The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1933-03-08
NEWSPAPERS OPINIONS
CRIME RIDES FOR A FALL

How long are the people of the United States
going to stand supinely by while crime rides the
open highway in easy, insolent confidence!
Until the public conscience is whipped and goad-
ed from its present cowardy apathy to dynamic
collective action Until the processes of law are so
purged and purified that the venal judge, the ward
politician and the shyster lawyer cannot success
fully traitorously conspre at price, to defeat the
common ends of justice. Until the shocking TACT
sbames a civilized country that, in land of the
supposedly brave and free, victims may be dragged
from their homes and if not murdered, returned
only after extortion of ransom
The recent case wherein young Denver broker
was abducted from his residence and Kept captive
for two weeks until the bandits ransom price was
paid would seem to indicate that kidnapping mas not
opIv become major industry but apparently a safe
one Has a nation of freemen tamely submitted
to slavery?
Crime can be checked. That simple fact IS IN
danger of being either doubted or forgotten what
wretched and absurd indictment of an intelligent
virile peoplel That 100000 900 Russians weakly
but resentfully submit to the tyrannous domination
of approximately 100000 bureaucratS causes IN
credulous wonder among Americans. sense OF
bumor alone should prompt them to question II
they are not in the same boat.
Crime can be checked Practically every Amerl-
can CITY harbors speakeasies and hideouts where
criminals keep their sordid rendezvous The ponce
know it. The courts know it. Everybody knows It,
Virilante committees fired with one-half the ardor
and natriotism of the minutemen of Lexington and
Concord could clean up the whole sorry mess
Charles Francis Goes Illuminating story now
running in the Saturday Evening Post may be
carefully stressed by the editors of that magazine
as being only fiction Americans know 1t is dis
tressingv true picture of civic criminal corruption
in high places and low The hopeful aspect to that
appalling disclosure is that the righteous determna-
ton of the law-abiding proves the master OF the
cunning of the crook. After all, the cowardice of
the latter overtops his cunning.
This is time that calls for directness. If the
legal bar is too fastidous to clean up its Augean
stables, Americans will do it. If the police are
hampered and booked at every turn by greedy
unpatriotic politicians, Americans can free them
from the miserable incubus. Unraveling the red
tape won't do. 1t takes too long and Americans
are weary of the tyranny of crime. Cut it, and let
the knife be quick and sharp.
"You can't understand the problems of man
in nv position" ventured a we-meaning but timid
member on the vigilante committee in Mr.. Goes
article az have board of directors to conside"
as well as employees who have voice through va
rous organizations. All these things must be taken
into account
"AH those things was the steady answer laid
and abet the criminal when man becomes fearful
of them"
Crime can be checked when selfish fear yields
to courageous confidence that right is mght.-The
Christian Science Monitor.