The Mena weekly star., 1921-05-12
THE HARD WAY OF THE
 TRANCcRFSSOR.

If is no new thinR tnat tne way VA Khe transgressor is hard--meaning, ot course, the transgressor of law, pc shat law of Nature or law of man.
 h the case of violation of the laws of Nature, there is no mercy or the transgressor. In just so far as he goes wrong, he certainly must pay, and tho the error itself may be quite forgotten, the debt will not be-it must be paid soon or late.
 It $ not always quite true, perhaps, of the man-made laws. It seems, at least, that good many times the transgressor gets off scott free The enforcement, like the laws, is in the hands of men, and therefore it's ae- ton is not infallible.
 This brings us to a case of law vio- lation that is known in all Polk eoun- ty, and will long be remembered. Reference is made to number of men who knowingly and for profit broke the internal revenue laws of their country in the manufacture and sale of whiskey.
 These men were, by law enforce ment officers, apprehended. They were arrested, the illicit still and its products so far as available. de- stroyed These men, in seeking to escape the penalties, or to tighten them so far as possible, first em- ployed lawyers, were forced to make several costly trips to court, were sentenced to Federal prison, and then. taken from their homes and families, were for a time confined within prison walls-and then, at last, and on a technicality, were re- leased. to hasten home and gladden. the hearts of wives and children, of relatives and friends.
 Having suffered such heavy penal ties in money, in loss of time, in con finement. and yet more in the tor tured hearts of those left behind te struggle against diversity, few there were who were not glad they were hack home, ehastened in spirit, and
 ry all felt, to start anew in the bae1lv VI liav,
 I But the law was not satisfied.
 There were yet penalties to pay staxes." they are called. upon the liquor that had been unlawfully made by these men,
 ? And now cones rsvenue officer and orders legal notice given that tho homes of these transgressors shaf be lawfully seized, and on day neai at hand shall be sold to satisfy these unpaid taxes.
 Perhaps if none but the men them selves were involved this would moi seem so hard a thing. Perhaps one could say, and feel, that each one had knowingly violated the law, and had done so with full knowledge of the penalty awaiting him if caught, and therefore can have no complaint at paying.
 But when one sees this last thing done-sees weeping wives and little children sent out from the rooftree that has sheltered them, it seems a cruel thing. It is, indeed, the sins of the father descending upon the chil- dren, the fault of the guilty on the heads and hearts of the innocent.
 The Star was glad to have the Illicit still captured, the traffic in whiskey, the unhappy results, wiped out. It wanted these things stopt in Polk county, and in Arkansas, in the Union. And it felt much sorrow over the fate of the guilty men, but de- sired that they. so soon as they were sure they would quit the evil way, be free to join their families and be all that could be asked--good and law. abiding citizens.
 And, today, if way could be found The Star would gladly do it's best tc save to these families their homes anc their fresides. It would seem good that mercy be shown the transpres. sors themselves and yet more, then wives and children.
 Man is not infallible, nor is the law of man.
 Could it not be possible that Jus tice could be well served by modi. fication of the hard decree in these cases.