Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 April 1917 — A NEIGHBOR’S VIEW [ARTICLE]

A NEIGHBOR’S VIEW

The terrible tragedy which took place near the state line last week Is the natural outcome of conditions that have existed along the boundary between Illinois and Indiana for years. Resorts of the most vile. nature have been allowed to exist. Depraved men and worse women have been allowed to flaunt their vices to the world in the most open manner. Liquor has been sold in open defiance of the law, and the only wonder is that murder has been so long delayed. The state line offers a safe retreat for criminals, who step across the line from one state to the other as the case requires. This makes the work of apprehending them 'difficult for the officials.

The section o f state lin s near the Kankakee river has had more than its share of this lawlessness. Several .airOsfs have been made in the past, and in some cases small fines have been imposed; but the guilty parties have always returned and pushed their nefarious business more vigorously than ever. There have been many complaints of conditions byfarmers living in the vicinity, but’with little result. These restarts are a blot upon the fair name of these. , states, and it is high time that a joint movement be made to clean ’the district up. •—Momence Press-Reporter.