The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1908-12-16
DISREGARD OF LAw-ANARcHy.

UicnE1ANb VI NN--NifTnS'f'
The whole country viii watch with
intense interest the outcome OF the
struggle in Tennessee-the struggle
OF law and right against organized
anarchy" says the Fort Worth Rec
ord.
Continuing the Record traces the
genesis Of the night rider troubles and
then gives an analysis of its causes:
The whole thing goes back to one
canse-dlsregard Of minor laws,
whence has come a disregard for all
law and a cheating OF the purposes
OF law. From a disregard Of minor
statutes there has grown a disregard
for more important ones, until a con-
dition Of lawlessness has grown up
all over the state. From disregard OF
minor infractions OF laws there has
gradually come a failure 10 convict
where important laws have been bro
ken. In that light Tennessee will
serve as a warning to all states"
VIII it serve as a warning TO the
people Of Oklahoma?
We have 1t upon the word of the
grand jury as well as from common
report that the prohibitory law Is
being flagrantly violated all over the
county. Is not this the open disre-
gard Of law which breeds contempt
for all law. defiance of constituted
authority, night riderism, anarchy? 1t
is a question for the thoughtful citi-
Gems Of Grady county to seriously con-
slider.
II is not a question of whether we
are for prohibition or against It, but
the issue is vastly larger and more
important one. Fundamentally it is
simply a question Of law versus law
iessness. Good citizens may differ as
to whether the law is a wise one, but
among good citizens there can be no
question as to whether 1t should be en-
forced or not. Law is Law, and dis
regard of it is anarchy and there can
be no compromise between them.
The individual or the community
that seeks by any system to legalize
the liquor traffic as long as the pro-
hibitory law stands as written in the
constitution or on the statute books
is joining hands with that class of
citizens whose character finds express
sion in night riderism, larceny, arson,
murder and all the acts that come
within the category of crime The
man who is opposed to the prohibitory
law has a perfect right to work for
the repeal of It; indeed, ii is his duty
10 do so, but no man who LAYS claim
to good citizenship can give any sort
of countenance to disregard of the
law as long as 1t exists. 1t has often
and truly been said that the best way
to create sentiment against an obnox-
ious law it to rigidly enforce it and
thereby demonstrate its bad affects.
The Express does not believe that
the law-disregsrding element are in
the majority in Grady county. 1t does
not believe that the people of this
county, when they give their attention
to the matter, win tolerate conditions
that breed night riderism and all spe
cies Of disorder and crime. What we
need is crystallizing Of public senti
ment, a definite organization of the
forces of law and order that will both
demand law enforcement from the au-
thorities and will support and assist
the authorities in the work of redeem.
ing Grady county from the stigma of
lawlessness and saving her from the
perils that result from disregard Of
law 1