The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1933-11-28
LAW ENFORCEMENT OR MOB LAW?

The verdict Of public opinion is that the
California kidnapers lynched in San Jose
got no more than they deserved. For the
sole purpose Of extorting money they cru
ely mistreated and murdered young
man. The mob ended their lives in much
the same manner. The kidnapers deserved
death. They perpetrated cold blooded
murder, absolutely without eXtenuating
circumstances.
However, there is no justification in any
of these facts for the action Of the mob, OF
for the position taken by Governor Rolph
Law abiding citizens everywhere know
that the lawlessness of the mob is lawless.
ness of the most dangerous character. II
unreStrained if will bring about conditions
more dangerous than those resulting from
the reign of kidnapping. Mob violence mus:
be put down in this country, along with al
other forms of law breaking. Good citi-
zens must agree on that proposition and
they must maintain it in this country, #
our government and civilization are to en-
dure.
The problem confronting good citizens,
who are in the majority in California and
all Of the AZ States, and who can control
the problem of law enforcement. AIDE
quate punishment must be provided for ali
classes of law breakers, and that punish
ment must be administered, and without
hn al Hoy- he
administration of justice a by-word in
every corner of this country.
If the people of San Jose could have had
the assurance that the kidnapers would be
punished with death for a foul murder and
the sentence would be put into effect
promptly, it is not probable that mob Law
would have been resorted to. However,
familiar as all citizens are with the laws
delays and failures, they feared the ulti.
mate escape from punishment of the kid
napers, or that they would not be ade-
quately punished. The result was the ap-
plication of mob vengeance to the case Of
the kidnapers and murderers.
However, all good citizens must recog-
nize not only the danger to orderly gov
eminent but the futility of the course taken
in San Jose, and that security of life and
property cannot be secured by mob viO-
lence. Mobs may punish to the limit as in
this case, but in so doing they are merely
tanning the flames of lawlessness which
are already raging throughout the country.
They are adding to disrespect and con-
tempt for law. They are helping TO break
down the law abiding spirit and morale Cf
the people who are trying to obey the laws.
The good citizens Of this country can
have laws framed which will meet the COR
ditions existing at present in this country,
and they can have these laws enforced.
They can have criminals promptly and
adequately punished. They can make II
certain that when and where guilt is egtab-
ished, the guilty will not escape punish
ment, They can have the laws enacted
and enforced, because the power to do
these things is in the control of the ma
jority, and good citizens are in the majority
in every State in the Union. The RESPONSE
bility rests on this body of citizens. Re-
sponsibility for existing conditions rests
upon them; responsibility for whatever
changes are needed, in laws and law en-
foreement. rests upon them. II the laws