Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1920-12-15

writ of assistance" back in Colon
ial day. These writs. which were
issued at the behest of anyone who
possessed influence enough with
the Crown, empowered the bearer
to enter and search the personal
effects or premises of the individ %
ual mentioned. empowering him t.
confiscate whatever his fancy
might dictate, under the false al
legation that the victim was in pos
session of slnuggled goods, thu
Colonist's only recourse against
having his personal right thus in
vaded, and his dignity shattered
being suicidel The immortal mem
ory of these legalized burglaries
formed the subject matter which
inspired the thought that brought
into being the fourth amendment
20 our constitution, which pro-
yides:
''The right of the people to be
'ecure in their persons. papers
houses and effects, against unrea-
3onable searches and seizures shall
not be violated; and no warrants
shall issue, but upon probable
:aUse, supported by oath or affir-
nation and particularly describ-
ing the place to be searched, and
he persons or things to be seizp1."
man named j. A. West, VINO
laims residence in Seattle for
eight years writes to the editor of
4 Seattle paper, in part as follows:
Last Saturday as / started home
was held up h. bunch of police
men and asked if were working. !
md some more foof questions" ard .
ION more than one oc
'aalon my room has been entered
Turing my absence. and everything,
including a locked trunk ransasck-
"a by the police, for what reason
don't know"
An ex-officer O4 the Portland 20
Ice force told me that they were
tten provided with a form of war
ant that NEEDED only few scratch.
$ of the pen to make them fit any
ase the human imagination might
onJure. Those of us who believe
strict law enforcement, should 7
keWise uphold the principle OF D.,
ne strict observance of the rights r
citizens. How can we demand =
ur citizens to obey and respect !
ur laws, If peace officers violate a
ur constitution with impunity, 1t
ems that violation of it's well de- 7
ned provisions constitute a graver !
ttense against society than the
verage petty offense of the aver
se case apprehended by these il
gal methods. There is no evil
ence to support a charge that the
llem officers overstepped their
gal rights in the recent raid, let Il
hope they did not. Most of us V
'e glad the saloons are gone, and v
i've little Or no sympathy for the d
'otleggers. but we are not as yet n
the point where we are willing -
forego our constitutional rights. q
I've our personal effects ransack- N
and live in constant fear that ~
e may be the next victims of some n
nbitious reformer who seeks fame @
'st, and justice last We refuse 81
concede the necessity of violat- IA
6 the most sacred statutes of our N
public, by camouflaging the act
lder the fallacious name of
The liberties we q
joy today were not obtained with n
It its price. The memory of Lex
gton, Valley Forge and Bunke,
Ill, stand like immortal statutes
the pathway of evolution, bar
ng the progress of reaction, and n
those of us who love liberty. and n
alize all that it means to us, they n
EN- to smile reassuringly, and
exon as if to say "They shall not 81
SIS" Let us ever be on the alert VI
safeguard that for which our 81
refathers bled and died, that we.
cir posterity might enjoy. N
READER.
Salem, Or, Dec. IA. 1920.