The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-12-12
MASON'S TALK
ON ENFORC.
ING LAWS
Sheriff to Church
men Regarding 'Tyran-
ny" Sentiment.

An indicted police commissioner was
scored by Under-Sheriff Charles M.
Mason before the Mems Club of the
Clinton Hill Presbyterian Church last
night. Mr.. Mason, In the course OF an
address to the churchmen, remarked
that when the day comes that the
American public will stand by its Off
cial c%ustodians in enforcing the laws
the possibility of graft in public affairs
would be at an end.
The under-sherlff took a fling al land
lords who call the Tenement House
Commission a body of tyrants. This
was when he remarked that many peo-
pie regard those who enforce laws In
the same spirit.
In part Under-Sheriff Mason said:
ITO elevate society and promote the
genera welfare Of the community. 1t is
necessary 20 develop the intellectual and
moral faculties of man. The handspring
to their development, and through this to
progress and Improvement, is the desire
OF individuals to better their condition in
life. That there may be the strongest
impulse, 1t Is indispensable that there
should De guaranteed to every man the
greatest liberty to pursue the course he
happiness, as far as his object advances
The in crest of our government. To extend
liberty beyond this weakens the govern
ment and renders it incompetent to protect
society against internal and external
10 the people that must be re-
strained by laws, government and laws
are tyranny, and those chosen to enforce
landlords who care nothing for the pro-
lection of the lives and health Of their
tenants, the laws of the Tenement House
Commission and OF the Building Depart
ment Is an invasion Of their liberty to
build what and how they please on their
premises. To others who would use their
premises as Il nuisance to the neighbors'
the sanitary code of the Health Depart
ment is n symbol of tyranny. In short,
all laws that compel one party to recog-
nize the rights Of another or Of the COM
mnnity, to the party who is required to
perform some act this law is an act of
II have also found that one who is
chosen to enforce the laws, that nave
been enacted by the people Is frequently
regarded as q tyrant or accused of being
an obnoxious temperance or religious
crank, If he e~nforces the law that lie has
taken an oath to enforce.
.aTo the wolves that have existed by
preying upon society, particularly the
black sheep Of society, one who enforees
the law that is designated TO prevent and
punish their acts will always be a tyrant.
"A large class seem to think that they
ought TO be immune from arrest as long
as they do not commit an assault and
battery on unullcf or 40 not steal. inuSt
are the only crimes recognized by them,
aud under the teachings of some modern
Napoleons of finauce theft Is confined to
highway robbery or to breaking and enter
lug by night.
"A short time ago we arrested a man,
who has done several terms in prison for
various offenses, for Illegal registration.
This gentleman thought 80 highly Of his
mental ability to select proper candidates
for office that for a few dollars he voted
several times in the Fourth Ward, and
then in the Seventh Ward at the primary
and registered for election. His usual
place OF residence was in one of<the hop
Joints IN Lafayette street, Yet when this
ambitious citizen was ~apprehended his
nrst remark was, L didn't assault any
Ipne' and he didn't Know why be should