Jefferson jimplecute. (Jefferson, Tex.) 1907-1926, 1907-06-07
Gorky and Personal Liberty.

To the Editor of the Jimplecute:
Maxim Gorky has broken out again.
He writes from some obscure village in
Europe that there is nothing Congenial
in America.
Gorky, it will be remembered. is the
Russian novelist who was in this coun-
try about a year ago accompanied by a
woman who was not his wife. He evil
IDENTIFY thought that during his stay in
this country he would be treated like
prince, and that nothing would be too
good for him. Such might have been
the case had he been accompanied by
his wife. But he did not know the peo-
pie of this country. Virtuous woman
hood-wifehood-is respected in this
country. The Americans thinks other
wise than that woman was created for
mans convenience, or that man can
desert his wife on a mere whim. In
stead of the royal reception he antici-
pated he was coldly received. How he
was turned away from hotel after hotel
and how he finally was sheltered by
some of his own iIk, is still fresh in the
minds of your readers. Gorky seems to
| be sore over his treatment by the
American people, but nobody is worry
ing over this. There were no tears shed
when he left and if he will only stay in
some obscure spot all will be we'll.
While here he sent telegram to a
French publication saying that "per-
soual liberty" is as much hampered in
this country as in Russia. l think it is
quite clear to all what kind of elderly"
Gorky had reference to.
Did you ever notice the kind of Eeo-
pie who are always raising the cry of
personal liberty" They are. as a
rule, a class of people who wants to do
something that is not sanctioned by
good society. If their actions are crit
icised they raise that stale, thread bare
argument, personal liberty" They
swell up and tell you they will do as
they please, no matter if their acts are
offensive to you. That don't make any
difference to them. They say you at
tend to your own business" This is
the argument of the drinking man. of
the gambler and the libertine. Even
the thief wants personal liberty"
1tappears to the writer that society
has something to say about this "per-
sonal liberty question. We think it
will be conceded that society has the
right to enact laws for its own protec-
ton.
There is law prohibiting the carry
ing OF concealed weapons. This law
was enacted at the demand of society
to prevent the shooting down
or killing person for trivial offense
or IN fit of anger. AS far as the mere
act OF carrying weapon is concerned,
no one cares but the use you are liable
to make of it is what is objected to.
The people are not going to take any
chances. 1t may be restraint on your
personal liberty" to prohibit you car
rying concealed weapons, but public
sentiment demands it.
There is the law regulating the sale
of intoxicating liquors. Such as selling
to minors and habitual drunkards, SELL
ing on Sunday, and in some States the
law prohibit the dealer selling to the
husband when the wife notifies him
not to. Society demands that the hus-
band and father shall provide for his
wife and children. 1t is not the mere
act of taking drink that any one OBJ
jects to, but the influence or effect the
liquor has on you is what is OBJ
jected to. Man has committed many
a foul crime while under the
influence of liquor. When you get
drunk. and make yourself obnoxi-
GUS and nuisance to others, then
it becomes their" business as to
whether you take a drink or not.
"They" have the right then to step in
and do little regulating" or perhaps
prohibit the sale of Intoxicating liquor
altogether. This may be an obnoxious
law to you. but remember that when
you get drunk and go staggering around
the streets, using foul language, want
ing to fight, and perhaps 60 home and
beat your wife, squander all your
money for liquor and leave your family
dependent on charity, you make your
self very much obnoxious to others
and can you blame them for wanting
to make laws for their self-protection?
In .enacting the liquors law the good
and welfare of the future generation
were held in view. There are few peo-
pie, at least who want to raise their
children up to moral, sober and lava
biding citizen. The regulating of the
sale of liquors may be little restraint
on your personal liberty" but pub
lie sentiment demands it.
There is gambling law. Society
demands that instead of risking your
money in game where you have only
about one chance in thousand to win,
you shall provide for your family and
pay your honest debts. The good of
the growing boys is also held IN view in
prohibiting gambling. Who wants
their boys raised mp to be gamblers? 1t
may be restraint on your personal
liberty to say that you shall not gam
BILE, but it is backed up by public sem
timent.
Then there is the marriage law. So
ciety demands that when you take a
woman to be your wife you shall pro-
tect and provide for her, and that you
shall not marry her merely to crafty
little brute passion. 1t demands that
you and your wife shall live together