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Show HOODLUMISM. <br><br> This word is a slang term, not yet, we believe, admitted into the dictionaries, but it is fast coming into general and particularly, newspaper use as a name given to a vice which is extensively prevalent in Logan, and of which the Leader has had considerable to say of late, in the way of denunciation. "Hoodlumism" is a generic term, applied to a very numerous class of offences, including such as are commonly perpetrated by "wild," uncouth, ill-bred or reckless boys and young men. Boisterous behavior on the street, insults offered to passersby, noisy conduct in public assemblies, and disorderly conduct generally, together with a thousand and one other minor offenses against the public taste, peace or welfare, or against the law, come under the head of "hoodlumism". <br><br> As above indicated this vice is widely prevalent in Logan, and we might truthfully add, in many neighboring towns. It breaks forth in dancing parties, becomes uncontrollable in the theatre, makes night hideous upon the streets, makes ladies afraid to walk the streets alone, jeopardizes the public peace and worse than all this, contaminates many an innocent youth, and leads to the loss of their good manners, morals, and reputations. In fact it is a veritable pest, a scourge, an infliction upon society, and as urgently requires to be remedied as does almost any other evil of the day. <br><br> It is easy to point out an evil, and to magnify its proportions, or describe the consequences; but it is rarely so easy to point out a remedy for it. Still, in respect to the evil under consideration, we do not think that any great difficulty need stand in the way of materially lessening it, if not of abating it entirely, and the remedy which we most cordially recommend is, good police officers who will do their duty promptly, efficiently, and without fear or favor. We mean regular policemen, who are paid by the municipality and who patrol the streets and are always on duty. In a town like Logan we do not think that special policemen will answer existing requirements. We conceive that what Logan needs is about one good police officer to patrol the streets, attend theatres and parties, and hold himself in readiness for duty. He would need to be a man who would not hesitate to arrest instantly any person who should in any illegal way disturb a public meeting, or who should be drunk and disorderly upon the streets, or who should engage in a fight, insult a lady, be guilty of fast driving, or any one of the offenses commonly denominated "hoodlumism". Such a man when he had once established a reputation for the sure, prompt, vigorous and impartial execution of his duty, would exercise a marvelously beneficent influence upon the public peace of this town, and the manners and conduct of a certain element in our midst would improve with wonderful rapidity. <br><br> We believe the regular police force of Salt Lake numbers but six men, and yet it is a rare occurrence for a public meeting to be disturbed by "hoodlums". When you pay for admission to the Salt Lake theatre you are not despoiled of your enjoyment by the yelling and howling of "hoodlums;" that class know too well the consequences of such conduct in that Theatre. Salt Lake is at least six times as large as Logan, and if we had here one of their six policemen, or one like them, we think he would be sufficient for ordinary occasions. We do not wish to create the impression that we have in our midst a numerous class of incorrigible savages. Such is not the case. Many of the noisiest "hoodlums" in town are good hearted boys, sons of respectable parents, who do not realize the gravity of their offenses, perpetuated "for fun," and who look upon laws for the preservation of peace and good order much as they do upon the rules of etiquette, to be observed or violated without risk of incurring a tangible penalty. But a course should be taken with such fellows that will teach them that laws have been enacted for purposes of government, and that they are designed to be kept, or if violated, to be vindicated, and no matter how "good hearted" the law-breaker may be, nor how respectable his parents, the quickest way to inspire him with respect for the law is to enforce it upon him. <br><br> While we are earnest advocates of the policy of having this class dealt with by church authorities, on proper occasions, we do not believe in preaching to them while they are in the very act of committing an offense. In our candid opinion such a time is the wrong one for a sermon. Anywhere outside of Utah it would be considered ridiculous for a peace officer to stand up on a bench to an audience, particularly in a theatre, and deliver an address to a crowd of "hoodlums" exhorting them to "make less noise." If, instead of this, the officer would walk into the midst of the crowd and collar one or two of the noisiest, lead them out of the building, and, if necessary, lock them up, it would quiet the rest far more effectually than a dozen sermons would. <br><br> We may be charged with too greatly magnifying this subject, but the facts are that to-day, here in Logan, "hoodlumism" is gaining victory after victory. Sunday School Unions cannot be held on Sabbath evenings, principally because of it. The male members of the Dramatic Club have had to be sworn in as special police to keep order in the theatre because of it. The illicit sale of liquor flourishes because of it. It is almost impossible to get up an orderly ball because of it, and runaways, tipsters, accidents, drunkenness, fights, and many other evils are increasing in frequency and extent because of it, and it is high time that the baneful vice was checked. If religious influences can do this, exert them by all means. Indeed, they should be constantly used with earnestness and a right spirit upon all appropriate occasions, but if the law is broken or the peace disturbed, visit the offender with a prompt, just and legal penalty. This recourse is a practical and simple solution of the "hoodlum" question. |
