Evening journal., 1914-08-08
PEOPLES COLUMN
LAWS AND LAW MAKERS.


the State of Delaware, l desire to
give my views upon some Of the laws
that were passed by our last Legis-
lature; and If in so doing, l seem
wanting in circumspection or extra
VACANT in frankness, my zeal for the
truth and sense of fair play will.
trust, serve me some measure of ex-
cuse. Any discussion 10 but a little
better than a useless vibration Of the
sir in which truth and candor are
alien. That which concerns all, all
have a right to know, because upon
The intelligent voter we must depend
for wise and ample government
Some people seem to regard law as
sacred and to criticize its provisions
a sacrilege. I take the opposite view.
A law is sacred not for the injury II
infiicts but for the benefit It confers.
Law is as natural as the men who
make It and seldom better. Man
builds better than he knows only
by accident
You can no more make an error
righteous by proclaiming it a law
than you can clothe lie with virtue
by weaving Il in a prayer. I am
for any law that has for its object
the protection of society; that stands
between outrage and innocence; that
will balance the scales OF Justice;
that has a redress for every wrong,
a shield for every right. Such laws
are rich in promise and cheap at any
cost. am opposed to any law that
cannot promise a full measure of
benefit for its cost OF maintenance.
Such a law ifnpoverishes; and any
law that impoverishes, degrades; and
any law that degrades. is prejudicial
to the best interest of society
What shall we say of the law
maker in whose hands has been given
the duty of shaping the government
OF our commonwealth? II is a source
Of regret that many of our represen-
tatives have been chosen without re-
gard to their qualifications. Once
while going through a public library
IN one of our large cities l noticed
a clerk give book to an applicant
and put something in its place that
had the appearance of a book but
not the sound; curiosity led me to
ask what II was and the clerk re-
piled, That is a Succedanium or
substitute for the book" Since that
day. when I see a man In a position
whose stock and trade is incom-
Ietency; and especially a "Letulater-
nina" who yields obedience to the
wish and will of misguided theorists
and rainbow chasers. I always think
of the Succedaneum"-th real man
Is out of place
He is Of splendid parts who can
rival the value of the unit who can
stand erect and be counted. but to
insure this. it is necessary for the
heart and brain 10 exchange compli-
ments; that is. take counsel from
each other A man Of this compost
ton will recognize the law Of aver
age and guard the public treasury
with as. much caution as he would
his private interest HE loads the
oice against himself who scores a
point against the public" Il is my
candid opinion that Delaware is law
ridden and Office burdened; and II
cur next Legislature will meet, not
to enact more laws but to repeal one
half of what we have, and remove
the superauous Offices. then adjourn
fol four or six years. they will con-
fer upon the yeomanry of this State
a great blessing and thereby show
themselves public benefactors.
Game Law.
I am opposed to this law on the
grounds that it usurps the natural
rights of individual ownership. The
supporters of this law claim that the
game belongs to the State and not
to the individual on whose land It
may feed and live. that it is wild and
unconfined The latter is true, but,
when game is on A. Il is as much
his property as anything he pos
sesses since no man has any right,
legal or otherwise. to go on AS pro-
perry and kill or remove this game
without his consent. It may be
forced on or attracted 10 neighbor
BIS property in which case it be-
comes the property of B and no
longer that of A unless it returns;
hence, automatic ownership.
What is a State but an aggregation
of individuals united by laws under
one government? No people; no
State. Therefore. the people are the
State and each individual is a part Of
the State in as far as his interest may
appear There is something delight
full in the knowledge OF rightful pos
session; it elevates the standard of
citizenship, but it is lowered when
that possession is impaired.
AS a rule, man is not over-anxious
to point a gun in defense of a board
iDg-house, but always ready to defend
his home.
This State apart from and indepen-
dent of the people. as some claim,
which is a nonentity. in the name of
law issues a license TO those who
wish to hunt the game but guaran-
tees no right to hunt unless the
owner grants permission. Doht you
rec, Mr.. Lawmaker that when you
authorize the sale of something, the
value of which is absolutely con-
tingent upon the pleasure of others
you have done something you can
not possibly square with honor?
hold that l have just as much
right to entertain my friend at hunt
ing on my land without a license as
have to entertain him at dinner in
my home, and the law that denies me
the former. can terminate the latter
What does this law say for the
cog, the dog that guards the cradle
while baby sleeps that acts the SEN
tinel while the family is in dream
land; that is ever ready to risk HIS
life in defense of his master? II
Gays, deprive him of his only weapon
Of defense by putting muzzle on
him, or chain him to a stake the
latter in many instances is made q