The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-01-25
Ogden, Monday, Jan. IS.

archy. The issue is likewise ethicsl-not
legal New York Philadelphia. Pittsburg,
Nhlcago. San Francisco. are meeting diff
erent phases Of it. The Standard Oil
company defies the laws of the various
states. mostly because il knows that the
bulk of the state cares little about the
supremacy of the law. If it were sure
that all citizens hated Iawlessness it would
Tear to advance one step into the forbid
zen Held. But why. tell me. should the
Standard Oil company fear to defy the
law in Ogden? We support from year
to year a body of law breakers and law
and soul. These Law breakers are not
n0unded by an energetic police. but are
zealously protected in the breaking Of
the law. Much of this defiance in Og-
could not exist for a single moment with
out the beneficent and gracious protection
of the majestic defenders of the state and
municipal laws.
THE genius of anarchy is defiance of
law. When officials. paid to keep men
from this defiance, assist them in def
ance. we have something worse than an
archy. IL used to be called treason And
then it is incOmpetency. Ogoen still wants
to know.
Rule of People Threatened.
I'VE are not in the least concerned
with the products of these protected evils.
Perhaps innocent women and cnildren
have to suffer. Perhaps homes are for
ever ruined. Perhaps pain and heaFy
hearts are multiplied. What do We care
That is maudlin sentimentalism. But We
do care when democracy is threatened
Iaw-breaking. protected, condoned.
winked at, means the weakening OF our
social fabric and the retarding of civil
action
In conclusion. Mr. Elderkind said:
Law is worse than useless. not when
it is defied BY a few criminals. who are
bounded by a vigilant police force put
when the defiance and violation are open
" condoned BY the law-enforcing body
"a policeman uses his club upon an I'M
ruly captive to teach him the unwisdom
of resisting the law. But where the po-
lice power is thrown around a laW-Dreak-
er to protect him in his criminal pro-
gram, the purpose of the law is more than
defeated.
Crime is usually punished so that 9th
ers who are planning to commit a ike
crime NAV be strengthened to draw up
other plans. But the crimes we are speak
ing of here are not punished Inc 90
ject is not at al to persuade our chclce
citizens to change their plans but rd.iel
to assure them that in the future they
will be properly protected in their viola
ton of law. These laws do not IN the
least inspire the respect of the criminal
classes. The punishment in no way helps
them to future obedience of law
Gentlemen Of the Legislature: Our ap-
peal can be simply stated. You can see
from what I have said the stupendous
task we have on our hands in gettlns our
Officers to faithfully discharge the PLAIN
duties of their offices. 1t is an imDoSsl-
BILE task. Their long suit is side-steppins
Hence we want our officials relieved iron
taking the oath which will require latin
full performance of duty. Secondly, we
want that they should not have any def
mite tasks imposed upon them. For the
minute you give them definite tasks theS
proceed to excuse themselves IRON tnt
performance of them Thirdly, we believe
it would be far more conducive to the
health and happiness of our OFFICERS u
the law would allow them to do what tht
mayor wants or what the public opinion
demands. or what our queen and hel
court desire. But do not ask them TO en-
force the law"