Vashon Island news-record. [volume] (Vashon, Wash.) 1919-1954, 1920-10-28
The PEOPLES FORUM
Vashon News. Record.

NaShon NeWS-hecOrd.
The editorial item in the last
week S issue of the Record, under
the caption, in high places" was
well-aimed charge at deserving
object which doubtless is appre-
ciated by many who read it, But
il provokes a criticism which ap.
plies to many attacks of moral
evils. The criticism is, while it
was a forceful charge, definitely
aimed and most timely, yet it is
matter of firing at a too long
range to effect a definite benefit,
except that possibly the report of
the discharge may awaken some
personal slumbering impulses, If
this much is accomplished the val
liable literary material used will
not be altogether wasted.
But we wondered after reading
the editorial at the practical waste
of such valuable literary ammuni-
ton in aiming at an object so far
beyond the effective range of the
weapon when there are so many
prowling law-breaking objects in
every locality that needs to be
killed.
In the very same issue in which
the editorial in question appears
there is mention made of a law
breaking event held last week I'M
der a fratcrnal auspicies at our
very door, yet, while the editorial
weapon was carefully and ably
aimed at the violations Of the law
at the recent national convention
no charge was made at the viola
ton of laws referred to within our
own community. But rather,
while the one is strongly and ably
condemned the other is Endorsed
and comphmented. The act of
gambling is as much a violation
of laws as holding, aye even con.
suming forty barrels of liquor at
a political convention, even tho
the former is performed under the
cloak of fraternal institution.
According to the correct inter-
probation of the civil law to win
through cards ga unique syrup
pitcher" or "a fine purse" is as
much an act against the govern
ment as the consumption of forty
barrels of liquor at a political
gathering. Yet, the one is nation
ally condemned, and rightly so,
while the other is nationally in
dorsed, or condoned.
Why the difference? Well, a
hundred answers may be offered.
In the first place man seem to
possess an instinct for big things
and the spectacular. We wish our
acts of attack to count. And more
conspicuous the object attacked,
particularly if the attack is sue
cessful, wore is thought to be ac-
complished.
This sentiment still holds not
withstanding the mistake of it is
| demonstrated in a thousand in
stances. But still we keep firing
away at the conspicuous object
even though it may be beyond the
effective range of our gun.
Then, some violations of the law
cannot be legally punished as can
others. The two violations in ques-
tons are illustrations of this fact.
Legal penalties are determined by
the principle of criminal jurispru-
dence. The action of this princi-
pie is determined by the jury sys-
TEN. The consumption of forty
barrels of liquor can be delt with
under this system, if the case can
be proved, but the winning of "a
unique syrup pitcher" and "a
fine purse" at a social card enter
tainment cannot be delt with I'M
der this system, for the reason
| that a jury could not be gotten to
pass sentence upon the matter as
the jury would have to be com
posed of reputed citizens and such
very generally belong to this class
of violators and it is difficult to
get men to pass judgment upon
themselves or to condemn their
own practices.
But this discrimination doesn t
change the principle of the matter.
Under the law one class is as
guilty as the other-both classes
are alike criminals even though
one class may be composed of
politicians and the other class CON
sists of the socially best of a com
munity, mixed with good church
members. But this inability of Jury
action is taken advantage of by
this class. Knowing that conyic-
ton of guilt connot be secured
A.