Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1921-06-30

Some time ago there appeared in
the columns of the State Journal, an
invective against the Volstead pro-
hbition law by one Walker White
side, an actor and much Travelled
man i'm which he laid all the cause of
the great wave Of crime now prevail
ing in this country to the account of
the Volstead act, by saying that ut
was the most absurd, assinine and
spineless atrocity that was ever put
over on the public
"Wine is mockcr and strong drink
is raging and whatsoever IS deceived
thereby is not wise" The above words
were uttered by very wise man over
one thousand years before the birth
of Christ and have remained moral
standard until this day. Ii took the
best moral and intellectual attain
mcnts of host Of our nations
best citizens over one hundred years
| to educate this nation up to a prohi-
bition standpoint. Included in this
number were the eloquent John Il.
| Goff, William Lloyd Garrison, Wen
dell Phillips, Margaret +. Sangster,
Frances T. Willard, Ella Wheeler
Wilcox, and our own Rev. DR.. Anna
Shaw, the highest type of men and
women that the world has ever
known. But it remained the privilege
of Mr. Whitcsidc at this late date to
| tell them that they were all wrong.
That Mr.. Whitcside has either cx-
posed his super egotism or his ASSN
nifty is evident.
That law is never the cause of
crime. / only have to refer to Sir
| Edward Cokes definition Of law.
Coke GOO years ago. defined law as
"a rule Of public conduct given by the
supreme power Of the state or nation
commanding what is right and pro-
hihiting what is wrong" Sir William
Blackstons/ in 1865 reiterated the
same definition to his law class at
i Oxford and all Of our best American
authors have followed their precedent
Lord Blackstone also stated that a
man enjoyed the greatest liberty
when living entirely alone free and
separate from every individual. But
that in every well organized society
each individual member must sacri-
flee some OF their personal liberties
in order to promote the good Of the
whole society.
Therefore if we have law prohib-
ting the free use of a thing that
since the dawn of history has proven
TO be a curse to mankind and society
in general, no man has right to
lay crime at its door. Crime is al
ways i'm defiance of law and never
in consequence Of it.
If Mr.. W. will examine the history
IF money during the period from 1910
to 1860 he will find that each bank
had a lawful right TO issue its own
wild cat) money and there was never
a time in the history Of our nation
when counterfeiting was so extensive
ly and successfully carried on, not in
consequence of the law but in de-
fiance Of law. And the law that au-
! thorized the issue, provided punish
mcnt for the countcrfeiting of the
same Just so with the Vostcad Act.
A law without a penalty is no law at
all.
When God said, Let us make mama
in our image" He said, let us make
an animal with hands that walks up
rightly, bat let US give him our hi
vine intellect that he may know good
from evil and that he may rule the
earth with justice But it is very
unfortunate that men develop the
animal to the neglect Of the Divine
nature and like animals with hands
= walk uprightly over the land in de-
fiancc of law, satisfying their own
l sclfishncss to the detriment of all
= other members Of the organized so
z ciety to which they belong. The legis-
aturc Of this great nation composed
Of the highest type Of moral and in
tcllectual statesmen whom we honor
with our franchise and trust with full
: confidence said by enacting that law
c that it was just and right for the
whole nation and it is the duty OF
, every citizen to abide by and obey il
G for the good of all concerned. Fol
the voice Of the people has demanded
!, it.
The great wave of crime now pre-
I vailing is not due to a righteous law
. newly enacted, but it caused by two
D principle agencies; first, the abnor
! NAL condition prevailing during tn,
war, and second, it is caused by thos,
= men whom we called profitccrs dur
= ing the war who realized great pro
S fits and since the catastrophe has
y closed have sat down with foldcC
20 hands waiting for another catastro
pho in which to invest their spoil,
c that they may produce another trag
h edy that will produce another class o.
Y criminals that will walk uprghtly
{, over the land in defiance of law, an,
c another class of otherwise honest in
dustrious men who would willingl,
:, work for the necessities of life if th'
h hso-calIcd captains of industry would
c unlock the gates Of opportunity ant
c let them in.