The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1931-11-13
THE MACHINE ACE
APPLIED TO CRIME
Methods Employed by Crimi.
malls Demand New Police
Methods, Bankers Associa-
ton Official Declares.

Use by criminals Of modern tech
~ biological developments such as
automobiles, machine guns and air.
planes have given them advantages
which old-fashioned local and discon-
nected police systems are powerless
to combat and the situation demands
the broader modern protection of State
police systems, James e. Baum, dep
uty manager American Bankers Assoc
citation in charge of its crime inves-
tigating department, declares in the
protective section Of the American
Bankers Association Journal.
"The Associations Protective Com
mittee has repeatedly urged the adj
vantages Of extending state police sys-
TENS beyond the nine eastern States
which have enjoyed this protection for
many years." Mr.. Baum says. "The
time has passed when we can safely
rely upon the disconnected and often
times ineffective methods Of local and
county police. The advent Of automo-
biles and better roads, to say nothing
Of machine guns and airplanes, de-
mands the same wide latitude in au-
thority and field of operation be given
the police no less than the criminal"
Statewide Police Plans Best
He quotes a Kansas judge as saying
that "our system Of sheriffs and con-
stables was not designed to meet pres
ent-day conditions. AS system of law
enforcement, it Is as out of date as
old common-law pleading, both evolved
about the same time. The semi-mili-
tary, highly trained State police officer
owing allegiance only to State laws,
is the most effective agency for order
yet brought forth"
EVERY year the robbery experience
Of banks in the nine States having
State police proves the merits and
urgent need Of Statewide police pro-
tection," says Mr.. Baum. "Last year,
for example, there were 80 bank hold
ups in Connecticut, Maine, Maryland,
Massachusetts,, New Jersey, New York,
Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and West
Virginia where State police forces are
operated" he continues. although
this total is exceptionally high due to
an unprecedented number Of robberies
in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, it is
little more than half the number of
daylight bank robberies suffered in
1890 in Illinois alone. Furthermore,
this total of 38 robberies in the nine
oasfnrn Cfafoc uuoc ovooodod II, HoI;
fornia, where there were AZ bank
holdups, and in Ohio where banks suf-
fered 40 similar attacks.
Holdups Fewer Under New Plan
"Tf we extend the comparison of the
robbery experience in these States en-
soying Statewide police protection to
the record in eight central and far
western States, we find total of 3O4
bank holdups in the latter group. The
odds. therefore, continue to be not less
than to against the banks in these
western States, where they are denied
the speedy, coordinated action of State
police and their modern means Of
transportation and communication.
The same comparison holds true OF
the farmers losses through robberies
OF livestock, poultry, produce, etc.
Moreover, these State police forces
Invariably yield an operating profit in
the amount of fines collected and the
value Of stolen property recovered.
Bankers interested in cutting down the
cost of robbery insurance might well
consider this job of extending State
police systems as timely, co-opera-
tive service to be undertaken along
side the farmers"