The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1915-08-06
sri EDID RECORD
(Continued from page ID

S
was he who OBJ tanned the nrst convIsE
ton In this district ofethe so-cane9
|Black-HAnderss the ring LEADERS, 81 the
gang being sent to the federai do
at Leavenworth. It is he who recens
ly obtained that decision from the
court OF appeals In Chicago, which de-
clares the sale of whfskey to citizen
Indian unlawful, thus establishing the
important proposition that cthzensh1p
does not emancipate the Indian 1Eom
his status as q ward of the public. Tne
of indian aftatrs has re-
Gently declared in public address
|fhat Mr.. Gomss Efforts In regard 70
the Indian are the most vatnt.s- ssrs-l
ices rendered by any attorney IN the
country.
Sustained In. Mann Act
But his most striking achievement
I'm the public eye has been the VIC
tory recently gained by him In the
supreme court Of the United states
in the construction OF the Mann act,
the so-caIled white slave law. This
law was passed for the purpose Of
breaking up the interstate tratnc IN
Vice but Its language 1s
SO broad and so plain that cases OF
nrfyata immortality where the com
mercial feature has no part also ran
under 1t. This result of the act and
the severe sentences imposed In sucn
cases by the federal courts resulted
in bringing into mGny law omces
cases Of blackmail that were highly
distressing cases where the woman
was attempting to extract large
sum OF money from the man ana
other cases where the woman was
simply attempting to hold the man.
but all by threats of involving fed
eral prosecution for violation OF the
white slave law,with the probable
result of long prison sentence. MT.
Cor. however, contended that in such
case the woman who voluntarily ac-
compaaied the man from one state
to another was herself guilty OF 2
conspiracy to break the law, and
therefore subject to severe penalties:
and after bitter contest. TINS con
tention was affirmed by the supreme
court OF the United States. although
minority OF that court vigorously
dissented. The upshot Of this decis-
ion is that the white slave law can
still be rigidly enforced. but women.
no longer use it for purposes OF
Iblackmail.
Goes Beyond the Principals.
Perhaps equally important, though
not SO conspicuous, is the further ser
vice which Mr.. Gof rendered to the
practical enforcement of this law
by establishing his contention that
those having knowledge of the So
called white slave traffic and con-
cealfng the same are guilty OF mis-
prison of felony.
Not long ago. as illustrating his
conception OF the Office, and as per-
haps furnishing the key to his meth
cd OF conducting it. he said, In an
swer to the complaint that certain
law was too drastic:
AS United States attorney I have
assumed, under oath, the RESPONSE
bility for the enforcement Of the law
as 1t exists Ny opinion of the wis
dom of any particular statute or de-
cision is OF no consequence to any
one except myself. If I do not like
my duties, and am not prepared to-
discharge them in good faith, then
my proper course, is to resign. which,
at the present time. have absolute
Nv no mention of doing"
Probably Mr.. Gon has served in
the office as long as he can possibly
AFFORD to serve. He has given the
public the benefit OF devoted and ca
pab1e service and the advantage Of
uncommonly wide learning In every
branch Of his profession. He retires
to take up again his private practice.
carrying with him the gratitude and
best wishes of the public which he
has served SO well.