The star-progress. (Opelousas, La.) 1917-1921, 1921-03-30

IDS1LIGS Vi tic pOOPASs
With this statement the chef jug
tice raped down upon his desk WIN
his clenched fist emphatically.
Judge Monroe asserted that the man
ner in which the national prohibition
amendment was passed did not as
sure that it was desired by majo:-
ity of the people ION the contrary
he asserted. ito my mind, it was only
a minority of the nation who wanted
prohibition, and it was this aggressive
minority who wrote the law into the
constitution over the inertia OF an I'M
willing. but submissive majority"
One is struck with the utter frank
ness and simplicity of the man Moth
ing to hide, no verbal camouflage. ap-
parently no consideration as 10 what
some one else may think of his own
private opinions, the chief justice
speaks his mind openly, freely. He
calls a spade, spade, trumps he calls
trumps.
Kindness of disposition is another
trait of the chief justice that is out
standing. This and frankness proba-
bly, are his two most noticeable char
acteristics. In personality, also. Judge
Monroe ranks high. He is a little
larger than medium size, of regular
build. with shoulders now slightly
stopped and has clear, penetrating
blue eyes that seem to peer right
through any fallacy in argument.
Judge Monroe says that he has no
doubt that the project set on foot IN
the East recently to enforce by law
more drastice observance Of the
Sabbath, Clearly would be in contra
vention Of the clause of the federal
constitution providing for the freedom
of religious worship.
Here certainly is where the law
reaches its limit" declared the chief
Justice THAT is, when it tries TO
regulate how a man should observe
the Sabbath 1t is clearly a mans
constitutional prerogative in America
to spend all of every Sabbath in MS
church if he feels that way about il.
1t is for neither me nor You nor any
one else to write out a religious pre-
scription for him"
The learned justice was asked if he
believed the popular amusements CT
the day, motion pictures, vaudeville
with jokes and abbreviated costumes,
modern dances and jazz music-had
any appreciate tendency to lower the
standard of morals.
He declared that he had ever gone
to the motion pictures more than five
times. He said he saw nothing OBJ
jectionable about those four or five
pictures. "Quite harmless, they
WERE" said he.
AS for music, Judge Monroe said,
he had never heard any jazz-that is,
to the best of my knowledge and be-
lief. At any rate" he added, 81 have
never been informed it was jazz mu-
sic. if l ever heard any"
AS he had not been out to a show
or a dance for many years, his honor
said all he knew of them was based
on "hearsay,' and he declined to eX.
press an opinion OF hearsay evidence.
"As able a delegation of men as
ever was assembled in the history Of
the state" was Chief Justice Monroe's
estimate of the constitutional conven-
ton. He expressed the firm convic-
ton that the convention would evolve
a good set of basic laws for the COM
monwealth
Chief Justice Monroe said he re
GREETED" but did not condemn" the
modern so-called feminist movement,
which is taking the woman out of th2
home and placing her into the hustle
and hustle OF industry.
at is regrettable," he said. she
cause it takes the woman out of the
sphere for which she is best fitted.
and for which nature intended her
the fireside It deprives the world Of
it's character builder-the mother.
But in case of women who do not
marry, and where economic exigences
pinch, there is no reason why women
should not get out and work the same
as men"
The chief justice said he believed
the modern system of education a bit
superficial and recommended to any
one entering college that he take a
thorough course in at least one of the
ancient languages preferably.
This, he said. has great disciplinary
powers, and also constitutes the basis
OF correct English and is a starting
point for the acquisition of other mod.
ern languages.
Work. work alone. That one word
! is the key to the secret of success.
ut is surprising how many lawyers
some of them able lawyers, too
+ come before the courts with their
cases poorly prepared. Their briefs
and arguments show that they have
not probed thoroughly the fundamen
tai questions presented by their case,
the Judge said.