The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-11-14
4 RETURN TO LAW
drrom nariow'> Weekly

all other problems secondary TO and dependent
our whole governmental system is eaten with
the conception that laws made TO be evaded and not
tempt than it is in Oklahoma today. Government is
conducted private affairs conducted apparently
the theory that anything is all right if you can get by
with it, Only perfunctory attempt is made 10 enforce
unpopular laws, the officers cNcusing themselves upon
the ground that the public does these laws
enforced Officers themselves violate fundamental statutes
Private citizens maintain devices, for tho continuous
violation of the laws with the knowledge and connNance
W officers and with Officers participating in the re-
suits of the violation of the law.
This is not the description of "a localized situations it
is the general condition which prevails Oklahoma today
Every week brings some complaint from part of
whole fabric of and social system which
can be maintained only upon the assumption that laws
will be complied by the citizens and will he enforced
against all vioaors by the officers threatened by such
condition as we now find.
Every other issue before Oklahoma is secondary TO
this Nothing else is comparable with il in importance.
Whatever governmental devices the political parties may
schemes and promises be worked out by ambitious
candidates whatever criticism demands be made
py lhuNuuais or parties all else must ms year be
made secondary TO the question which must be
pounded alike to parties and to individuals That question
is this: "WH you, ii entrusted with power, again
make law respected in Oklahoma?"
his VIII solve the most of our governmental problems We
have plenty of law to answer most of needs great
been found who would place II thoroughly in effect An
executive department., from the down, which
is pledged and determined make operative the laws
which We 'now have will reduce reduce
improve the operation of our institutions and eliminate
criticism Of the government Without executive
department all the yotegettng schemes world all
the governmental s'ans and promises Will be futile
About Officers who Are Law vioators Themselves
Closely associated with the foregoing is fact that
have for long time overlooked in oklahoma and to
which this state as well other states adjust
themselves lhlt Tact Is that law voator makes an
extremely poor eninrcer Of the law. An immoral
poor officer 1t is impossible that he should. with q
whole heart enforce the law OF which he himself is
olator our officers the custodians of moral laws
II they do not enforce Them they will not be enforced
The who violates them will not enforce them.
The conclusion is inevitable in this iuncture of our
affairs when the great issue that of enforcement of the
law The fact that man is personally immoral that he
close habituai the law that
somebody violate the law, makes impossible that
that man should be fit instrument for the operation OF
The r, morals Of any private citizen his Ousi
the laws Of his state. But the morals a public Of.
difference to the public whether their officers are i'm.
moral drunkards gamblers commercially dishonest 1t is
of the highest Importance for the reason that
these maintain the standards Of morality and
honesty or they will not be maintained.
Heretofore it has been the habit to such ques-
ons these only casually assuming that the
qualifications of officer something entirely diff
terent that il he had the Intellectual equipment and the
spirit of good fellowship which makes him agreeable
''llow, the moral questions matter of small mo-
Qualifications desirable; but if they by
acK o moral FIBRE and OF the moral outlook which makes
his life and his personal purposes parallel the
general purposes of the law and the social ideals of his
He may good friend competent business
man. fine comrade but a good public officer-never.
A special feature Of law enforcement brought up
by Judge Williams of the federal the eastern
Gently by Governor Robertson in his Muskogee speech
by former Chief of Police Gsch in Oklahoma City. The
burden of all OF them is that the prohibition laws
be enforced
who asked To enforce these laws gentlemen
all correct The liquor laws be by LIQUOR
against the manufacture sale OF whisky Under
present conditions when drinks intoxicating liquors
beverage purposes he induces someone TO become a
ne
body to violate the law. That the aw be
lated in his presence he must h participant vo
laton and consequently will certainly wink at il No law
maintain 10y being enforced part time
and winked at part Of the time.
Judge Williams is right in his statement that the
framework of society has TO be involved In the en-
lortmeni oi ms liquor law great many other people
agree with him in the belief that it i'll advised
ton of the federal constitution but nevertheless it such
secto II Il part oil he constitution If il cannot be
enforced our constitution is imperative and if cons
luton is imperative, government cannot persist The
prohibition laws must be enforced
The state of oklahoma is doing nothing today en-
force the prohibition law We have the laws clearly writ
zen INTO our constitution and In our statutes yet the state
government Is doing nothing whatever stat
condition which permitted the last Legislature be thor
oughy saturated with strong drink during its closing
hundred feet Of the entrance the legislative halls and
when every officer who the capitol was fully ad
which permeated the entire building Nothing was said
or done about H. great number Of the officers
no financial provision made by legislators for
enforcing the prohibition law that no means 10 now
enforcement Of the law, and consequently nothing is
being done.
This situation be changed completely in one cleo
ion' II our people will to 1t that who drinks
intoxicating liquors is elected position which In any
way requires him TO enforce the liquor laws. have
provision In constitution which provides for the re
noNal OF any state officer for drunkenness This needs TO
he strengthened Not merely the who gets
unfit To be an officer but any purchases inox
eating liquors or participates In such purchases must
considered absolutely unfit 10 hold office We recog
nizs that no man who induces the violation OF law
Is M TO enforce the law against such violation.
When this comes TO 1t will be found that the
liquor laws can be enforced just readily as any other
laws When that day comes will he for good
ct2ens 10 turn their Easements and they
viii quit IT, When that day II will be too hazard.
Gus Tor anybody to engage in The OF inox
oaUng liquor anu the moonshner and the bootlegger viii
go MS way such violations will continue to exist will
be The work OF the genuine criminal for whom no one
VIII have any consideration and against whom
the operation OF the law will be certain as it is now
against horse steangabout the In the catalog
now which is considered be always and invariably un.
pardonabc
No use OF changing any more post offices Mr.
IlaVN NFtNFH fN.. .l...1l l.s.