The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1909-06-08
PARKINSON ANSWERED.

Cav hattuck law and the Locke law
One is designed to regulate the liquor
traffic and the other is to prohibit gam,
bling at horse racing.
If Mr.. Patterson were a man of or
binary mold and of little influence his
views of such matters would be of little
consequence, but being lawyer Of
prominence and still the president of the
Louisiana Bar Association when he de-
iivered these iitterances, what he said
IS significant and has doubtless left its
impress on many susceptible minds III
Louisiana.
II is true that when there were pro-
tests by members of the association who
do not share his views, Mr.. Parkerson
replied or explained that he was per-
sonaily responsible, but there was no
need or necessity of any gentleman taxi
ing exception to his retort, which may
be construed as threat by some of the
over-zealous.
However, it is reasonable to conclude
that when Mr.. Parkerson announced
that he was responsible he desired to
impress his hearers with the fact that
what he said were his views and he
alone was accountable for such express
ions, which are antagonistic to the laws
which it is expected all aw-abiding citi-
Gems shall respect and obey
II would seem senseless on the part
Of the Caucasian to join with Mr.
Patterson on questions of law. but it
may be remarked that the classes in the
State who are opposed TO the restrie-
tons Of the law of prohibition and Of
gambling in horse racing complain Bit
terly Of the interference of these laws
with their personal rights.
Fortunately for the good of the State
there are nos many prominent attorneys
who occupy the position Of Mr.. Parker
son. He seems to stand alone and is
the exception to the issue involving
good morals and the reverence of the
laws which are devised for the protec-
ton Of society against the classes hav-i
ing no conscience and only one incen-
tive.
What is the concern of the average
saloonist Or the one engaged in the traf-
fc Of iatoxicants as to how many drunk
ards d widows and orphans he may Gre
ate, If be can accumulate the dollars and
cents obtained from his victims?
What care has the gambler who can
skin his victim at horse racing?
And this reasoning may be multiplied
indefinitely ii its application to every
crime in the calendar for which laws in
restraint are enacted and enforced.
Perhaps when Mr.. Patterson deliv-
cred himself Of his utterance on the
Gay ShatfucI law and the Locke law,
Il was ii The sense Of sfeeler'' sug-
gested BY politicians III New Orleans
who do not favor these laws, but he has
aroused retorts from many sections OF |
the State from men whose standing in
their respective communities and whose
sincerity can not be questioned.
OF the replies to Mr.. Patterson the
strongest and the most direct is that OF |
Rev. Claude 6. Jones in defense of pro-
hlbition. Mr.. Jones is the president of /
ne Anti Saloon League Of Louisiana. |
Ills reply has been given the widest
In the New Orleans States and |
he Times Democrat. in which he leaves
Afr Patterson fairly irnpaled on his
own fallacious reasoning.
Il appears that Mr.. Parkerson'sI |
strongest plea, seemingly i play to the |
galleries. is hrs so-calIed invasion of /
personal rights, the inherent right of
he citizen, which IS met BY Mr.. Jones
4 these words:
MI. Parkerson expresses grave fear
est this so-called invasion Of natural
lights should come in most logical
way 70 dictate what j man shall eat and
Rsar. and % whom he shall be married.
DID nc not know that quite aw bile ago
law VAS passed specifying that mani
hould wear clothes. whether it suited
y personal tastes or not, and that
white man should marry a white wonl-
u and black man black woman, re-
:agdlss Of his individual inelinations?
i II
Aiad yer when legislation was reaching
his hIrannieal point the voice of thel
Gentleman was not heard to oppose.
ne have even understood that III the
- of New Orleans there is 4 law that
|srrsits the officers To visit i mans
lfelaaises and screen his cistern or com
81 him - d. 81 Behold how the nat
lFsl rights q man have persisted while
o. Parksrson slept But in making
lais agsd other iike restrictions rso other
Ian Blackstone has been followed
Ieaf hin ii these words Political or
III liberty 4 lao other than natural lih. T
SO i, far restrained Is s necessary