The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1921-08-20
4 A Nation of Criminals

There Is a sent.m communication
in The Globe tonight from woman
who muttered because the ucigaretto
ilaw. was moi enforced throughout the
State PShe is indignant because
some Atch nson men have ridfcu ed a
professional az .tatOr who Is so devoid
of all semblance of good taste as to
write an insulting letter to President.
elect Han zig asking him to not
smoke ciga.Cctes Unfortunate this
letter was sent out from Kansas.
which has been so " dely and so
generous y exploited as the habitat of
the worlds greatest collection OF
freaks.
The Globe would rejoice If all our
laws could be enforced impartially
and fearlessly; II our lawmakers had
sufficient intelligence to pass only
such laws as they knew could be en-.
forced. TVS country is grooming un-
der an excuss OF legislation such as is
to Grated in no other civilized country.
This muititGrious mixture bf legisla-
tite restr ctions represents one OF the
most glazing weaknesses Of our sys
tenn OF government. ~ #"1 ~.
Many sober minded persons are
genuinely ~ alarmed AZ the wave
OF crimes with is now being visited
upon practically every large city in
the United States. The police are be-
ing beratea and abused, vigilance
committees are springing up but the
appalling lists Of murders and hold
ups continue TO lengthen. sag
Isn't IS possible most OF these Grim.
iifdls are men and women who have
gradually assimi ated the national dis.
respect we flave for our laws until
they have reached'a po'nt where they
do not baik at murder" "pr ot ~"
Isn't II possible that some Of our
legislators who helped to enact laws
impossible o. enforcement should
rightfully be blamed for the crime
waves?
A young man who begins life by
breaking ordinances and state and
1
to a hardened criminal.
Anyway, this country has more
criminals than countries that enact
less laws to enforce.
We boass ~ our advanced clviliza.
ton over hereT OF our morals and our
sense Of justice and right doing. But
Englishmen and other foreigners who
visit tn s country are amazed at our
disregard OF OF. laws. They cannot
understand II. 1'e
The explanation is that under our
pan there's no check on amhit Gus
polic.a1,dns tt citizens who incor.
p0rate Their hobbies and. their pre-
judices into our statute books. They
do not stop IN reflect whether II
would be for I15 best interests OF our
oountry.v An american as an indi.
vidual insists upon laws that sat sly
hii personal Wins and then trans.
greses laws iathered by the personal
whlms OF otter persons.
Suppo o we started out here In
Atchson IT, Hrrest and imprison q |
the Atchis S,si ople who have violated
the city ord nances and the state laws
within the last six moths. How
many Of us would be outside looking
in at those inside looking out?
Commercial street would be locked
tight from the river to Tenth street
there wouldn't be enough people in
The churches on Sunday morning to
fill out the front rows.
You say this isn't true. Ask any
lawyer.
Did you maze an absolutely true
statement to the tax assessor?
How much is the furniture worth in
your home: You swore to your tax
a sessment. But Gid you insist etipou
the assessor writing down a proper
valuation of your furniture? II the
tax laws enforced Il is likely
you would be at Lansing right now.
Is II any worse to smoke cigarettes
THAN to defraud the state? The per
son who eyades taxes Is thief In the
Teyes of the law and il the eyes OF the
law saw all - - was being put over
by Kansas taxpayers. Kansas homes
would be depopuated am the state
would have to call In trainloads o.
guard from the outside to guard oul
cr'mina S.
There are -naiSsreds yes thousands
OF laws that are disobeyed daily. W.
have state law making II crime I,
have bright lights on automobiles
How many persons observe this law
How many 0hst3e the speed laws9
How many business firms observ,
all the laws?
We have legislated until ninety
/ nine out OF d hundred of ~ are Grim
inals. sal,st.e
Our laws are impossible of en-
forcement Our officers attempt onl!
to enforce those measures they con
slider important. Our judges an,