Show Upholding The Law By fly J. J EDGAR HOOVER Woodrow Wilson once said The first duty of law Is is to keep sound the society it serves serves In tn our day this becomes becomes be comes comes comes' an increasingly harder task because of society's indifference ference Terence to ITS first duty upholding upholding upholding up up- holding the law IN AN EFFORT to make our great heritage under law more meaningful to to Americans May 1 each year has been proclaimed proclaimed pro pro- proclaimed claimed Law Day Da USA The theme this year Uphold the Law LawA A A Citizens Citizen's First Duty was most timely and germane to much of our nations nation's internal strife In the recent past we have seen the rule of law flouted from college campuses to riot- riot torn metropolitan streets It is mocked by those who use the Cause of legitimate petition and assembly as a facade behind which to plunder loot and destroy destroy destroy de de- de- de stroy property Likewise and even more regrettable the rule of law taw Is debased bv by reckless and callous enforcement powers powers pow pow- ers lers ers which stoop to brutal and unnecessary force in handling crowds and demonstrations WHEN officers violate te their oath of office and the ethical standards of law enforcement they disgrace their profession Their acts jeopardize the public public public pub pub- lic respect and confidence which diligent and dedicated men have given their lives to perpetuate They place an extremely extremely extremely ex ex- heavy burden on their associates and invite shame ridicule and disrespect for their department community a and n d state This is not to say of course that all charges of excessive force by officers of the law are true Many times perso persons n s strike and assault policemen and resist lawful arrest to such an extent that great force is necessary to bring the violators under control In such Instances ces some Individuals are quick to charge brutality when the facts show the officers acted within their rights AMERICANS should view with alarm the growing lack of respect for law and order We have seen what occurs when extremists are encouraged by irresponsibility on on the part of those charged with maintaining law and order On the other hand hal who Is to say what damage is done to the Impressionable minds of our young people who witness or are urged to join in activities activities activities ties in which pa participants defy constituted authority with no apparent misgivings and go un un- punished Abuse of the law is isa isa isa a dangerous practice for freedom free free- dom dom loving loving people and there can be no exceptions to compliance compliance compliance com com- for we know Where law ends there tyranny be be- gins |