Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1915-03-23

eign power in the passage of laws
binding upon every citizen, and its
sovereign power through its supreme
court interpreting laws binding up
on every citizen should likewise see
to it that these laws are enforced.
Of what avail is it to eXpend hun
dred of thousands Of dollars on the
legislative and judicial branches Oh
the government if the executive
branch of the government is so weak
and ineffective as to render impotent
and of little consequence the WORK
Of the legislature and the judiciary!
The same sovereign power that
masses a law and interprets law
must provide the machinery to see
that the law is enforced.
One of the difficulties, however, IN
enforcing the law in almost every
state in the Union is the defects IN
our procedure. Our courts reverse
too MANY cases upon technicalitles.
Too much particularly is required IN
indictments, and unessentlal errors
in the trial court furnish a basis for
reversal by the supreme court. This
is matter of tremendous Importance
and it is in this respect that the
states of the American Union COM
mare most unfavorably with Canada,
England, France, Germany and 9TH
err civilized countries of the world. 1t
is largely because of this that the
United States has proportionately
forty-three times as many murders
per annum per million of the popu-
lation as Canada; twenty-five times
as many as Germany; and eleven
times as many as England and
Wales. 1t is because of this that in
the United States only four out OF
every hundred who commit murder
are brought to justice, whereas in
Germany, ninety-five are punished;
in Spain, eighty-seven; in Italy, sew
enty-one; in France, sixty-one and
in England over fifty.
Mr.. Cosson also discussed briefly,
our Jail system, custodial farms, the
economic value of prison labor, the
duty Of the state, etc., and in clos
ing paid this tribute to man:
What piece of work is man;
how noble in reason, how replete in
faculties; in form and moving, how
express and admirable; in action,
how like an angel; in apprehension,
how like god; the beauty of the
world, the paragon of animals"
In this direction lies future prog
ress. 1t is this growing appreciation
of humanity which has revolutioniz-
ed the old theology and eliminated
therefrom the vindictive theory of
eternal punishment. 1t is this con-
ception which is revolutionizing our
theories in dealing with the so-called
criminals, the detectives and the de-
linquents. 1t is the realization of the
possibilities of human nature which
has demanded the abolition of the
white slave, the elimination of the
segregated district, and the slums of
the cities; it is this which has de-
manded better housing conditions,
industrial education, juvenile courts,
child labor laws and the limiting of
the hours of labor for women. In
this direction lies the solution of the
between capital and la
Dor, indicates our duty toward the
opposite sex, different races and ma
and furnishes the basis
for proper international relations. 1t
finds expression in political plat
forms, in legislative halls and
changes the viewpoint of executive
and administrative officers. 1t is the
growing appreciation of the sacred
ness of man which will bring about
universal peace and establish uni
1ersal justice. When we appreciate
he height and breadth and depth Of
nan from the cradle to the grave,
we shall understand the scriptural
Injunction that to be religious is to
10 justice, to love mercy and to walk
lumbly with God.
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