The Washington times., 1929-04-22
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berries in proportion to population
are committed in the United States
as in Great Britain, and three times
as many burglaries.
Even in such premeditated crimes
as embezzlement and forgery our
record stands no comparison with
stable nations"
Mr.. Hoover told the editors that
immediate problems confront the
country in government-investiga-
ton of existing agencies of enforce
ment and recognition of the present
system of enforcement so as to elimi'
nate it's many weaknesses.
every student of our law.enforce'
ment mechanism knows full well
that it is in need of vigorous reor-
ganization," he said. THAT its pro-
cedure unduly favors the criminal;
that our judiciary needs to be
strengthened; that the method Of
assembling our juries needs revl-
sion; that justice must be more
swift and sure. In our desire to
DG u6ECI1u1p IAS PCAA0NA0AA
swung in favor of the prisoner and
far away from the protection OF
society. The sympathetic mind OF
the American people, in its over
concern about those who are in
difficulties. has swung too far from
the family Of the murdered to the
family of the murderer"
In connection with these needs,
the President told of the fact-find-
ing commission he Is about to ap.
point adding that "such a commits.
sion can perform the greatest OF
service to our generation"
Prohibition was mentioned merely
as zone segment of our problem,
except that Mr.. Hoover denied
vigorously that the Eighteenth
Amendment had materially affected
the increase in crime.
"In order to dispel certain illu-
sions in the public mind on this sub
ject,' he asserted, 'let me say at
once that while violations of law
have been increased by inclusion OF
crimes under the Eighteenth Amend
ment and by the vast sums that are
poured into the hands Of the Grim
inal classes by the patronage OF IL
licit liquor by otherwise responsible
citizens. yet this il but one segment
of our problem. I have purpoSely
cited the extent of murder, burglary,
robbery, forgery and embezzlement,
for but a small percentage of these
can be attributed to the Eighteenth
Amendment. In fact, of the total
number of convictions for felony last
year, less than per cent came from
that source. 1t is therefore but
sector of the invasion Of lawless-
ness"
Laws Must Be Enforced
Indirectly, however. the Executive
came back to the prohibition prob
lem when he asserted that mo indi-
Vidual has the right to determine
what law shall be obeyed and what
law shall not be enforced"
"If law is wrong" he said, '1ts
rigid enforcement is the surest guar
anty of its repeal. II it is right, its
enforcement is the quickest method
Of compelling respect for it.
Whatever the value of any law
may be, the enforcement of that law
written in plain terms upon our
statute books is not, in my mind,
debatable question. Law should be
observed and must be enforced until
it is repealed by the proper processes
of our democracy. The duty to en-
force the laws rests upon every pub
lie official and the duty to obey 1t
rests upon every citizen"
The revitalizing of the law enforce
ment agencies, President Hoover
said. should be undertaken through
systematic constructive building. He
condemned dramatic displays and
violent attacks in order toN make
headlines" and he attacked the prac-
tice Of violating the law itself
through misuse Of the law in ita
enforcement" 4,
Asks Better News Balance.
In coming to the press Of the ma.
tion for aidi, he had several specific