The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1906-06-13
LAW AND PUBLIC SENTIMENT.

dependent that the failure Of Montana
officials to enforce certain laws Is due
to lack of interest in the matter among
our citizens. II the latter insist that
every law of the state shall be enforced
without fear or favor, there would
soon be no cause for complaint. The
Helena newspaper expresses itself to
this effect:
A law is the capitalization of q
public opinion. In the scheme of
society and government nothing is
superior to the law. 1t is the ex-
pressed and recorded mand ate of the
people. The voter and the legislator
are constantly assaulted with argu.
ments. demands, crusades in favor of
new laws.
1t is a fact that many Of the most
significant laws upon our statute
books are ignored, temporized with,
minimized and even sneered at.
We are in more dire need OF the en-.
forcement Of the laws we have, than
we r in need Of new aud speculative
legislation. If the sworn servants of
the people Of Montana would enforce
the laws which they are pledged to
carry out, much of the unrest, much
OF the d~isloyality and nearly all of
the political wire.pulling would dis
appear from the discussion of com.
monwealth affairs.
To ask a sworn official to live up to
his oath Of Office seems super1uous
and almost impertinent to a sincere
citizen of any community. And yet
that is what the people of Montana,
the people Of every county and town
in the state are asking right now.
The response Is not unanimous and
it is not always favorable. In news
paper dispatches we read that a Ger.
tain official threatens to enforce the
law. In other words a sworn official
has the aud acity to threaten to do his
duty. We find ourselves inclined to
surprise because such an official has
dared even to threaten to do what he
is sworn to do.
AT intervals we find officials who
say: ut would be bad politics to en-.
force this or that law now"
Lovely billiards.! It would be bad
policy to live up to an official oath; it
would be inopportune to enforce the
written law: it would be uuwise to be
law-abiding.
In the meantime honest voters for
get to register and fail to vote.
They say: "What's the use: We
caused this law to be enacted, but it is
not enforced. We elect men to enforce
the law and our chosen executives
tell us that it would be bad politics
to enforce the law at this time.' En-.
forcement of the law Is an exception
and not a rule. We are weary and
suspicious of the value OF our citizen.
ship"
That's what men think q. last.
The so-called supremacy Of the law
is shrouded and obscured by the OPP
p~ortunism, the seltishness aud the dis
honesty Of men elected Or appointed
to sustain the law upon their oaths.
We have good laws, but our gov.
eminent will remain rotten as long as
craftsmanship, personality and greed
transgress the requirements which are
the expressed demands of the ma
iority.
The official who ignores and trans
crosses the law creates no sensation,
causes little comment.
But let an honest official proclaim
and enforce his determination to
carry out the law and he becomes q
subject for Neutrality-suspicious. stories,
double-leadeu editorials and sensa.
tiOnal comment.
We are %as,ounded when our officers
of the law enforce the law.
There's something wrong about this
condition and it is high time that the
people commenced to think about it.
We make laws. We elect or appoint
men to enforce them.
And then we are thrown into Il hys.
terra Of amazement II our chosen Otti.
Gals have the nerve to carry out our
orders.
This is Sunday. Sit down in
corner and think about it. If 20,
read the morning paper you will prob
ably be astouuded TO find that an of
ticer of the law somewhere has had tn
gall to enforce the law.
Oh, we are q great people.
NEWSPAPERS AND TUEIR DUTY.