The Colfax chronicle., 1904-05-14

Good Citizens as Allies Of the
Lawlcss Classes.
The clergymeu of Shreveport have
sent us an address directed to the
Legislature, asking that we advocate
that three new laws lie put upon the
statute books of the State, relative
to pool rooms, slot machines, gam
bling, Sunday observance, etc. The
laws these reverend gentlemen pro-
pose seem to he solely for the pur-
pose OF enforcing laws already in
existence. They seek to bolster up
laws that are nullity In many 10
calities simply because the citizens
will not assume the responsibility Of
enforcing them. 1t IL the old story
Of men not willing to take action
themselves, but desiring to put the
responsibility ON Others that they
wish to avoid.
All sumptuary laws, and statutes
regulating morals and debating re-
ligious observance, must be and can
only he enforced by example. or act
i've supervision and police endeavor
on the part Of the better element to
carry the law into effect. This is true
as to prohibition. the social evil, re-
straint of gambling, Sunday observ-
ance, or any similar law that the bet.
ter element always approves and be-
lieyes to he for the general good. II
good people do not take part in up
holding the law it is almost sure to
be violated. The State already fully
authorizes the various municipalities
and communities within its borders
to suppress gambling. and enforce
prohibition and Sunday observance,
but 1t leaves It to the people Of the
localities who want these things to
see to 1t that their behests are carried
out. That is Democratic and right,
and 1t is all that is necessary.
II our preachers and other good
citizens will make a few affidavits
and thus assist and prod their officers
into enforcing and prosecuting the
laws we already have, they will do
more good than by making the new
laws which they yainly imagine will
remedy the evil. We agree with the
N. o. Picayune about the proposed
new laws. 1t says;
The Picayune cannot approve any
any such proposition. The Sunday
closing law is upon the estatute books.
1t answers every purpose Of the MAIN
tenance of public order so far as a
law can. All that Is required is to
enforce It. To increase the severity
OF that law, or Of any punative en-
enactment, will not add to the GER
tainty of its enforcement, and there
can be nothing more unwise, and in
deed useless, than to multiply legis-
lative enactments to prevent an evil
when the faithful enforcement of the
laws which we already have would
he all that ia required.
As to the Sunday law, 1t has been
reasonably well enforced In every
community where the people demand
ed 1t. The officials who depend on
the people for election and support
Will usually do In an official way
what the people want done. Where
the lawless element tpredOminates.a and
Is especially interested in the viola
tiOn OF particular laws, and the bal
ance of the community submits and
is Indifferent, 1t may be accepted as
foregOne conclusion that the public
officials will realize that they can
make more money and gain more pO-
lltical influence by preying upon or
catering to the lawless element than
to the alleged better classes OF the
community, and therefore relawlessness
will be the rule.
The entire question Of the preser-
walton Of public order and morality
comes back tn the people. II they
have unfaithful and vicious men In
public Office 1t Ia because they have
put them there. 1t IL taken as fact
beyond all discussion that the major
ity Of the people in every State, city
and other public community in the
Union, is made up Of law-abiding and
honest classes, and that the lawless
element represents only q small mi
nority. If. then, the officials are un-
der control Of the criminal and VI
ciOus classes, and permits them to
violate the laws with impunity, It Is
because the better element which
makes up the great majority is indif-
ferent or consents to the lawlessness,
and there 10 no other conclusion.
The laws against crime and vice
are reasonable, and are such laws as
obtain In other States. II they are
not enforced, 1t IL because the public
officials have already discovered that
the so-called best people do not care,
and thus 1t is that there is 80 often
an understanding and virtually a
partnership between the public OFF,
cials and the criminals.
For the alleged better CLASSES to sit
inactive, and even go to sleep while
the vicious classes are wide awake
and always full of energy and enter
prise In the carrying on Of their un-
lawful schemes. is a virtual notifica-
ton to the law breakers that the
supposed virtuous part of the COM
munity is actually with them, or ls
Indifferent to whatever lawlessness
may be perpetrated. The simple fact
is. that II the criminal laws are not