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Show inSpioSSraffi police; sup is T Safety Commissioner Admits Ad-mits Gambling Exists, but Blames Public. Morality by Legislation Is Futile, Declares Speaker on Civic Platform. AilmUtinif that thoro la gambling in Salt Lake, and prostitution Is being practiced. Karl A. Kcheirt, city commissioner commis-sioner of public safety, In speaking on tho subject, "What. Constitutes Public .Safety?" at the Civic platform meeting at the First Methodist Episcopal church : last night, Intimated that theso conditions condi-tions obtain through no fault of Llio police po-lice department. "It is futile to try to make men mor.il by legislation," . he said. Says Too Many Laws. "Wo are more prnno than any civilized nation to enact laws difficult of enforcement. enforce-ment. As long as there are vicious people peo-ple in the community there will bo vice, and without the support of the better element of cltizensn.p a police department depart-ment is helpless to a certain extent In enforcing unpopular laws. "The average citizen beheves that it the ijni.ee ..anient does Its duty there will be no vice. This Is a pretty theory, but, In the parlance of tho street, is passing the buck.' From the practical standpoint, the supression of vice is a police problem only Incidentally. Its first duly is the protection of life and property. Vice Is a social problem. "There is still gambling in Salt Lake, but there are no professional gambl.ng bouses and no machine gambling. We still have prostitution, but, at any rate, there is no redlight district and not one house of the old type. "I doubt not but that members of the police department would be surprised If referred to as ministers of God, but all, from chief to patrolman, have a lively sense of responsibility and would make the city siife and a decent placo in which to live. There Is a common cause between be-tween the police department and the churches and a closet co-operatlon should exist. At present we are working at more fir less cross-purposes. "There has been criticism of the police department from thi.a source and tills gives comfort to the common enemy. I often wonder if the unpopularity of a police department Is not a measuro of Its efficiency." Speaks of Nations' League. A partisan and critical spirit In study- ing problems arising from the war. especially espe-cially America's duty regarding the league of nations, was deprecated by Judge W. H. Wllklns of tho city court, whose subject was "Responsibility of I'ltlenzshlp." 'One of the greatest of our problems Is the league of nations," ' he said. "Tho question, however, is not Shall wo have a league?' but shall we sanction a union of selfish objects or . will America become a partner In a league fashioned on the lines of her1 altruistic ideals? I believe the present draft of the covenant shouTd be modified. modi-fied. "Theso questions are not new. Whether tho principles be social, Industrial, economic eco-nomic or political, the flag has represented repre-sented them. The flag has stood for altruistic motives from the principle of no taxation vlthout representation In '76 to that of freedom of the seas, now perplexing per-plexing the peace conferees at Versailles. It was not until 1898 we ware awakened bv the cries of a suffering Cuba to the realization of a responsibility for freedom free-dom beyond our borders that our brother broth-er Is our neighbor and we are his keeper." Dr. J. II. N. Williams, pastor of the church, speaking on the subject, "A Modern Mod-ern City," showed tho complexity of tho probloms connected with its administration. |