The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-11-22
law is not only dangerous to good gov
erDment but in itself heinous offense

in experience or in any sense. There
are enactments and enactments: there
are laws growing out of other laws
laws enacted because of newly arising
conditions and so on. The violation OF
laws which are fundamental. the prip-
ciples Of such as are found in the .scom.
mon law of England" for instance. is
simply a crime. But there are scores
of elactments in the statute books of
every state which are continuousl;
violated and without any pereeptable
detriment to society or the state.
Sumptuary laws have ever been yio-
lated in every country to greater or
less extent. The great "law-siver. -
Moses. proved more successful in writ
ing and enforcing that character of
laws than any other ruler before or
since. Even the Hebrew OF today. as
q rule. observes Moses prohibitory law
against the use of pork.
There is no good in whisky. But
again there is no good in tobacco. nor
in tea. nor in coffee, nor in many other
1
habit. Upon the other hand there is
great possible harm in the use of in
toxicating liquors. in the use of mar
cotics, opiates and the like. How
ever any law directed against the use
| of any other drink or food is sump-
tuary legislation in which the public
attempts TO regulate the life and tastes
| of the individual They being matters
! in which the individual is convinced
| that he is the best judge of what he
should do or not do, the law becomes
obnoxious. If science should discover
and declare that in disseminating the
use of tea, coffee and tobacco human
life would in the aggregate be pro-
longed and that there would be more
health and happiness, apostles of the
new light would arise everywhere, and
it would not be long before some COM
munity would find that a majority had
by law interdicted the use of these
things, and then would come just the
conflicts and troubles which have for
years distracted the peoples of Maine
and Kansas The mole hill would
grow into mountain of such proper
tons as TO overshadow everything else,
and that community would find itself
without harmony, paralyzed and shun-
ned.
While it is true as a general PROPOSE
ton that all laws should be enforced,
strictly enforced. of every character yet
it is equally true that they are not.
The trouble is with the lawmakers.
No law should be enacted that the law
makers themselves are convinced can
not be so enforced. The passage of
such a law is as much crime against
society as its after violation, or other /
wise the penalty should not be dispro- |
portionate.
There are many laws, however, |
which are not enforced and but little !
attention given to their violation, not |
withStanding the eternal harp that all |
laws are enforced save one. During |
the fall campaign the AtchiSon Globe !
gathered up list of laws which are !
not enforced except in an exigency or |
an unexpected emergency, and then
generally through personal spite. The
following is the list and while not near
ly complete is an interesting one:
1t is unlawful to cruelty whip child
under Is years old
1t is unlawful to injure a door or win
dow in any house.
It is unlawful co swear falsely.
II IS unlawful to influence a witness IN |
any manner l.
IL IS unlawful to influence voter by
gift or reward.
1t IS unlawful for cousins to marry.
II is unlawful to solemnize an illegal
marriage.
1t is unlawful to bet on any gambling
device.
1t is unlawful to bet on an election.
Il is unlawful to disturb the peace Of
amy person, family or neighborhood in any
1t is unlawful to work on Sunday.
It is unlawful to sell goods of any kind
except medicines on Sunday.
Il is unlawful to cruelty whip a horse
or OK.
IL is unlawful to race horses on pubic
roads.
1t is unlawful to sell milk diluted with
water.
1t is unlawful to adufterate articles OF
food.
1t is unlawful to overdrove or overload :
4 horse. ,
1t is Unlawful not 10 properly feed. care
for or house an OK or horse.
1t Is unlawful TO throw a dead hog into
my stream
It IS unlawful for an agent to misrepre~ {
sent IN selling fruit or ornamental trees,
pubs, roots. etc. 4
II IS unlawful to wear a G. A r. badge .
MESS a member OF that order.
Il IS unlawful 70 hunt or shoot on Sun
lay.
1t = unlawful to pay an employee In any
manner except with money. {
Il is unlawful % practice medicine with I
,ut first having attended a full course of ,
Instructions and graduated al respect
Lble school OF medicine
II is unlawful for any officer Of the state.
county or township to become drunk.
II is unlawful 10 sell cigars or cigar q
ittes or tobacco in any form to young men c
snier Is I
Il Is unlawful for a married man to p
reglect 10 support his family. :
II is unlawful 20 sell pistols OF any KIND
o nsea u1sler q
L IS un1lwful 20 carry pistol '
Il IS unlawful 20 get drunk IN your own
.oglSe
Il is unlawful for physician 70 Per
crfbe liquor except when such liquor
ctlIaliy necessary. z