The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1932-09-02

turn to other forms OF 1IIeglumate
activity. Corrupt officials, de-
prived of bootleg tribute, will
seek new sources of graft.
Our frontier ancestors, when
the criminal element got out OF
control, formed themselves into
vigilance committees, rounded
up criminals, and strung them up
on the nearest tree. Every red
blooded man, when he reads of the
criminal activities of our modern
racketeers and of their apparent
immunity from capture and pros
ecution, feels natural impulse to
go out and organize a vigilance
committee. But action can be TAX
en-, under the law, only through
the constituted authorities. Any
other course would lead to abuses
greater than those it might cor
rect.
The ability OF the underworld to ter
rOrize society lies in the fact that 1t
is thoroughly organized, while society
is not At present it is more the gang
against the individual than otherwise.
Why should we not form neighbOr-
hood and community committees. so
that the gang will find itself con-
fronted with an organized body of men
larger and stronger than itself? The
more important his position in the
community, the greater the obligation
OF the citizen TO join the committee.
Can Force Action.
Such committees, made up Of sub
stantial citizens, who regard citizen
ship as a paramount obligation, could
force action. Suppose a neighbor Of
yours gets a kidnapping threat or a
merchant is visited by a gangster who
tries to extort tribute from him, or
section of the town experiences
series Of holdups. If the individual
citizen goes TO the police station or
city hall and fails to get satisfaction
possibly because Of an alliance be-
tween officials and the underworld he
is pOwerless.
But if the neighborhood committee
stands ready, at the very first threat
of gangster activity within its bor-
ders. TO take common action against
the invasion, the picture changes. The
threatened man Immediately summons
all his trusted friends, who advise with
the neighborhood committee Repre-
senting the militant citizenship of its
community. it could demand positive
action by the police and by the city
authorities.
Committees of this kind would be
vigilance committees. not In the old
sense. but in the sense that they would
be ever vigilant in the protection of
rights and the performance of civic
duties. l would consider il an honor
TO serve on such committee myself.
These committees would serve many
other purposes beyond the suppression
of racketeering. They would present
a united front against the grating of
officials. They could hold weekly or
monthly meetings TO discuss the prob
lens of government. Such meetings
would serve to bring out and develop,
as no institution we now possess does.
new leaders. especially among the
young citizens, in every community.
One great aid to crime in America
is the veil of anonymity which covers
the individual In any army, every
man is accounted for. His name, rank,
regiment, and whereabouts are known.
If he is wanted, we know where to
find him. In America we have
no Identification. Men can move from
city 10 city, changing their names as
they would their coats. They can reg
lister as they please at any hotel, with
no questions asked. 1t is a pleasant,
easy-going custom, but ii puts an In
superable barrier In the way of the
police in the detection of crime. The
time has come when we must abandon
the right to anonymity, as enlightened
European countries have done.
Every resident of our country should
have an Identification card. small
passport with photograph attached.
Change Of permanent residence should
be reported to the police. The card
should be shown. if necessary. upon
registration al any hotel, or on any
other occasion when demanded by the
police. The penalties for forging a