CITIZENS ARE AROUSED

The brutal murder and robbery of an inoffensive old man in the Main street of Lewistown has aroused the just indignation of all law-abiding citizens. For weeks past there have been robberies, hold-ups and shooting, which have occasioned a great deal of alarm among the people for the safety of their property and their lives. Realizing that they were up against a condition they have protested against it and offered suggestions to improve it. But what has it availed? What are the chances for betterment? What is the cause of this lawlessness and the failure to check it?

It is the belief of many citizens that the reign of lawlessness in the past few months has been entirely due to the "wide-open" policy that has existed and the incompetency or indifference of those entrusted with the keeping of the peace.

In protesting against the existing state of affairs in Lewistown, there is no chance for political bias or political capital. All good citizens, Democrats and Republicans, are earnestly demanding that something be done, and that quickly, for the protection of life and property and the fair name of this young and growing city. We have a population, a citizenship, that will compare favorably, on the whole, with any other in the state, and having a just pride in all that makes for good in the present and in the future, the people will insist that the laws be enforced.

A pretense of enforcing the laws and ordinances will not do. If any officer of the law is obligated in any way to that element bent on disturbing the peace, he should be removed and some one chosen who will stand for law and order and who will become a terror to evil doers. We trust this is not the case.

Some will say our city has not a sufficient number of peace officers. We think that the number is ample and all that the revenues will afford. Besides, there are the county peace officers who can assist in enforcing the laws and in ferreting out crime.

Vigilance and an honest determination to rid the city of suspicious characters, those who have no desire to work, would improve the situation materially.

Hard characters, driven out of other cities, are finding their way to Lewistown, and it will require watchfulness on the part of our local officers to prevent them from committing offenses here.

There can be no doubt that open gambling has had much to do with the conditions which have prevailed here, and the county attorney has done the proper thing in ordering all games closed. We trust this is not a spasm of virtue to allay present feeling. If in earnest, he should have the moral support of this community. Gambling is in violation of the state law and it is the duty of our peace officers to suppress it. The attempt to regulate gambling has proved a failure. It is not only a crime, but it breeds criminals, those who exist on the ill-gotten gains, parasites and hangers on.

There is a demand for better city government to the end that citizens may be safe on the streets and in their homes, and in the possession of their property. This demand is not unreasonable. If it is not brought about through the proper channels drastic measures may become necessary to its consummation.