The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1935-12-30
THE GOOD PEOPLE ARE NOT
CONCERNED

The Rock Hill, S. c., Herald presents
picture of lawleSsneSS in that city anu
county and concludes with the lament that
a majority of the people are not concerned
about conditions. The people the Herald
refers to are "a great majority, and they
are the good people, the law-abiding peo-
pie of that South Carolina city and county.
Conditions are probably no better OF worse
in Rock Hill and York county than else
where in South Carolina, and conditions IN
that State are matched by conditions IN
North Carolina. We quote from The Her
aid:
If as individuals really wanted something
done about it we would start at home and use our
influence to correct some conditions, although not
as bad yet contributing to the spirit Of awessneSs
in our community and in our state
I'VE are allowing our community to lightly con-
slider the drunk driver and make no effort to see
that the menace Is driven from our streets and
highways As long as we tolerate $50 fines we cant
not hope for much of an Improvement. Charlotte
is trying chain gang sentences and if there is not
an improvement in the situation there it will not
be the fault of an honest effort at least.
I'VE are allowing records on our court trial books
to be changed so that guilty people may hide be-
hind a screen of secrecy and we are allowing ap-
pretended people to get off without prompt trial
and punishment, and we are doing nothing about 1t
I'VE are allowing public officials to be negligent
in meeting financial obligations involving their OF
fees and we are doing nothing about it.
Eyes, these things are of seemingly very minor
Importance as compared to the curse that sends
the Lindberghs to a foreign nation to reside. But
the principles back of all these things are essential
y the same. They all involve moral responsibility
on the part of the people generally to exercise an
influence TO correct evils in society and in govern
ment.
But changes for the better will not come for
the present. Not until conditions get very material
~ worse will there be an expression of righteous
indignation. Whether or not it will be too late to
save our social order we do not predict.
"The tragedy at the present time is that great
majority of our people not concerned
The spirit of disregard for the law on
the part of the lawless portion of the popu-
latiOn, and the prevailing indifference and
unconcern of the majority, composed of
law-abiding citizens, are the things The
Times-News would emphasize, especially
the tragedy of the attitude of good citi-
zens. The Rock Hill Herald strikes at the
heart of the whole matter by directing at
tention to the fact that conditions in the
nation will never average better than the
conditions among individuals and in CON-
munities. Respect for law and observance
of law is personal and individual concern
of every citizen. To bring the country I'D
to high standards of citizenship and cor
rect lawless conditions, individuals must be
of the right kind of character and conduct.
Let us remember, also, that the general
average of citizenship of the nation will
never rise higher than the average of the
communities composing the population OF
the country. Therefore, the Importance Ct
building high class, law-observing citizen
ship In every community, from the small
est and most remote rural community K
the largest population centers of the coun
try.
The Rock Hill Herald points out how
lawlessness is developing in that city
much of it, probably, regarded by the goot
citizens of that splendid community as o.
little consequence, just something to bt
passed over lightly and forgotten-but thi;
is condition which ultimately goes to thu
foundations of community life and observ
ance of law and if allowed to continue lon;
enough it will undermine the entire stru