Jasper County Democrat, Volume 14, Number 67, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 November 1911 — JUDGE ANDERSON ON LAW ENFORCEMENT. [ARTICLE]

JUDGE ANDERSON ON LAW ENFORCEMENT.

E. S. Shumaker’s Indiana An-ti-Saloon League has come back from the grave and is calling for a “non-partisan” gathering of dry voters to be held at Indianapolis Dec. 5. . The “non-par-tisan” activity of this league as an adjunct to the republican party has killed it completely with the majority of the people of Indiana and destroyed its usefulness for- years to come. Rev. Shumaker’s “non-partisan” bait has caught a few democrats in -the past, but that day has gone by and if the League desires to work democrats in the future it will have to adopt another disguise.

Judge Anderson of the federal court disposed of a number of cases at Indianapolis Wednesday, and in speaking of the numerous pleas and petitions tor clemency, said: “The result of the suspension of sentences in some worthy cases seems to be an expectation on the part of men that if they break the law they will be relieved from the penal tv.”

In the case of Arthur A. Finney, postmaster at Valparaiso, indicted for embezzling SI, 100 postal funds, SBOO of which he used for paying off a personal note, and who admitted when pressed as to his urgent need of money that there was a “woman in -the case.” Finney was visibly surprised when it became apparent that he must, go to the federal prison. He had told friends that he did not expect a serious outcome of his, troubles. His atterney, Grant Crumpacker, urged that the court, show leniency, as the shortage in the Valparaiso office was only a “temporary one,” as Finney had intended to pay it back at once. Judge Anderson’s reply was that “all these are temporary ones. Of course, when they take money from the government they expect to pay it back.” Judge Anderson further said:'

"You gentlemen can go home and tell your people that you begged the court to let this man go. You have no responsibility. But I have a responsibility to the people of the United States to see that the laws are enforced in this district. "You know as well as I do that nobody pays any attention to the law any more. They break the law and the rule seems to be to turn them loose. There will not be any government in this country twenty-five years from now if this thing keeps on.” That there is much truth in Judge Anderson’s remarks all must admit., and if the offendoi has a “pull” he generally gets off with a suspended sentence or only serves a small part of his sentence. Especially is this true of convicted bankers, who rob the people of hundreds of thousands of dollars and get only a few years sentence in prison and are pardoned by the President, if a national banker, or paroled if a state violator.