The Meeker herald., 1915-08-21
A REIGN OF NO Law
That In Reality Is What Is Meant
by Martial Law.
sUsPENDs ALL OTHER LAWS.

Snous VI SoHmAHu raw ooPEo"o Az
thority, and There is No Check Upon
Their Arbitrary Power Over Persons
and Property Of All Kinda.
What IL martial iaw2 Some people
have vague idea that 1t Is military
INV. but this Is a mistake. Military
law has nothing whatever to do with
martial law. Military law Is simply
TINT branch Of the laws applicable to
military service and duties. consisting
Of the statutes. regulations and prin.
ciples by which the army and its af.
fairs are governed The misunder
standing has arisen partly from the
nnme given to II and partly. from the
fact that 1t is the military which fire.
quentiy carry out the regulations.
while often the military forms Of
courts are held.
The police. however. II 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
IL 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.
encp of hostile force. But the best
| definition given has been that of mo
law"
II means that the supreme authority
Is empowered to do as 1t 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
~ bltrary power.
This means that there will be com
pletc revolution In the ways Of the
| PEOPLE wherever martial law il pro-
clnimed. All ordinary life will be az
fccted. and 1t will no longer be the
case that ian Englishman's home Is
his cGstle."
As rule. when a place Is under
martial law its inhabitants must clear
out of the streets before a certain
time every evening, say 8 O'Clock.
Then NIL places Of amusement. public
houses and 40 on are closed entirely.
Even during the daytime a limit Is
made as to the number Of people who
may assemble. 70 that party of peo-
ple-numbering above. say. half a dog
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
mandecr whatever they wish without
any control. Any person may be com.
PEELED To give complete account OF his
movements. past. present and project.
ed. md mny be searched or even ar
rested without warrant
Grimes are dealt with very severely.
| Thus suppose n man breaks win
dow Instead Of being hauled mp he
fore magistrate and subjected to q
small fine. the policeman would be
perfectly justified In shooting him i'm.
nIedintely.
So In the case OF robbery. A man
stealing purse need not be arrested.
but could he shot. this being perfect
~ Unsuitable notion on the part Of
those In authority.
Every person might be compelled to
carry passport. giving full evidence
OF his identification. Passports would
nc necessary In the case Of those using
horses or vehicles Of any kind. fnclud.
ing cycles
All persons who were compelled to
he out Mt night would be provided
with special night passes signed by
the one in authority. No person would
be allowed TO leave one town for an.
other or travel beyond certain dis.
lance without being the possessor OF
II properly signed passport given for
this special purpose.
The object. of course. is to keep the
people within certain districts and also
to prevent foreign spies and the like
from moving into the country and 80
cleaning Information of value to our
enemies. Philadelphia Inquirer.