Jasper County Democrat, Volume 8, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 July 1905 — CITIZEN GIVEN ADVICE [ARTICLE]

CITIZEN GIVEN ADVICE

Gav. Hanly Tells Him a Few of His Duties in Enforcement of Law. STANDARD OF TOWN MORALS Just as High a« D«-str«-d by the Heat dents —Stabbing at a Pic-nic-State Item*. Alexandria, Ind., July 14. Complaint having been made that houses were rented in this city for Immoral puriiosea, that some saloons disregarded the and that “boot-legging” Joints are in operation, a well-known citizen wrote to Prosecutor Vestal, at Anderson, calliig his attention to these violations of the law. Vestal said he could do nothing unless responsible persons filed affidavits. Copies of the citizen's letter and the prosecutor’s reply were sent to Governor Hanlyr with the request that Vestal “be urged to do his duty.” Duty el the CitlMU to Act. The governor, in reply, said: "I beg -to suggest that if the law is being violated io your community and you have knowledge of the fact, the duty 4s devolved upon you as a citizen to see that the guilty persons are charged and tried. If local officials fall.to do their duty, the law provides a way by which they can be removed. Any jfltizen can file a complaint for their removal, and upon sufficient proof removal will be made by the court. The governor of the state has no direct authority in such cases as you have pointed out. Stream HI mm Ko Higher Than He Source. , “The truth is that In the lastanalyafa local government depends in very great degree upon the citizenship of each community, and It Is rarely, If ever, worse than the majority of the people of the community desire that it shall be; at most, for no great length of time. Ttn-re is too great a disposition among the people of the several communities of the state to wash their bands of all responsibility. They seem to expect the laws to be enforced by others, or that they will enforce themselves without their assistance. Tails Them to Get Together. “If conditions In your city are as you have described them I suggest that your citlsens get together and do a little houaedeanlng on> their own account. The law furnishes you ample protection and ample means, and It is the fault of your own people If you-do not avail yourselves thereof.”