The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1905-11-24
Laws Enforced When Demanded.

Rev. j. A. Clyde addressed church
full of people Sunday night on the sub
Ject, The laws of the commonwealth;
do you care to enforce them?" This
talk was more as to local conditions and
appealed very strongly to the men pres
ent who had thought they were doing
their every public duty. but realized
that they overlooked many Of the really.
important things.
Music by the Acme --..=~. s-..; 10 .'.afZ1
Carl pssrsrs or The sermon follows
There are certain qualities which
combine to make the American Ideal.
The most prominent among these are
love of liberty, respect for industry and
reverence for law. Your real American
is sure to exhibit these excellent charac-
teristics. If he fails in any, he falls
short of what we hold an American
ought to be. In view of this, it is most
serious that we haye come today to
| plead for the enforcement of law and
that among men who ought to rever-
ence it as they would majesty. Among
us law alone is King But it is pitiable
that the King must plead for I'M
hampered right to rule; The patriotism
of our people is being appealed to and
we cannot without public shame, suffer
any of the law to be ignored
New emphasis is being put upon en-
forcement, just because wa witness lax
administration. The statutes of the
Commonwealth cannot be subjects
either to caprice or prejudice. 1t is not
our privilege either to avoid or evade
any ordinance of the city or statute of
the state. AS long as it is in the code it
must be enforced If we have out
grown legal provision or need asradi-
cal change because of development re-
peal or amend the law. Ignoring it
will be no honorable remedy, in fact
will be no remedy at all. lin the light
of what Americans were, in view of
what Americans ought to be, let us face
the obligations of civil life and enforce
the public statutes To this duty
public conscience is leading us
and honest. citizenship stands commit
ted. The duty is plain and none can
Dodge the issue. The law mustsshave
its way. Repeal or amend the statutes,
but until either of these is done, enforce
them.
But our question was, do you care if
they are enforced? This is not urged
as an official duty. Nor yet as an ad-
ministrative obligation; understand
this, that no such question can arise
among public officials. Already they
are sworn thereto. But one course is
open to them, if they would be honest
and honorable. They must enforce
the law or stand condemned as men fore
sworn Judge your officials by their
attitude on law enforcement and you
will judge safely and wisely, then treat
them as you judge them thereby.
But this question is thrust on you as
private citizens, the great body of COM
mon men. Do you care? This is a
question for you to answer and to
answer in the light of American citizen
ship. In the end of things, the people
get what they earnestly demand. De-
mand enforcement and you will get it,
Ignore it and your officials will be
negligent about it. Will Owosso sus-
tain the police who do their duty?
Will you spur your officials to hearty
service? Will you assert your concern
and make it felt2 1t is up to the citi-
zens of any city to get what that city
needs and it is up to you as public
spirited men to compel respect for law
and exact submission to the public
statutes. And this you will do if you
rightly care about it.
| A-re-