The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-10-16
SUNDAY, OCTOBER l6, 1921.
MAKING LAWLEsSNEss UNPOPULAR

OPFNfand persistent violation OF national and state
laws designed to enforce the constitutions pro
hibton amendment have long been an attront to the
law-abidng elements of society in the United States
Ii is now becoming increasingly apparent that this
fagrant disregard for the established order is grow
ing offensive even to those who at first regarded 1t
as excusable ii not clever. 1t has never been in
sisted so far as is known, that the enforcement law
could not be violated No such claim has ever
been made as to the law prohibiting burglary. or
theft perjury, any one OF the scores OF ollen-
ses which men have prescribed i'll their statutes 1t
is interesting to recall the fact that none OF these
prohibitive enactments were made part OF the
law until the acts which they sought to check or TO
punish, had become so common and so promiscuous
as to be offensive to the public.
But the history OF civilization, from its earliest
periods records amending chapters OF human perver-
sv OF disregard OF the rights of others OF offenses
against the order set up by the accepted conception
OF what may be termed the unwrltten law the moral
law or the law the nonobServance OF which made
necessary the writing OF the Decalogue. The Law OF
Moses did not inspire the oienses which sought
arohibt neither did the prohibition law in the
Cnited States inspire the offenses which are beng
committed against it. Proscriptive laws, since the
ime of Moses, have been enacted only as the
Stongs which they have sought to prevent have
become offensive and obnoxious These laws have
never been the enactments of the offenders against
Suciety and it has seldom been the choice of those
iganst whom the laws have been directed to OBJ
srve them willingly or unprotestingy. Perhaps 1t
Has not always been that proscrptive laws have rep
resented the will OF the ma orty. Certainly they
have seldom if ever reflected the wishes OF the ma
brity OF those against whom they have been directed
elt il has always been true, is true today. and must
always be true thai prohbitive and proscrptive laws
represent the will OF the majority as It is expressed
through organized society in national and state leg
islative bodies. 1t only by such an expression OF
the popular will that any civil law can be enacted.
In nearly every city in the United States today
here IS large or small an organized group OF boot
lsggers recruited and officered unless inexcus-
abe libel has been perpetrated, from the ranks OF
former saloon keepers and bartenders. Recent dis
closures have made it appear that, in some cities,
officers who have been chosen TO see to 1t that all
laws are enforced allied with those who have
openly made it their business TO violate and nuity
the prohibition law In those same cities, perhaps,
where this unusual and dissraceful alliance exists,
numbers OF householders by such means as they
ind available. violating the same law. The traffic
in contraband liquor is not only condoned but It IS
encouraged by the patronage and support OF those
who will be quick to recognize the ncongruty OF
depending ior police protection. and ior the pro-
lection OF their property and rights in the courts
upon peace officer, and public prosecutors who con-
1--WE win DooteggerN ana tum-ruhheIS' Inc ''he
has come when thoughtful people, must cease to
condone this continued and growing disregard ior
III. law
The end. unless the abuses stamped out, must
be the disruption and destruction OF the entire ma
chnery OF law enforcement. not only as II affects
the prohibition law but as i, affects all regulatory
and prospective legislation. This condition cannot
ie lightly regarded The experiment which many
wslintentioned persons are encouraging apparently
10 satisfy a careless desire TO emphasize what they
mistakenly believe be popular protest against q
law which the saloon propretorS and barienders sai(
could be violated, and whc hthey have proved car
could be violated, and which they have proved car
abeued by respectable citizens, and conniyed at by
polee and prosecutors is long step toward the
ultimate destruction OF those standards which ever
DE thoughtless desire shall be ntained-Chrstiar
Science. Monitor