The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1914-12-08
AREIGN OF NO LAW
That In Reality Is What Is Meant
by Martial Law.
SUSPENDs ALL OTHER LAWS.

Those In Command Have Supreme Au.
therity, and There Is No Check Upon
Their Arbitrary Power Over Persons
and Propet ty of All Kinds.
What is martial law? Some people
have a vague idea that it is military
law, but this is a mistake. Military
law has nothing whatever to do with
martial law. Military law is simply
that branch of the laws applicable to
military service and duties, consisting
or the statutes, regulations and prin-
ciples by which the army and its af-
fairs are governed. The misunder-
standing has arisen partly from the
name given to 1t and partly from the
TACT that 1t is the military which fire.
quently carry out the regulations.
while often the military forms of
courts are held.
The police, however, if duly author
ICED, may carry out martial law.
1t is difficult to define the meaning of
martial law In nontechnical words.
The dictionary definition of martial law
Is that 1t is military authority exer-
cised in accordance with the laws and
usages of war when the civil authority
Is wholly or partly suspended. aither
by proclamation or by the actual pres
ence Of hostile force. But the best
definition given has been that of mo
law"
1t means that the supreme authority
is empowered to do as it wills and that
all ordinary laws, for the time being,
have no operation whatever There are
no laws dealing with its application,
those in command possessing entirely
arbitrary power.
This means that there will be a COM
plete revolution in the ways of the
people wherever martial law is pro-
claimed. All ordinary life win be af-
fected, and It will no longer be the
case that IAN Englishman's home is
his castle"
AS a rule, when a place is under
martial law its inhabitants must clear
out Of the streets before q certain
time every evening, say o'clock.
Then all places Of amusement, public
houses and so on are closed entirely.
Even during the daytime a limit is
made as to the number Of people who
may assemble, so that party Of peo-
ple-numbering above, say, half a dog
en-would be liable to instant punish
Inent. Also certain places and certain
streets are forbidden to the people,
who may be compelled to keep beyond
q certain radius from the specified
places.
Those In authority may take any
object they like from anywhere, enter
ing houses as well as shops to com
mandeer whatever they wish without
any control. Any person may be com
PEELED to give complete account of his
movements, past, present and project.
ed, and may be searched or even ar
rested without a warrant. .--
Grimes are dealt with very severely
Thus suppose a man breaks a win.
dow. Instead OF being hauled up be,
fore q magistrate and subjected to a
small fine, the policeman would be
perfectly justified in shooting him i'm
Euediate1y.
So in the case of robbery. a mar
stealing purse need not be arrested
but could be shot. this being perfect
~ Justifable action on the part OF
those in authority.
Every person might be compelled t.
carry passport, giving full evidence
Of his Identification. Passports woult
be necessary in the case Of those usins
horses or vehicles Of any kind, includ
ing cycles. -.t
All persons who were compelled t.
be out at night would be provided
with special night passes signed b,
the one in authority. No person woulo
be allowed to leave one town for an
other or travel beyond a certain dis
lance without being the possessor o
a properly signed passport given 70
this special purpose.
The object, of course. is to keep tn
people within certain districts and ais
to prevent foreign spies and the Xix
from moving into the country and s
cleaning information Of value to on
enemies.-Philadelphia Inquirer.