People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1897-10-14
Judge SimOnS' Plain Talk to Joint
lists,

Z 0rG Scott J0lntlstS VINO pleaded
guilty to the charge Of violating the
prohibitOry law. Judge SimOns took
occasion to make a few remarks on
aw and the necessity of its Observ-
anCe. He said;
SIN all kindness, | desire to say a
few words before pronouncing SEN
tance upon you. And as it has been
apparent recently that some men
either can not understand the plain
est language, or that they intentiOn-
ally miscOnstrue it, | will ask the re-
p0rter TO take down my words so that
there may be no misunderstanding. l
an always ready and willing to stand
ty and be judged by what say, but |
am not willing to be misrepresented.
None of you ailege any cause why
Judgment should not be pronounced
against you; and as know Of none, /
csn not understand why men OF your
apparent intelligence persist in the
violation Of the prohibitOry liquor
lw. The legislature Of this state
daily enacted that law; and the foun-
d4tiOn upon which it rests was by a
Irte Of the people written in the con-
st,tutiOn. 10 this government the
people rule, and the will Of the ma
jority is the law Of the land. 1t is
fundamental that whatever policy is
written in the constitution shall stand
add be o5eyed by all until that policy
is changed 10 the manner prescribed
by the constitution. That principal
ana practice is the only safety for our
free institutions.
"Ours is government Of law. In
this country We owe everything to
law-our lives, our liberty, our fami-
lies are all protected by law.
Hence, of all other people, we
ought to be law abiding people. 1t
don't make any difference what you
or | think as 20 the policy Of prohibit
tlOn. In this position l express no
opinion whatever on that question.
That law must either stand or fall
upon its merits. 1t is sufficient for
me to know that 1t is the law. Courts
are not responsible for the laws, but
IL is the duty Of the courts to admin.
lister all laws as they find them, aud
IL is the duty Of every citizen to OBJ
serve and obey the law so long as it
is the law. 1t has always seemed to
me that the right and proper course
to pursue in regard to this prohibit
tory law would be for the officers to
faithfully perform their duty, give
the law fair trial, and then it can
only be ascertained whether it is a
good law or a bad law. II, after a
fair trial, 1t proves to be good law,
OF course thought to remain as a part
of our Jurisprudence; on the con-
trary, if it is found to be a bad law
then Just as sure as grass grows and
water runs it ought to be and will be
repealed. II it is bad law, its en-
fOrcement will be the quickest way to
bring out its repeal; but so long as
the officers encourage or wink at its
violation there will be continual an
noyance, irritation or vexation, and
it can't be satisfactorily determined
whether the law is good or bad.
Some men in this city seem to
make the mistake of cOnfOunding
resubmiSsion with notification and
rebellion. They talk and act Just as
II they thought that in order to be a
resu6missiOniSt it is necessary to ad-
Vocate and encourage the open viola.
tion Of the law. While in Colorado a
few days ago, read in the newspapers
an account of political convention
IN this county. 1t appeared that a
resolution was offered censuring the
county attorney for enforcing this
law. A young member of this bar.
Mr.. Green, in his speech opposing
that resolution, was reported as max.
Ing tniS declaration: 'ReSubmisSion
aud the open violation of the law are
two distinct issues That was
clear and beautiful statement of the
proposition, and that was a manly
stand for young man to take. He
saw the distinction, and he ought to
feel proud of that remark as long as
he lives, and to the credit of that con.
Venti0n the resolution failed. While
aiury was being impaneled in a liz.
nor case in this court, l was pleased
at the unanimity Of the sentiment ex-
pressed by the jurors in regard to en-
forcing the law, There was a great
diversity of opinion as to the policy OF
prohibition, but each and every juror
emphatically expressed himself in ia
Sor of the law so long as it is the law.
Yes sir; Mr.. Green was right.
'ResubmisSiOn and the open violation
Of the law are Two distinct issues
There is a large element of the peo-
ple-peOple differ as to whether 1t is