The Ketchikan miner., 1915-02-11
ARE|CN OF NO LAW
That In Reality Is What Is Meant
 by Martial Law.
SUSPENDS ALL OTHER LAWS.
Those In Command Have Supreme Au. thority. and There is No Check Upon Their Arbitrary Power Over Persons and Property of All Kinds.

thority. and There is No Cheek Upon Their Arbitrary Power Over Persons
 and Property of All kinds. | What is martial law7 Some people have vague idea that it Is military law. but this iS 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. conSistiiI. of the statutes, regulations and prin ciples by which the army and It's nf fairs are governed. The msun.ler standing has arisen partly from th,. name given to it and partly from tht. fact that it is the military which ire quently carry out the regulations. while often the military forms of courts are held
 i The police. however, If duly author ized. may carry out martial law. It is difficult to define the meaning Of martial law in nontechnicaI 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. either by proclamation or by the actual pres ence of hostile force But the best definition given has been that of mo law"
 It means that the supreme authority is empowered to do as it wills and that all ordinary laws. for the time being hau {nv |, , no laws dealing with its application those in command possessing entirely al lbitrary power
 This means that there will be com plete revolution in the ways of tke people wherever martial law is pro claimed. All ordinary life will be af fected. and It will no longer be the case that "an Englishmn's home is bis castle"
 martial law its inhabitants must clear out of the streets before certain time every evening, say 6 o'clock Then all places of amusement. public | houses and SO on are closed entirely. Even during the daytime limit is
 
 may assemble. so that party of peo ple-numbering above. say. half doz en-would be liable to instant punish ment Also certain places and certain streets are forbidden to the people. who may be compelled to keep beyond 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 pelled to give complete account of his movements. past, present and project ed. and may be searched or even ar rested without warrant. Crimes are dealt with very severely Thus suppose man breaks a win dow. Instead of being hauled up be fore magistrate and subjected to small fine. the policeman would be perfectly justified in shooting him i'm mediately.
 So in the case of robbery. man | stealing purse need not be arrested, nut could be shot. this being perfect. Y justifiable action on the part of those in authority.
 Every person might be compelled to carry passport. giving full evidence If his Identification Passports would be necessary in the case of those using horses or vehicles of any kind, inclnd- ing cycles.
 All persons who were compelled to he out at night would be provided with special night passes signed by he one in authority. No person would ,e allowed to leave one town for m. 'ther or travel beyond a certain dis rance without being the possessor Of properly signed passport given for
 his special purpose.
 The object. of course. is to keep the ,eople within certain districts and also o prevent foreign spies and the like rom moving into the country and so cleaning information of value to our .nemies. Philadelphia Inquirer.