The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-08-18
rHE MANIA TOR BARKING LAWS.
 Thus says Tho Brooklyn Eagle:


 Thus says Tho Brooklyn Eagle. Tn this post Roosevelt period of our national development there is some: thing almost pathetic in the way all classes are depending on the agencies they ought to be able to do for them seives. We note that the Retail Gro cers Of she state or New York. by for
 o Se cosnx srooery stores all day Sunday e With the action of this New York association of grocers we have noth- ing to do. Whether their action was based on respect for Sunday; or wheth- CT the object is to give grocers and their employees a day of rest; or wheth- CT they found that those stores which refused to keep open on Sunday were at a disadvantage in the way of trade; whether 1t was one or aii\these req sons we cannot say. and feel no special interest in the matter. That is for them to settle in their own way. What does interest us. and ought to interest all advocates of good govern ment. is the disposition. almost amounting to c mania. on the part of law makers to undertake to do for the people at large what they ought to do for themselves: and as to that mat ter. in most cases are better qualified to do for themselves than their self constituted guardians are to do for them. Something of this nature has always been in evidence. but of late 1t appears to have taken possession of legislative bodies in all sections of the country. Members appear to get the idea in their heads that they have been elected, not to make proper and legiti- mate laws. but to iegislate goodness into all the people; . task which has never been accomplished and never will. and which almost invariably re- suits in harm. ana frequently in gross injustice.
 The people of the country. taking them as a class. are as well qualified to look out for themselves as they ever were: probably better. for they now have better opportunities than at any previous period of our history. Some observant statesman said. in effect, if not his actual words: That land is best governed which is governed least" but that is not the conception of the latter-day guardians of the people. They seem to think that the more laws they make, the better citizenship we shall have: a sentiment which Is the opposite Of true. for in the multiplici- ty of laws there are sure to be. some bad ones. some which cannot be en- forced. some which ought not to be enforced and some which excite only contempt and utter disregard.
 What Alabama, for example. needs is not more laws but better ones and better enforcement of the good ones The law can protect the innocent and punish the guilty; 1t can deal out jus tice to criminals and see that all the people are protected in their rights. It cannot make men and women good or virtuous by legislation. Nothing but education. preeept and example can do that. When law undertakes to make all people good by repression. oppression and intolerance 1t fails in it's strue oh3ecs and becomes an object of indifference. if not of actual con- tempt.
 Why cannot iaw-makers see and un- derstand that a law which has not reason, sound judgment and common sense behind 1t is bou:d to be fail ure3 Why can they got bring them selves to understand that a law which fails to meet the approval and support of the best citizenship of tho State cannot be enforced, anu that the non- enforcement of any law Is bound in the end to breed contempt for other law? Of late days alrnost every man sent to a State Legislature appears to have imbibed an idea that he was sent there to legislate virtue and goodness anu plNty anu all tAS people of his State. With this idea firmly fixed in his mind he straight way introduces a bill or bills to stop somebody rom doing something they have always been accustomed to do- ing. and which they firmly believe they have a constitutional and moral right to do. The enactment of oppressive law will not alter their convictions. and in too many cases will not receive their respect It is possible that this law w-making craze will soon run It's course, and that reason and sanity will again become the dominating idea with legislative bodies. It is certain ly high time that ajchange for the bet ter were brought about.
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