The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1921-11-22

d1fficulty in reconciling its laws with
its individual likes and dislikes. It's
people have forgotten that the foun-
dalton of its civil government is ma
jority rule and nothing more. Hav-
Ing divided itself upon certain ques-
lions OF law the minority has become
arrogant because of its own substan-
tial numbers and therefore has
adopted the false premise that the
majority knew not what they were
doing when they declared certain
proposition to be the law of the land.
This within itself is poor citizenship.
Further along in Daugherty's ad-
dress we find the words: 1.-THE
Fathers did not claim infallibility for
the rule of the majority. They pro-
vided against hasty or inconsiderate
action by a system of checks and bal
ances, by the doctrine of the separa-
ton of powers, and by making the
two branches of the legislature as
we'll as tue eAoCuuNc uschoioo III ia"
making. In view of these constitu-
tional safeguards there can be no ex-
ouse for any person within the do
main of this Republic to hold its laws
In contempt; to disobey them himself
or countenance others to acts of dis
obedience to them, on the grouno
that the rights of the minority have
been disregarded 1t is the duty OF
the minority as well as the majority
to obey the law. My experience II
the last few months as head. OF the
law enforcing department of the gov
eminent has carried to me the con
viction that these things should be
said to the general public. | consider
the reputable American lawyer every
where a part of the Department of
Justice and expect him to give to
both the Department and the public,
advice and support, to the end that
the law may be universally under
stood and uniformally enforced.
"If laws are obnoxious to people
1t Is their province to repeal them.
Until they are repealed they must be
observed and enforced without feal
or favor The government will endure
on the rock of law enforcement, or i.
will perish in the quicksands of law
lessness. Those who do not believe
in our government and the enforce
ment of our laws should 60 to
country which gives them their pc
culiar liberty"
And so much. therefore. from the
standpoint of the private individual.
Nothing substantial can be added to
Daughertys statement. 1t is as sue
cinct an expression of the relation OF
good citizenship to the law as could
be made.
Daugherty does not stop at word
to the private individual. Law en-
forcement depends more than the at
titude of the people toward that GER
tain mandate under scrutiny. 1t de-
ponds upon those sworn to enforce
it in cases where a misguided minor
ity fail to observe it and OF this i'm
portant ingredient in respect for the
law-Daugherty says:
From the standpoint of the gov
eminent the only sound view Is that
Of law enforcement. Whatever diff
ference of opinion exists in views
as to the wisdom of these laws can be
Of no concern to the agencies of law
The executive depart
ment can not make the laws. 1t is
equally true That it cannot nullify
laws. To refuse or to neglect to en-
force valid enactment of the legis-
latiye department of government, or
to enforce 1t mechanically or half
heartedly, or to wink at its violation.
is without justification on any sound
theory of government. Those who
ask it or expect it not only contrib
ute to lawlessness but destroy the
basis upon which their own security
rests. Our safety and happiness lie
in obedience to law by every man,
woman and child within the domain
of our Republic, and no one can un-
dermine respect for law without be-
ing, to that extent. an enemy to law
and orderly government"
Under such comment how puerile
appears the man who is afraid to en-
force the law and how utterly in
significant the man or woman who
refuses to observe the law! 1t mat
tiers not that Daugherty represents
a political power-it matters not that
he closes his remarks by q declara-
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES