Arizona republican., 1921-10-10
MONDAY MORNING. OCTOBER 10. 1921
l He who commits injustice is ever made more Wretched than he who suffers it. Plato.
Crime Is Not a Privilege

Crime 10 Not Privilege
 Judge Ben B. Lindsey of Denver for quarter of century has been so earnest in his service to humanity and has made so few mistakes and the few have been committed of his zeal, that we hesitate to speak of what we believe is in decision Saturday declining to punish two young found guilty of contributing the delin- quency of two girls by giving them liquor.
 He very properly took occasion to flay officials for neglecting to enforce prohibition persons of power and influence. We know that there is a great deal of such neglect, by the ordinary officers but by those especially charged with the enforcement of prohibition. It was not only the province but the duty of Judge Lindsey speak of it in the terms. But we think that he erred in refusing to impose punishment in this only because certain wealthy persons had escaped punishment In the first place, the crime of these young men was something more than un- lawfully having in their possession liquor and the dispensing of it. They charged with crime entirely apart from violation of the prohibition law. He might almost logically have declared persons should be punished for theft arson murders so long as wealthy and power full escaped punishment for disregarding prohi- bition law.
 The judge seemed to regard the violation of the law. the having and the drinking of liquor privilege which should be equally enjoyed by all casses that if class permitted enjoy this
 
 But it is not privilege any more than the mission murder or any other crime is privilege Many nurderers have escaped punishment because of their wealth position. We could not therefore serve justice by turning all murderers loose. It is not justice a offender to condone his crime because a wealthy offender has escaped the conse- quences of similar crime. We must punish all whom punish and improve the machinery of the law that punish all offenders rich and he as well the
 The prohibition law. inadequatey it is enforced and with partiality with which it enforced already been highly beneficial Its greatest benefits have those who could not it. who for the law would be drunkards but who for lack of money opportunity perforce lead sober lives.
 In the days of open gambling in Phoenix. The Republican urged it's suppression which two later was brought about. We were told that gambling could stopped. If open gambling suppressed gambling would be practced crety, back and upstairs, guarded by look outs.,
 We of that and said in effect Very well, let them gamble. We not objecting to the immortality of gambling. We not contending that is immoral; is immaterial and irrelevant. But observed that open gambling is economically a bad thing for large number of workmen who drop into the saloons where gambling is open, with their weeks wage Under the influence of a drink they risk a dollar nearby game; then another dollar until x at last they go home to their wives and children 7 empty handed.
 we to make it difficult if not impossible players of this kind gamble. They will not s be wanted in the upstairs gambling They only tolerated the open gambling V table. We only want to protect them and their families easy accessible gambling" Open gambling abolished and immediate result that the families of of were better fed better dressed goods purchased and bills promptly paid.
 Yet gambling in Phoenix been going ever since, high and But generally the who patronize the games afford to lose They may imperiling their along with their money, but that though not quite mmateria far less important than the suffering which attended open gambling.
 not advocating interference with either gambling with the misdoings the rich with respect prohibition. The law should be rigidly enforced against gamblers and wealthy pro- hibition vioators not for their for and we think observe changing public senti- ment which will insist upon the impartial enforce the lGw.
 And some good may result in the way of hasten .ng this change the action of Judge Lindsey inc direction of this spectacular to the way fin which the prohibition law is beine winked at fin the of influential offenders.