The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-06-30

v McNutt. speaking Thursday in Chi
csgo. said:
There does not seem to me TO be any
escape from the fact that the state OF Indiana
made John Dillinger the Public Enemy No. 1,
which he is today. The Indiana Constitution
provides that our penal code shall be reforma-
tive and not vindictiye. Taking the case be-
fore us We are forced 10 the conclusion that
our penal institutions obviously failed Of ref
ormation; or that Dllinger was given too long
a sentence for his first ofense. or both.
Instead Of reforming this prisoner, the penal
institutions provided him with an education
in crime"
That is a frank statement, Mr.. Coy. And
It is one on which you are TO be complimented.
II the problems Of crime in Indiana were
treated as openly and frankly as Mr.. Coy has
treated his subject in the foregoing paragraph,
there Is no doubt but that in a few years In
diana probably would find itself standing
among the leaders Of crime-combating states.
However there always has been a weak
link in battling crime in Indiana Where one
police chief sheriff or judge has adopted
platform OF severe but square dealing with
who have found it easier to deal with the
crooks than the law.
Mr. Coy's speech went into other phases
Of crime history and prevention. In fact his
theories are those which have been termed as
ideal by the crime experts Of the nation and
world But, again. the fault is to be traced
to the apparently minor executives Of the law
IF Ianfr
superiors and the people.
Indiana is tired of crime Indiana resi-
dents are tired of the consistent criticism they
receive.
In the old days Indiana was known as the
hotbed Of the Ku-Klux Khan. Now Indiana is
known as the state which permitted such
man as DiIlinger to prey upon the nation.
Mr.. Coy is right The proposal for penal
institution investigation is right. Let us hope
that every one of his theories is carried to the
limit. And let US also hope that every one
OF the officers responsible for carrying out the
subsequent duty is as honest and straight
forward
On the other hand there are other people
in the nation who have ideas on the subject.
NJ E. Tracy. noted editorial writer and COL
rulnist for Scripps- Howard newspapers, pooh
poohs the idea that Dillinger is tough or even
the desperate that he has been branded. In
fact Mr.. Tracy's frank opinion is that Dillin-
ger does not rate" the classification Of
desperate. Mr.. Tracy expresses his feelings
Of Diuinger by calling the Indiana product
wandering runt.'
But Mr.. Tracy agrees with Mr.. Coy to
some extent when the former says;
You can't quarrel with the wistful opti-
rnism which such action suggests nor with the
fact that Dulinger's arrest would be worth
$4,000. but the point is that ten times that
amount. If not more, has been spent already
on peace officers who are supposed to attend to
such things
Mr.. Tracy goes on to say that the reward
Of $4,000 elevates a criminal or wandering
rylnt" as something Of super-man in the
eyes Of a weak-minded people
Won can't dismiss crook as Of no con-
sequence when nation the size Of ours stamps
him as worth $4,000 especially after having
failed to catch him despite heroic efforts He
becomes an idol TO the underworld and hero
in the plastic mind Of youth. The very tumult
and notoriety make criminals.
we must not create the impression that
thugs are smarter than our law-enforclns
officers. or that the latter can not be depended
,,non 10 do their best without the incentive OF
rewards
There is no question but that MI COY anu
Mr.. Tracy express the feeling OF every law
abiding citizen Of Marion county and Indiana.
Is there any more to be said?