The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1905-06-28
ENFORCEMENT OF LAW.

I
The open and bold attempts OF the
beef trust to bring pressure to bear
ON the government to prevent the
prosecution Of its agent and officials
Is but one Of the many recent instan-
ces showing the utter misconception
hat exists in the minds of many per
sons as to the majesty ct the law
and their proper attitude toward 1t.
Illustrations on smaller scale, but
;imiar in kind, were recently given
in Kansas City, where an automobile
owner became greatly incensed be
cause the city clerk proposed to prose
cute him for not having taken out n
license. when I'm fact he had done so
after the warrant had been issued and
served on him. And another automo
tuist pleaded as his excuse for Nlo.
latinp the law that he had thought
that the law would not be enforced
sun another instance was Furnish
cd the other day by saloon Keeper
former policeman. who In all So
riousnass opposed the enforcement OF
,ne law against saloons in the vic.n-
ity Of the parks on the ground that
Il would cause him pecuniary loss.
such Instances might be multiplied
without end. for the newspapers
TEEN with them, TO evidence the state
Of the popular mind on the subject
and laxity of the public respect for
the law. OF course. in some cases the.
trouble is that individuals, especially |
Of certain class, have come to i'm
lgine that they are above and be-
yond the law which they consider as
designed chiefly, If not entirely, tot
,ommon criminals. When they are
caught nthe meshss they believe
themselves to be the victims OF mis-
fortune or undue zeal on the part OF
the officers of the law-anything in
short but their own fault
This trouble mainly arises, how'
.vcr. from the laxity Of the laws en-
forcement by its own officers. The pu'
silllnimity Of public officials, accord
ing to the L3te Senator ingalls,, is the
cursa of the country. The law is plen-
ty strong enough, but its human
agents are too weak and cowardly.
The public welfare and their sworn
obligations count for little against
r,-ivate interests Tor p2Ntical jinhw
ence. This state of things almost
unknown abroad. is so widespread as
TO ba almost universal in America.
I ooscness in enforcing the law was
the foundation Of Macauleys predic-
,inn that when large cities grew up in
America, they would furnish the seed
e the decay of the republic-Kan'
sas City Journal.
r + r =
The value Of the personal property
in Ardmore subject TO taxation
amounts to s2.336,OOO a gain of near
ly half a million over last year. Next
year the real estate in the city limits
will be subject 20 taxation, and then
he taxable property will amount to
something like four and half mil
lion dollars. within the next year
the people will probably nave an op-
portunity to vote on the question of
issuing $4,000 in bonds for water
pnd sewer extension. When this
amount has been used II will easily
give the city 500 extra patrons that
will pay into the treasury $3.50 per
month. The extra cost to the plant
of producing this revenue will be
about $40 per month which amount
will be spent for fuel Deducting the
cost of fuel and interest on the bonds
it will leave to the city clear gain
of $4,000 n year. an amount sufficient
TO support a good school system or
an income that will soon pay the en-
tire bonded indebtedness OF the city
The gain to the city will not only be
from financial standpoint, but the
heaithfulness and beauty OF the city
will be greatly enhanced.
+ + + +
READ THIS TO YOUR BOY.
Judge WoodfusI of Kansas lCity