The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-10-24
NoNENFoRCEMENT OF LAW.

One of the great principles of the
American party is demand for the
equal. Just. and complete enforcement
of the laws. This is a cardinal prln'
ciple which has always been enumerated
| in the platforms of tho American party.
aud il always insisted upon in any
declaration of American principles. 1t
is q fact. also that no other party III
L tab either wishes or darcs to adopt
that principle Why? Because Of the
notorious disregard of law by the lead
Ing Mormon officials. ~ whose behalf
The insolent and unfoundcd claim Is
made that there was an understand
ing that the law should continue to
be violated by them. There has been
no time when the example of the lead
crs Of the Mormon church has been FOR
law as whole. but only for that part
of the law which they had not violated.
There has never been any sentiment
coming from them for the vindication
of the law as law; aud at no time have
they ever consented to the proposition
that the law should be enforced where
they did not wish IL 10 be enforced,
| The result is. that the claim on their
, part or on the part of their speakers
and writer's, that they are in favor OF
the law, does not ring true, and never
did ring true, because Of the reservation
that in certain eases and as To certain
laws, they were determined these laws
should not he enforced
What then? Shall we say that be
cause these leaders have been able to
| defy the laws and nullify their opera
tions. there shall be no enforcement OF
the law at all! BY no means. Let us
enforce the law with the utmost justice
and completeness. and if we fail III
reaching perfection IN this, let us at
| least do the best we can 10 give force.
effect, and vitality TO the law. We are
not OF those who believe or assert that
because the law cannot be enforced IN
| its fullness, il should not be enforced
ut all We believe. on the contrary,
! that wherever circumstances prevent
the full enforcement of the law, the
law should be enforced with such per
fcctiou as is possible, without any
| quibbling. and without any excuses that
because the law is not enforced in GER
tain eases, that il shall not he Gu
forced in others We are for the en-.
forcement Of the law completely, alb
solutely, where This is possible; and
where il is not possible, we are in favor
Of the enforcement OF the law to the
utmost extent that it can be enforced.
What we wish 10 point out in this
connection it, that the example Of those
who insist that certain laws shall no,
be enforced is bad for the community
IL sets an evil example. It is demoral'
izlng 20 tho courts and court officials
iii that the Judges and court officials
are given low ideal Of their duty of
enforcing the law. As TO certain of.
fenses here, 1t is we'll known that the
courts dare not undertake prosecutions
| lest they he accused Of "rcligious per
sccution.r and thereby commit official
suicide.
The situation is bad in this respect
in Utah. but while il Is discouraging
10 "A certain extent. the American party
and The Tribune have always stood fol
as full an enforcement Of the law rs
could possibly be We do not believe
in ignoring the law in any particular
We do not believe in malign enforce
ment Of the law which might be under
taken for an evil or unlawful purpose
We do not believe in the shcltcring OF
criminals. either by collusion in the
Law or by intimidation of the courts OF
of the court officials We will wei
come the dav when it is possible IL
Utah TO enforce the law equally auo
Justly upon all, and we depIorc the sort
of judicial procedure which will scno
ono polvgamist TO the pcnitentiary he
cause he does not belong TO 4 certain
religious sect and is outside OF the pro
lection of that sect, while allowing
hundreds Of other polygamIsts TO co nm
punished simply because they do be
long to sect. and have the protection
of that sect. which Is allpowerful il
this State.
But. VIC wish TO emphasize the fac
/ tiat we 40 not III any way bliRG lul
ward this notification Of the law 10y
and in behalf of certain scetaries 4!
any reason why the law should not b'
enforced ON other iawbrcakcrS. On the
J contrary, We say a. before. that tn,
law should be enforced against all law
breakers, Justly, fairly. equally. an,
impartislly. And ii. by reason of ia,
conditions recitcd. IL is not possible I,
} get the moral support that the las
ought 10 have. aud the material in
fluencc that should support the law
> thcs let us get whatever influence an,
2 support We can for the lass iUsi as IA
as II j. possible TO enforce the law
b Those who. for their own purposes
and bv reason of the power that the,
] arc able 10 wicld, arc able 10 set M,
/ lav At defiance and be Law mt,
themselves. are rcprchcusihc befon
the community. aud their position i
lhypocriiicsl and inconsistent in tl,
highest degree when they call for th