liable to suspension or
dismissal? Privates are not always
wiSe-sometimeS they talk too much.
But 1t Is q poor spectacle at time
Of need, such as we now face, when
vigorous action is needed for the good
of the whole city, to substitute for it
action against any private.
Us 1t true that the grand jury rec
commended that two oflcers be sus-
pended for their inefficiency and for
the bungling way in which they ham
died their work in recent important
right to know why they have not been
suspended, but have only been trans
ferred 10 some other branch Of the
department.
There is o fourth and last point.
II religion teaches anything, it teaches
obedience to law and utter sincerity
on the part Of our citizens. And there
is no more demoralizing agency at
work than the publicly known Specta-
Gle of men in public and private life,
on ofncial duty, in all ranks, openly
defying the law. When our police raid
a place of liquor and find there officers
of the Government and word seeps
through, however true or false. that
Secretary this or Secretary that, or
Senator Somebody says to lay of that
case. tell you that is the time for
Christian people to say not lay of,
but lay on! 1t is time for every
man who is a Christian. and Jew who
is q son Of God, and every American
who believes he loves his country. to
stand up and act like man and be
sincere"