The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1921-11-17
A RETURN TO LAW.

fact that we have one precmnen issue before
which be solved il form OF society and OF government IS
endure This issue has absorbed all others It has made all other
problems secondary and dependent upon it, That issue the
OF law.
cepon that laws made be eyaded and to be obeyed
Never the law held greater contempt than is Oklahoma
today Government is conducted private affairs conducted
pareny upon the theory that anything all right you get
by with IL Only peunctoy attempt is made to enforce un
popular laws the officers excuSng themselves upon the ground
that the public does these laws enforced Officers them
selves violate fundamental statutes and moral laws without hes
tation and with impunity.
This the description of localized situation the
general condition which prevails Oklahoma today Every week
brings complaint from part OF the state 1t is
useless for to close to it, The whole fabric OF
governmental and social system which be maintained only
upon the assumption that laws will be complied with by the ci
and will be enforced against all volato by the officers
threatened by such a condition as we now find
Every other issue before Oklahoma secondary this Moth
ing else is comparable with it Importance Whatever govern
mental devices the political parties may propose the
favor of the public whatever schemes and may be work
ed by ambitious candidates. whatever criticisms may be made
by individuals parties all else this year be made secondary
to the question which must be proouded alike parties and
individuals That question this Wi YOU il entrusted with
power again make law respected in Okahoma?"
The individual and the party who can and will do this will
law Of great deal of has
had real trial because nobody has been found who would place
thoroughly in effect.
A return to law-that what we need in Oklahoma.
Closely associated with the foregoing is fact that have
for long time overlooked Oklahoma and to which this state
we'll other states adjust themselves That fact is
that law voaor makes extremely poor enorcer OF the law
An immoral poor officer It impossible that he should
Our officers the custodans of moral laws. If they
do enforce them they will be enforced The who
lates them will enforce them.
The conclusion is inevitable this juncture of affairs
when the great issue that enforcement Of the law The fact
that personally immoral that he close associate of
habiua violators of the law that his personal habits such
that for their satisfaction somebody must violate the law makes it
impossible that that should be fit opera
tion of government by law
The morals private citizen his business They
limited only by the extent to which he desires conform
the standards of his community and the laws of his But
the morals of public officer eveybodys business 1t
matter of indifference to the public whether their officers
immoral drunkards gamblers commercially dishonest.
matter of the highest importance the that
must maintain the standards Of morals and honesty they will
not be maintained
Heretofore has been the habit pass such questions
these only casually assuming that the qualifications of
officer something entirely dfferent that he had the
intellectual equipment and the spirit of good fellowship which
makes him agreeable fellow, the moral questions
of small moment Now this around These other
qualifications desirable; but if they waed by lack Of
moral fibre and of the moral outlook which makes his life
his personal purposes parallel the general purposes Of the
law and the social ideals Of his the fit be
public officer
He may make good friend competent business man. fine
comrade but good public neverHarlows Weekly.